Britain will hold in-out referendum on Europe by the end of 2017

Prime Minister David Cameron makes his historic speech on Europe Prime Minister David Cameron makes his historic speech on Europe

CONSERVATIVES will stage a referendum on whether Britain should remain a member of the European Union by the end of 2017 if they win the next election.

In an historic speech this morning David Cameron threw down the gauntlet to his fellow EU leaders to agree sweeping changes to the UK's membership terms or face a damaging exit.

His pledge to hold a national referendum delighted eurosceptics but is likely to horrify major employers who fear a British exit will be hugely damaging for the economy.

In recent days executives from Ford, BMW and Honda have all warned of dire consequences should Britain try to go it alone.

American diplomats have also warned that Britain will lose influence on the world stage if it carries out its threat and the Germans have forecast an "economic disaster".

Mr Cameron's pledge to campaign for continued membership of a “more flexible, adaptable and open” EU and not to "pull up the drawbridge" will do little to  mollify their concerns.

Speaking in London, the Prime Minister declared himself in favour of a straightforward in/out referendum - the first since Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson negotiated changes before a referendum in 1975.

The Conservative manifesto for the 2015 general election will ask for a mandate to negotiate a “new settlement” for Britain in Europe.

Enabling legislation would be drafted before the election and passed by the end of 2015 to complete the renegotiation and then submit it to voters in a referendum within the first half of the next five-year Parliament.

“It is time for the British people to have their say,” Mr Cameron said. “It is time to settle this European question in British politics...

“I say to the British people: this will be your decision. And when that choice comes, you will have an important choice to make about our country's destiny.”

He put forward a vision of an EU based on competitiveness, flexibility, power flowing back to member states not draining away from them, accountability and fairness.

Mr Cameron was initially planning to make his speech in the Netherlands last Friday, but had to postpone it in order to focus on the Algerian hostage crisis. More than six months in the planning, the address has been so often delayed that the PM joked he was taking a “tantric” approach to policy.

It comes amid growing Tory backbench concern about the rising tide of support the UK Independence Party, which has recorded poll ratings of 10 per cent or more with its call for an immediate in/out poll.

Mr Cameron acknowledged that “public disillusionment with the EU is at an all-time high” and said democratic consent for the EU within the UK as “wafer-thin”, adding: "Put simply many ask" why can't we have what we voted to join - a single market?"

The UK was seen as "argumentative" by fellow EU members, he admitted. "For us the EU is a means to an end. Not an end in itself. But this doesn't make us, somehow, un-European."

Mr Cameron said that “with courage and conviction" he could  deliver a more flexible, adaptable and open European Union in which the interests and ambitions of all its members can be met.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said last night that the speech defined Mr Cameron as “a weak Prime Minister, being driven by his party, not by the national economic interest”.

“Everyone knows that the priority for Britain is the jobs and growth that we need,” said Mr Miliband. “We have had warning after warning from British business about the dangers of creating years of uncertainty for Britain.

“This speech will do nothing for a young person looking for work, for a small business worried about a loan, for the family whose living standards are squeezed. Britain needs a Prime Minister who is making change happen now in Europe, ensuring that we put jobs and growth ahead of austerity and unemployment.”

But Mr Cameron said the uncertainty already existed and ignoring the question would not make it go away. "It is essential to Europe, and Britain, that we do," he said.

The EU had been central in "healing the wounds of history", he added. "We should pay tribute to all those in the EU, as well as Nata, that made that happen."

The EU's remit now was not to secure peace, but prosperity and the challenge Britain faces came not from within Europe but without.

* Do you think Britain would be better off outside the EU? Leave your comment below or send a letter to echo@nne.co.uk

Comments(43)

jsrace says...
12:21am Wed 23 Jan 13

Weren't We promised a referendum if the Tories won the last general election?

supercool says...
12:36am Wed 23 Jan 13

Cameron has lost the plot if he thinks we can wait almost five years for a vote

Sign this petition to restrict Bulgarian and Romanians from entering the UK:
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/41492

