Thought I'd start a new thread as this is going to be a major talking point this year...have not made up my mind yet...(unlike bucksfizz)....but thinking of voting for an exit as Europe is not doing Britain any good at all it seems....

cynic try this link to the express of June 2009....It's regarding the Kinnocks EU gravy train ride, scroll halfway down the article.

express.co.uk/news/uk/107438/Lord-Lady-kinnock-s-10m-Euro-gravy-train


'He also qualifies for a pension which pays out 83,089 pounds a year and would cost 1.16 million to buy in the private sector. The terms require him to remain supportive of the EU project."

That also applies to others who have EU pensions......ITS ONE BIG GRAVY TRAIN, AND ENCOURAGES THOSE IN THE EU'S HOLD TO BETRAY THEIR OWN COUNTRIES....

i wonder if they got sepp blatter's lawyers to draw up the contracts

When I was looking in to the EU several years ago, it was then that I read(can't remember/find details now) about the terms and obligations of the EX employee's and remaining loyal to Brussels instead of their country, If they wished to keep receiving their EU pensions...Same with Clegg!

Sensible criticism can be supportive.

Compared with bankers, hedge funders, footballers and share gamblers, are their salaries and pensions disproportionate.

(Or those who are living off trust fund money earnt by others.)

There is a smell of jealousy about many postings.

unwarranted fred (re jealousy), even if their salaries and pensions are tax free

more to the point is the time-unlimited covenant that their pension may be forfeit if they say anything against eu and its governance etc
i would have thought this fell under the rules of unfair contract

I could'nt give a flying frick what you smell...If those who try to scaremonger us into voting to stay in a corrupt, undemocratic, unaccountable organisation and who's opinion IS grossly biased then the sooner we get out of that place!!!.....

It seems true. This is from 2009

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/4996440/Lord-Mandelson-must-remain-loyal-to-EU-to-guarantee-pension.html

i'm quite surprised that no one in the (official) "out" camp has brought this up

It won't matter as we will end up staying in.

i (think i) fear you are correct

I think your both wrong (and that is not wishful thinking)

It does annoy me that a lot of these politicians are just thinking of their own pocket ,i always thought they were such an honest bunch.

I think fear will keep us in. I wish we would leave but the British are a timid nation that frightens easily.

You poor little mouse.

I would think mutual gain from being in the EU would be the driving force for the UK staying in.

Work for reforms from within the organisation, instead of constant bleating how unfairly you think the others are treating the UK.

It is sounding more like a dormitory of overgrown school children with bully boys telling ghost stories.

the more i hear, the more certain that i shall be voting "out"
i also found the quick straw poll i did at the golf club at the w/e was also generally for "out" which rather surprised me


not sure about my family, but certainly no majority for staying "in"

The most Eurosceptic areas are low populations: East Anglia, Scottish Highlands, Wales, Isle of Wight, the South West.

Rural farming communities v industrial urban areas. (Except for the Isle of Wight....not sure why they are anti!)

There's people who like to delude themselves..Fred1 being one...NEVER in a million years will the UK be able to reform the EU..It's not on their agenda.

'Call me Dave' has just attempted to do some reforming and failed miserably, returning with a much reduced concessions then from what he said he wanted, and which he said on many occasions that if he did'nt achieve what he wanted he'd advocate pulling out...

He capitulated meekly and abysmally but still has the audacity to claim it a victory..

SHAMELESS!!!

Call Me does shameless like no other.

But there again, he got what he really wanted, so it's a result in his book.

i will stand up and champion DC for the effort he made, but he was always going to be severely limited in any result obtainable ..... but not really relevant

==============

i totally agree with GB ..... there is no will at all within the eu heirarchy to make any meaningful reforms for whatever (dis)honest reasons

i fear the result and consequences of uk pulling out, but have just as many though different misgivings if we stay in

there is a majority in my direct family for pulling out, with one unknown and one undecided ..... i don't yet know the views of attaching partners