I feel that I have much more in common with the Dutch, Germans and Scandanavians than I ever will with Americans. You know, countries where not quite everything has been sacrificed on the altars of corporate consumerism and outsourcing.

If people think that a UK exit from the EU will see it become an independent beacon of "Britishness" and revert to some sort of 50's - 60's (or even Victorian) idyll, then I suggest they think again.

Well I think Simon's head is large; always involved in espionage. (Name that tune)

Hopefully, Britain will vote to leave the EU. But even if we don't, the EU will sooner or later collapse under the weight of its contradictions, just like other attempts to create political entities from established countries with different languages, race, religion and culture: USSR,Yugoslavia and the Balkans in general, Indian sub-continent, Middle East, and even the 'United' Kingdom.

I think most people like the idea of some sort of European trade bloc but I think thats where the support ends. If you look at the history of the EU it has essentially moved from a simple trade movement towards a political union. At no point has it ever looked at moving the other way. This is why i'm skeptical that the notion of a United States of Europe has or ever will truly go away.

For me EU needs total and complete reform, kind of like a two tier membership level where you have countries who wish to politically integrate and countries who just want free trade. The problem is the EU is fundamentally unwilling to offer that. Instead it goes on about having its own police force, defence budget and foreign policy, you name it!.

For me, the UK needs to wield its soft power by looking towards the BRICS and commonwealth countries as well as the developing world. Alot of countries out there want to trade with us, why we are prioritising countries based on geographical location as opposed to economical and political suitability? It just doesn't seem a particularly good idea to me.

I think ultimately the EU can serve a useful process. There is a massive need for a cross European police force (kind of a federal force) i.e. Interpol with actual powers - Cross national border crime is a massive problem and whilst each country does have its own National Crime teams, it really needs to be centralised around avoiding things like extradition.

Despite the usual right wing rants about the ECHR its actually has made enforcement of UK law easier and beneficial towards the population of the Europe (as well as serving to arbitrate on conflicts within nations laws that previously took decades and millions to resolve).

Problem of the EU is that it doesn't serve the interests of nations, but businesses (particualy trans-national corporations). The biggest issue isn't soverignity, but working migration that serves to undermine low salary and increasingly medium level salaried jobs through importation of foreign talent (leading to issues both nations, the supplied and supplier - try getting a polish plumber in Poland during the period prior to the crash).

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

No. Was I meant to produce one?

Well I think Simon's head is large; always involved in espionage. (Name that tune)

Read the article properly and you'll see it was Ken Clarke who said "euroscepticism is, I think, a euphemism for right-wing nationalism"

Clarke will say anything to try and ensure the UK remains a member of his precious eu.