Sign this petition to allow UKIP to take part in the 2015 TV election debates:
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/43153

the-big-yin says...
10:05am Wed 23 Jan 13

Britain will be a third world country with these idiots in charge...
ukip is now the 3rd party in this country so they should be on tv debating along with the other 3 parties.....sky tv should have them on...OR PUT THEM ALL N JEREMY KYLE SHOW......
More pressure on our country when the 500,000+ thieving Romanians and Bulgarians land over here.....
Where the hell are they going to live and work....rules should be in place so that they cannot claim any benefits for 3 years or more....
THEN AGAIN OUR LOVELY GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE THEM FREE HOUSING AND BENEFITS AS SOON AS THEY LAND.....IT MAKES MY P.I.S.S. BOIL !!!!!!!!

oliviaden6 says...
10:32am Wed 23 Jan 13

The Great British Public were turned over on the Original referundum and no doubt we will be shafted this time. Mr Camerons speech has done NOTHING to alay the fears and frustrations that the British Public have with the European Autocrats. England is England its not inward looking or protectionist but enough is enough of the drivel and balderdash that comes out of Europe ever waking day. We have elected our Parliament to speak for us and we the Public are being ignored every step of the way.

simmo707 says...
10:55am Wed 23 Jan 13

BROKEN BRITAIN UNDER TORIES – CAMERON IS TREATING THE BRITISH PUBLIC LIKE MONKEYS
Cameron is declaring “your shout in or out “ he can’t lie in bed straight never mind tell the truth ,he has virtually privatised the NHS ,decimated the Welfare State ,set up the first stages to privatise the Police Force and stood by and witnessed over 10,000 vulnerable people die at the hands of Atos .He lied on his first promise of a referendum .He is weak and not to be trusted his attack dogs ID Smith and Grayling both liars and public purse thieves are left to run riot with their draconian measures to destroy the fabric of society as we know it .
Eric Pickles has now jumped on the band wagon spouting about dysfunctional families and how much they cost the tax payer per year ,have they just sprung up – you’ve had two years to deal with them or could have made a start when in opposition – empty vessels make most noise .
As well as the two clowns above we have Blair pontificating about terrorists – Blair you have no credibility ,you left this country on the road to ruin ,idiots may pay to hear your rhetoric but it falls on deaf ears of the British Public after what you have done to this Country .You can tell by your aged face money is no substitute for respect .

Homshaw1 says...
11:34am Wed 23 Jan 13

It's not only Europe that generates red tape

I've just had a cold steak and kidney pie because these twits put VAT on warm ones and no one is willing to pay the extra

RTI comes in April which will be a headache for small businesses

I voted not to join back in the original referendum

Now we have burnt our bridges. We will end up being a trading nation no one wants to trade with

There are problems with the EEC but In/Out is too simplicitic. Given a straight choice I would vote out but its not the ideal solution

Jaga says...
11:39am Wed 23 Jan 13

I wouldn't trust CamMoron as far as I could throw him. Then Again, is Millipede any better?

Labour supporters should look closely at the last Labour Government and Labour's history. Name one Labour Government that left the country better off when it left office than when it entered office? You can't - now there's a surprise.

The Grim North says...
11:49am Wed 23 Jan 13

That gives them 5 more years to ram more pro-EU propaganda down our throats and swell the UK population with people who will vote to stay in. I'm sure they will get the answer they want come 2017.

CTRILEY says...
12:40pm Wed 23 Jan 13

The Grim North wrote:
That gives them 5 more years to ram more pro-EU propaganda down our throats and swell the UK population with people who will vote to stay in. I'm sure they will get the answer they want come 2017.
Reading this I was reminded of Ireland and that EU treaty a couple of years back.

The people voted "NO" so they were forced to have another so they'd say "YES".

If people voye for "out" bet there'll be another vote until the answr is "stay".

bingbong says...
1:15pm Wed 23 Jan 13

This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to try and ensure the Tories get a majority at the next election. Cameron thinks the general public are gullible enough to vote Tory just because he offers a referendum. Backed by the anti-EU hysteria whipped up by the tabloid press Cameron thinks he's onto a winner.
.
Of course the irony is (as other posters have pointed out), Cameron probably doesn't actually want us to leave EU. Very sad attempt to manipulate the election result.

MSG says...
1:29pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Labour tricked our granparents into voting us into Europe. I hope to vote us out now and not in 5 years time!
We have been promised votes on treaties by Labour who then let us down and no doubt the Tories will pull the plug on this if they get back in.

Its time to vote UKIP and get us out NOW !!!!!

