It's up to pensioners to vote us out of Europe
I APPLAUDED every word, every syllable, that David Salmon of UKIP stated in The Herald (January 7), and it's about time that political parties had the guts to stand up for the people in this country who not only want to be rid of Europe, but also to put a stop to immigration which has de-stabilised our way of life and get rid of the European Convention of Human Rights which continues to make a monkey out of our law courts and has changed our make up and way of life.
Let us for once in our lives be adults and be allowed to talk about subjects which the people of this country want rid of, and without being labelled racist or whatever which always seems to be the case. We the people of this country are allowed to speak our minds about anything provided its done respectfully.
For 40 years we have heard nothing but lies and prevarication over the common market and immigration. Every government over the past 40 years, of whatever party, has promised a referendum and has never delivered.
David Cameron states that we will have one after the election, probably when we are so tied into Europe that we won't be able to get out. I certainly would not trust him to do so.
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This country fought in two world wars to retain its freedom and its individuality. We have cast aside our good friends in the commonwealth who stood by us during the wars, and in my view we failed them by going into Europe. We did not vote for federalism in any way shape or form.
Those under 60 years of age have been brought up with the European Union, so therefore are not aware of just what this nation had prior to the amalgamation, so it's really up to us old age pensioners to do something about it – if not for ourselves then for our children, and their children and future generations.
Old age pensioners are the largest voting section of our society, and therefore have the biggest clout at the ballot box. Do you want to hear any more lies from Labour and Conservatives?
This nation is paying to Europe around £40m per day for the privilege of being in this club, and just ask yourself what does Britain get out of it?
Just think of all the hospitals and schools that could be built for that? We the OAPs deserve a decent pension, one compatible with other European nations and not the piddling amounts we get to survive on.
It's time that our borders were closed down and only those who can offer this country something with their skills should be allowed in, and not just anyone, many of whom cannot even speak English or have any trades.
I ask, is it just me and David Salmon who think this way? Well I can tell you categorically no we are not, as everyone I talk to says the same. So why aren't are politicians doing anything about it? Because they like to think they know better than us, the people of this country.
We are told we would not survive outside of Europe. We have survived for hundreds of years, and there is no reason why we cannot continue. And we should renew our ties with the commonwealth which was set up for this very purpose.
Never mind us being called little Englanders – I would rather be called that than end up paying millions of pounds of our taxes going into countries like Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the Eastern European countries who came into Europe simply for what they can get out of it, rather than what they could put into it.
So I repeat, it's time you OAPs used the vote that you worked and fought for, and use it to put the 'Great' back in Britain. We have a chance to shake the Conservatives, Liberals and Labour to their very boots by voting to come out of Europe – don't waste that opportunity.
JULIETTE BLUNKETT
Eggbuckland
Comments
by OutsideView
Saturday, January 12 2013, 5:21PM
“There seems to misconceptions half truths and downright lies regarding UK EU membership.
What is needed is for the politicians et al to come forward with the truth for a change in order for one to come to an informed decision and promote proper debate.
There will of course always be vested interest groups for and against to suit their own agendas but they should come out into the open and put forward their case for all to see.”
by notolisbon
Saturday, January 12 2013, 5:15PM
“@leroc
You tell us that the EU is "for the common good for the development of all of Europe - poor or rich."
Tell that to the Greeks, Spanish, Irish and Portuguese – they are experiencing the collapse of their countries. Their unemployment levels are beyond any justification the incompetent clowns in Brussels can offer.
It can not pass anybody's notice that as we see the increase in "glass palaces", fleets of chauffeur driven cars, bureaucrats with six figure salaries and pensions to match, and numerous tax paid for junkets – that Europe slides into decline.
And to cite the CAP as being beneficial to Britain is ridiculous – we are using tax to subsidise the back-yard farmers of France. Our small farms also can not compete with the "landed gentry" of this country – you'll notice that the Michael Hezeltines of the world are completely at ease with ordinary people subsidising their wealthy lifestyles.
