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There is zero prospect of Britain joining the Euro; nobody's even talking about that. The possible upcoming referendum is about Britain leaving the EU.

by mrec 11y ago

adamc 11y ago
Yes, I know. My question (with respect to Britain) is whether this will have any effect on the vote.
- tonyedgecombe 11y ago
  I doubt it, people know we aren't in the euro and aren't directly exposed to the Greek problem.
  - vidarh 11y ago
    But people also see this as a demonstration of the problems with the EU. As someone who would like to eventually see a federal EU, this whole situation has been exasperating because it has driven a lot of really pro-EU people I know to question whether the EU as whole ought to even survive if it doesn't reform after this.
    - youngtaff 11y ago
      Why do you want a federal Europe? I'm deeply opposed to the idea on many fronts but am genuinely interested in the opposite view.
- lucozade 11y ago
  It definitely plays into the hands of the anti-EU brigade. Their whole spiel is that the EU is a bullying, un-democratic bureaucracy. The last few weeks have made it kind of hard to make the argument that it's a warm and fuzzy family of equals. Whether or not it'll have much of an effect on the vote, I'm not so sure. I doubt if many British identify with the Greek situation (in the sense that it could happen here, there's definitely a lot of empathy about). It's definitely seen as a consequence of the Euro (which we aren't part of) rather than the EU (which we are). My guess is that it's likely to have hardened those who were already in the pro/anti camps and confused those who are undecided. Possibly of more practical effect will be whether it makes the likes of Germany etc more inclined to negotiate the EU T&Cs with the UK prior to the referendum. The UK government want more flexibility in the arrangements. I can see political arguments both for giving a bit of slack so that the EU definitely stays together and for the Eurozone saying that it's flexibility that got them into their current mess.

There is zero prospect of Britain joining the Euro; nobody's even talking about that. The possible upcoming referendum is about Britain leaving the EU.

by mrec 11y ago

There is zero prospect of Britain joining the Euro; nobody's even talking about that. The possible upcoming referendum is about Britain leaving the EU.

adamc 11y ago

Yes, I know. My question (with respect to Britain) is whether this will have any effect on the vote.

tonyedgecombe 11y ago
I doubt it, people know we aren't in the euro and aren't directly exposed to the Greek problem.
- vidarh 11y ago
  But people also see this as a demonstration of the problems with the EU. As someone who would like to eventually see a federal EU, this whole situation has been exasperating because it has driven a lot of really pro-EU people I know to question whether the EU as whole ought to even survive if it doesn't reform after this.
  - youngtaff 11y ago
    Why do you want a federal Europe? I'm deeply opposed to the idea on many fronts but am genuinely interested in the opposite view.
lucozade 11y ago
It definitely plays into the hands of the anti-EU brigade. Their whole spiel is that the EU is a bullying, un-democratic bureaucracy. The last few weeks have made it kind of hard to make the argument that it's a warm and fuzzy family of equals. Whether or not it'll have much of an effect on the vote, I'm not so sure. I doubt if many British identify with the Greek situation (in the sense that it could happen here, there's definitely a lot of empathy about). It's definitely seen as a consequence of the Euro (which we aren't part of) rather than the EU (which we are). My guess is that it's likely to have hardened those who were already in the pro/anti camps and confused those who are undecided. Possibly of more practical effect will be whether it makes the likes of Germany etc more inclined to negotiate the EU T&Cs with the UK prior to the referendum. The UK government want more flexibility in the arrangements. I can see political arguments both for giving a bit of slack so that the EU definitely stays together and for the Eurozone saying that it's flexibility that got them into their current mess.