MSG says...
1:32pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Sorry, meant Tories tricked out granparents.

nocommonsense says...
1:36pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I agree completely. Cameron's actions are typical of today's short sighted,nose in the trough politics. When a party leader promotes a policy he does not even agree with just to ensure another term in office ,it shows the plight of our failing system of government. Anyone who really wants a referendum on Europe should vote UKIP

behonest says...
1:53pm Wed 23 Jan 13

bingbong wrote:
This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to try and ensure the Tories get a majority at the next election. Cameron thinks the general public are gullible enough to vote Tory just because he offers a referendum. Backed by the anti-EU hysteria whipped up by the tabloid press Cameron thinks he's onto a winner. . Of course the irony is (as other posters have pointed out), Cameron probably doesn't actually want us to leave EU. Very sad attempt to manipulate the election result.
Absolutely. Pure politics. Cameron thinks enough voters in marginal seats, otherwise tempted to vote UKIP, will be tempted by this and vote Tory. I doubt it.

To promote something that you don't deliver and will vote against, just to buy votes, is disgraceful. Who does he think he is, Nick Clegg?

st-george1 says...
2:19pm Wed 23 Jan 13

EU rules for some but not for all … immigration FROM the EU to Britain is simple and means the immigrants are rewarded with access to all the benefit system offers to its own, HOWEVER, when British Nationals want to migrate to Spain for example, they must prove they have sufficient income, savings or a job there to be able to support themselves. If they cannot comply they are NOT ABLE to get residency permission … that’s the one-sided rule I’m afraid that must be forcibly changed otherwise it makes one want to weep in disgust and shame !

Prime Minister David Cameron’s EU referendum pledge as expected leaves the Labour Party and their luvvies in turmoil after Eddy Miliband REFUSED to support the 2017 vote despite his backbenchers support and hopefully risks a major split in his party over Europe.
Time to get real … the British people will get a 2017 referendum vote with a very simple IN or OUT choice to stay in the EU on NEW TERMS or come out altogether and Mr Cameron has insisted it’s in Britain's interest to remain in a changed and reformed EU and by negotiating such changes he will argue in favour of staying in … … I for one thinks this is fantastic news for our country !

Edmondsley says...
2:23pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Another "cast iron guarantee "from Cameron.but let's remember what millipede said today.He doesn't want us to have a refendum.We are quoted about Honda & Nissan threatening to leave if we vote to come out.Didnt they threaten that if we didn't join the Euro?

st-george1 says...
3:41pm Wed 23 Jan 13

PS …
For OR against total EU membership considering the implications AND institutional failings …
It is more concerning if someone who thinks he’s a fit and proper person and goes by the name of MR BLAIR, somehow gets the EU top job by 2017 then I would recommend a very firm and decisive NO THANKS to a referendum vote, in memory of the late DR KELLY the world-renowned WMD senior inspector to whom Blair never apologised, believing he was right at the time, despite being WRONG, an indication that we would get a more Marxist unjust society and rules of law favouring the EU elite wherever he lands !

behonest says...
4:29pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Also, powers will not be repatriated to the 'British people', they will be repatriated to British politicians.

The idea that we will have some kind of say in, or control of, any such powers is fantasy and the usual con trick, designed to sell the idea to us.

Illegal wars, major NHS re-structure, Forces redundancies, benefit cuts, tax increases, etc, etc. None of these were decided by the 'British people', all by politicians only (after being elected). Whether we actually agree with the policies is a separate issue - we had no say in them.

'If we don't like it, we can always vote them out, unlike EU bureaucrats.' Well I think, like many people, the most heinous of child murderers should face the death penalty, so we're going to vote for.....erm.....that
'll be which party? (Name one that can form a government for the whole country).

No, the Tories are just serving their own self-important interests. As mentioned earlier, if they wanted to tackle an EU issue of concern to British people they could address the pending flood of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants that may soon descend upon our shores. It's a good job we don't have a youth unemployment problem in the UK!

mark.wilkinson says...
4:48pm Wed 23 Jan 13

yada yada yada, I've heard it all before.

Isn't this exactly what the Labour stooges promised us a few years ago?

Forget It Mr. Cameron, I personally couldn't care less about your pathetic promise of a referendum on Europe. It's too late....UKIP have my vote next time around and I hope the majority feel the same way I do.

