Hi Everyone
I have been an EU leaver until yesterday, when I saw my brother. He has a whizzy job in London and he told me a story.
Think of Switzerland which is not in the EU. When a company wants one of their staff to go and work there, that person needs a Visa. This takes 6 weeks. In the digital age where we deal in everything being instant, six weeks is an impossible wait.
So what is the company forced to do? They choose a Swiss person, who is not a good match, because he or she is there and does not need a visa. If Britain leaves the EU, then we shall all be like the Swiss. Every person from every company will need a visa if we wish to work in Europe
Trading with the EU will be the same as new trade agreements need to be agreed. This apparently takes two years for a simple agreement. We all know that is ridiculous.
My brother also told me that over half our trade is with Europe. Suddenly we will need a visa and a new trade agreement. It will not work in the beginning and waiting more than a month of those two years will destroy us and collapse our economy.
What to do? The politicians have had a huge wake-up call. They do not know their people and seem more inclined to listen to foreigners than their own. This will stop when we make it stop, i.e., through political will and that of the people.
My brother told me that if an exit happens, our finance industry, which is a substantial contributor to our wealth, will go down to nothing in global terms. London has been a big financial centre for the last 10 or so years. Why would we spoil it now? Because we do not understand. I cannot believe what a mess the politicians are making. Get some real people on the TV.
My thought is to keep whingeing from within. The first thing to demand is for the European parliament to stay in one place. Secondly, we must make life better in the countries that the immigrants are fleeing. I had a comment here on the blog to suggest that Europe needed to change its ideology! So these people are not in the real world either.
If we do go out, nothing will be done right away and that will build civil tension. If the financiers lose their jobs it is 2008 all over again and everyone else will start losing theirs if not worse.
I have changed my mind and will be voting to remain in the EU.
As ever, your vote is your own. Good luck to you.
Lucyloupoliblog 