Your assertion that the EU has built Britain's roads is also laughable – we give the EU £53million a day, and they give us some money back for projects that the EU's regional bodies approve of – what could Britain do with that money rather than give it to bureaucrats in Brussels; how many hospitals and schools would that build, and what a contribution to the reduction of that deficit/debt mess left by Labour!
You speak of the cheap migrant workers coming to our country and contributing their taxes to our economy – but what of those people left behind in our own society, do our children not deserve a chance or is this state of affairs to be their future – you side with the corporatists who believe that our country's young people must be thrown on the scrapheap for profit.
And please, the use of the "little Englander" description to demean people displays contempt for those who are genuinely concerned about the increasingly centralised, technocratic, and federalist nature of the EU.
And as for Empire, I'm afraid that you are way off beam there – if anything, the UKIP members I have come into contact with display no wish to relive some of the horrors of the past, but they are concerned about the EU showing an unhealthy desire to exert its power and influence – its meddling in the North African states being one example.
I just want to live in an independent country, knowing that when I place a cross on my voting slip, the person I vote for is going to go to my Parliament and make my laws.
I also have respect for the other countries of the EU – I love the different cultures of Europe and want them to retain their individuality, I want to trade with them and take my holidays with them, but I don't want to make rules for them any more than I would wish them to make my laws.
As for leaving the EU – it is possible. The European Free Trade Association, EFTA, consisting of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland could offer Britain an alternative.
Despite the portrayal of Britain being "L'enfant terrible" of the EU it wouldn't surprise me to see other countries following us – the EU is becoming a technocratic dictatorship, dominated, not by democratically elected governments, but by the mandarin and civil servant class.
I suspect that it wouldn't just be Britain who would be glad to be free of the EU shackles – and that is what the EU corporate/political construct is terrified of.”
by leroc
Saturday, January 12 2013, 1:50PM
“It''s not just a question of what we get out of the EU. We joined not just for it's trading advantages but also for the common good for the development of all of Europe - poor or rich.
We have benefited for years from the Common Agricultural Policy despite some of it's failings. We have contributed to the improvement of the infrustrucure of other EU countries which in the long term opens those countries to further trade. The South West doesn't like to admit it but there are many improvements, particularly roads, where the EU has provided funding.
As far as immigration is concerned I wonder if many give throught to how many Brits live and work abroad, particularly in the EU.
If we have other Europeans working in the UK they contribute in taxes and by enriching our culture, plus the fact that often they provide a better service, e.g. the hospitality industry.
Amongst the UKIP utterances you do get the impression of a lot of 'Little Englanders' where we can stand alone and thrive. The days of Empire are long gone and it's time to get real about our future which is not outside the EU.”
by stevestrange
Saturday, January 12 2013, 1:30PM
“leroc,...of course you dont see Germany complaining,they are thriving on the EU,but we are not.Tell me whats so great about being in the EU.We are a net contributor,our borders are non existent.We should be concentrating more on the rest of the world,the EU is a sick dysfunctional puppy that needs putting down.”
by leroc
Saturday, January 12 2013, 12:36PM
“Well I am a pensioner and certainly believe that if we leave the EU it will be an unmitigated disaster. This will happen maybe not immediately but certainly within a few years as we gradually see certain important businesses leaving the UK for mainland Europe.
We simply cannot go back to the days of the British Empire and rely on those trading links – they are long gone. It's a geographical fact that we are in Europe and that is who we trade with now and the future. Germany is the strongest country economically in Europe and we don't see protests over there about leaving the EU. They might have a better case for leaving than the UK.
Ever since we joined the EU it seems that we have heard nothing but the protests from those who want to get us out and it's about time that those that are more forward thinking have their opinions heard.
Euro sceptics often display a total lack of awareness of what the EU does and doesn't do. For example the European Court of Human Rights is not controlled by the EU but it's, sometimes strange, judgements are often blamed on our membership. If we left the EU we would still be subject to such rulings.
It's time to stop all these anti EU rants from UKIP and be more realistic about the positive benefits of staying in the EU.”