BMD says...
5:15pm Wed 23 Jan 13

This is just saber rattling, the EU are fully aware that the British public are fed up with their social agenda, rules and laws.

Cameron is just strengthening his negotiating hand.

If Britain did opt out, Germany, Holland and France would have to either pick up the bill for emerging Euro Nations or cut their funding pledges.

tomtopper says...
5:45pm Wed 23 Jan 13

mark.wilkinson wrote:
yada yada yada, I've heard it all before.

Isn't this exactly what the Labour stooges promised us a few years ago?

Forget It Mr. Cameron, I personally couldn't care less about your pathetic promise of a referendum on Europe. It's too late....UKIP have my vote next time around and I hope the majority feel the same way I do.
My sentiments exactly

loonyleft says...
6:40pm Wed 23 Jan 13

If we leave the eu, will we have to go b ack to moaning about government in London,like we used to b efore we joined the eu.

PaulMJohnson says...
7:21pm Wed 23 Jan 13

jsrace wrote:
Weren't We promised a referendum if the Tories won the last general election?
You do realize the Tories didn't actually win the last election, right? That's why they are in a coalition.

In order to go ahead with the referendum they promised, they would need to get it through Parliament, which with the Lib Dems committed to voting against such a thing, wouldn't happen.

PaulMJohnson says...
7:25pm Wed 23 Jan 13

simmo707 wrote:
BROKEN BRITAIN UNDER TORIES – CAMERON IS TREATING THE BRITISH PUBLIC LIKE MONKEYS
Cameron is declaring “your shout in or out “ he can’t lie in bed straight never mind tell the truth ,he has virtually privatised the NHS ,decimated the Welfare State ,set up the first stages to privatise the Police Force and stood by and witnessed over 10,000 vulnerable people die at the hands of Atos .He lied on his first promise of a referendum .He is weak and not to be trusted his attack dogs ID Smith and Grayling both liars and public purse thieves are left to run riot with their draconian measures to destroy the fabric of society as we know it .
Eric Pickles has now jumped on the band wagon spouting about dysfunctional families and how much they cost the tax payer per year ,have they just sprung up – you’ve had two years to deal with them or could have made a start when in opposition – empty vessels make most noise .
As well as the two clowns above we have Blair pontificating about terrorists – Blair you have no credibility ,you left this country on the road to ruin ,idiots may pay to hear your rhetoric but it falls on deaf ears of the British Public after what you have done to this Country .You can tell by your aged face money is no substitute for respect .
How has he "virtually privatised the NHS"? As far as I can see, the vast majority of work is still commissioned and performed by NHS doctors and nurses.

How also has he decimated the welfare state? Spending on welfare is higher this year than at any other time in history. It's a weird form of decimation.

As for the police being privatized, considering these are the people who lied in order to get a cabinet minister sacked, lied in order to hide their incompetence at Hillsborough, lied in order to hide the fact they had shot an innocent man on the London Underground, perhaps making them a little more accountable might actually be a good idea? Clearly as they operate at the moment, in the public sector where accountability can never be considered strong, they are not functioning well.

John H Waiting says...
8:56pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Let us be honest a manifesto is not worth the paper it is written on! It is time for the British people to have their say NOW not at the end of 2017 when the EU will have bribed us, sent hundreds of thousands of more immigrants to our shores and tried to confuse the people with propaganda.
The EU are feckless and no Accountant will sign off their "Accounts" for the last 14 YEARS because of fraud and sloppy accounting.It appears to me that the EU's most debilitating disease is virulent ubiquitous corruption.
Mr Cameron enough IS enough!

IanfromCrook says...
12:03am Thu 24 Jan 13

Purely political, Cameron has realised he is heading to loose the next election so is rolling the dice to keep his job. Will the public be that dumb???
We will see

simmo707 says...
9:22am Fri 25 Jan 13

BROKEN BRITAIN UNDER TORIES – OSBORNE’S SMUGNESS IS IN HIDING
Osborne is heading for a triple dip through his incompetence hence his low profile coupled with his public purse thefts ..Cameron is lying when he says Welfare Reform is needed to shore up the economy ,granted at its present rate it will eventually spiral out of control through their lack of positive moves on immigration ,overseas aid and illegal wars .As Churchill said a lie will travel the world before the truth gets its pants on .Labour did not leave the country in the mess peddled by the Tories ,in fact it was reducing the deficit when it was in power .Labour inherited a deficit in 1977 of 3.9% and by 2008 had reduced this to 2.1%.Cameron is playing the blame game ,to depress confidence and growth to justify austerity .Peddling this to the public will weaken their trust in Labour over economic issues ,thus giving them a second term in power to carry on their draconian acts against the general populace and not deliver a Referendum .Goebbels said “the bigger the lie the more it is believed”
www,brokenbritainund
ertories.com

johnny_p says...
2:31pm Sun 27 Jan 13

simmo707 wrote:
BROKEN BRITAIN UNDER TORIES – OSBORNE’S SMUGNESS IS IN HIDING
Osborne is heading for a triple dip through his incompetence hence his low profile coupled with his public purse thefts ..Cameron is lying when he says Welfare Reform is needed to shore up the economy ,granted at its present rate it will eventually spiral out of control through their lack of positive moves on immigration ,overseas aid and illegal wars .As Churchill said a lie will travel the world before the truth gets its pants on .Labour did not leave the country in the mess peddled by the Tories ,in fact it was reducing the deficit when it was in power .Labour inherited a deficit in 1977 of 3.9% and by 2008 had reduced this to 2.1%.Cameron is playing the blame game ,to depress confidence and growth to justify austerity .Peddling this to the public will weaken their trust in Labour over economic issues ,thus giving them a second term in power to carry on their draconian acts against the general populace and not deliver a Referendum .Goebbels said “the bigger the lie the more it is believed”
www,brokenbritainund

ertories.com
I bet you believe what North Korean websites tell you too Simmo? Hilarious!

simmo707 says...
3:23pm Sun 27 Jan 13

BROKEN BRITAINUNDER TORIES – OLD AGE PENSIONS V IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES
Absolutely nothing against immigrants or refugees but surely this cannot be right .
Are you aware of the following ? The British Government provides the following financial assistance : - British Old Aged Pensioner (bearing in mind they have worked hard and paid their Income Tax and NI to the British Government all their working life) weekly allowance £106.00
Immigrants/refugees (paid no tax or NI) weekly allowance £225.00
British OAP weekly spouse allowance £25.00
Immigrant/refugee spouse allowance £225.00
British OAP hardship allowance £000.00
Immigrant/refugee hardship allowance £100.00
OAP YEARLY BENEFIT £6,000.00
IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE YEARLY BENEFIT £29,000.00
I wondered where the capping figure for benefits to be introduced will be £26,000.00
Who will be on that figure – Immigrants/refugees – the influx of the expected 600,000 Bulgarians and Romanians – EU out now – we have been sold down the river again .
.www.brokenbritainun
dertories.com

simmo707 says...
3:24pm Sun 27 Jan 13

supercool wrote:
Cameron has lost the plot if he thinks we can wait almost five years for a vote

Sign this petition to restrict Bulgarian and Romanians from entering the UK:
http://epetitions.di

rect.gov.uk/petition

s/41492

Sign this petition to allow UKIP to take part in the 2015 TV election debates:
http://epetitions.di

rect.gov.uk/petition

s/43153
BROKEN BRITAINUNDER TORIES – OLD AGE PENSIONS V IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES
Absolutely nothing against immigrants or refugees but surely this cannot be right .
Are you aware of the following ? The British Government provides the following financial assistance : - British Old Aged Pensioner (bearing in mind they have worked hard and paid their Income Tax and NI to the British Government all their working life) weekly allowance £106.00
Immigrants/refugees (paid no tax or NI) weekly allowance £225.00
British OAP weekly spouse allowance £25.00
Immigrant/refugee spouse allowance £225.00
British OAP hardship allowance £000.00
Immigrant/refugee hardship allowance £100.00
OAP YEARLY BENEFIT £6,000.00
IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE YEARLY BENEFIT £29,000.00
I wondered where the capping figure for benefits to be introduced will be £26,000.00
Who will be on that figure – Immigrants/refugees – the influx of the expected 600,000 Bulgarians and Romanians – EU out now – we have been sold down the river again .
.www.brokenbritainun
dertories.com

simmo707 says...
3:24pm Sun 27 Jan 13

the-big-yin wrote:
Britain will be a third world country with these idiots in charge...
ukip is now the 3rd party in this country so they should be on tv debating along with the other 3 parties.....sky tv should have them on...OR PUT THEM ALL N JEREMY KYLE SHOW......
More pressure on our country when the 500,000+ thieving Romanians and Bulgarians land over here.....
Where the hell are they going to live and work....rules should be in place so that they cannot claim any benefits for 3 years or more....
THEN AGAIN OUR LOVELY GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE THEM FREE HOUSING AND BENEFITS AS SOON AS THEY LAND.....IT MAKES MY P.I.S.S. BOIL !!!!!!!!
BROKEN BRITAINUNDER TORIES – OLD AGE PENSIONS V IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES
Absolutely nothing against immigrants or refugees but surely this cannot be right .
Are you aware of the following ? The British Government provides the following financial assistance : - British Old Aged Pensioner (bearing in mind they have worked hard and paid their Income Tax and NI to the British Government all their working life) weekly allowance £106.00
Immigrants/refugees (paid no tax or NI) weekly allowance £225.00
British OAP weekly spouse allowance £25.00
Immigrant/refugee spouse allowance £225.00
British OAP hardship allowance £000.00
Immigrant/refugee hardship allowance £100.00
OAP YEARLY BENEFIT £6,000.00
IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE YEARLY BENEFIT £29,000.00
I wondered where the capping figure for benefits to be introduced will be £26,000.00
Who will be on that figure – Immigrants/refugees – the influx of the expected 600,000 Bulgarians and Romanians – EU out now – we have been sold down the river again .
.www.brokenbritainun
dertories.com

simmo707 says...
3:25pm Sun 27 Jan 13

The Grim North wrote:
That gives them 5 more years to ram more pro-EU propaganda down our throats and swell the UK population with people who will vote to stay in. I'm sure they will get the answer they want come 2017.
BROKEN BRITAINUNDER TORIES – OLD AGE PENSIONS V IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES
Absolutely nothing against immigrants or refugees but surely this cannot be right .
Are you aware of the following ? The British Government provides the following financial assistance : - British Old Aged Pensioner (bearing in mind they have worked hard and paid their Income Tax and NI to the British Government all their working life) weekly allowance £106.00
Immigrants/refugees (paid no tax or NI) weekly allowance £225.00
British OAP weekly spouse allowance £25.00
Immigrant/refugee spouse allowance £225.00
British OAP hardship allowance £000.00
Immigrant/refugee hardship allowance £100.00
OAP YEARLY BENEFIT £6,000.00
IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE YEARLY BENEFIT £29,000.00
I wondered where the capping figure for benefits to be introduced will be £26,000.00
Who will be on that figure – Immigrants/refugees – the influx of the expected 600,000 Bulgarians and Romanians – EU out now – we have been sold down the river again .
.www.brokenbritainun
dertories.com

simmo707 says...
3:27pm Sun 27 Jan 13

st-george1 wrote:
EU rules for some but not for all … immigration FROM the EU to Britain is simple and means the immigrants are rewarded with access to all the benefit system offers to its own, HOWEVER, when British Nationals want to migrate to Spain for example, they must prove they have sufficient income, savings or a job there to be able to support themselves. If they cannot comply they are NOT ABLE to get residency permission … that’s the one-sided rule I’m afraid that must be forcibly changed otherwise it makes one want to weep in disgust and shame !

Prime Minister David Cameron’s EU referendum pledge as expected leaves the Labour Party and their luvvies in turmoil after Eddy Miliband REFUSED to support the 2017 vote despite his backbenchers support and hopefully risks a major split in his party over Europe.
Time to get real … the British people will get a 2017 referendum vote with a very simple IN or OUT choice to stay in the EU on NEW TERMS or come out altogether and Mr Cameron has insisted it’s in Britain's interest to remain in a changed and reformed EU and by negotiating such changes he will argue in favour of staying in … … I for one thinks this is fantastic news for our country !
BROKEN BRITAINUNDER TORIES – OLD AGE PENSIONS V IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES
Absolutely nothing against immigrants or refugees but surely this cannot be right .
Are you aware of the following ? The British Government provides the following financial assistance : - British Old Aged Pensioner (bearing in mind they have worked hard and paid their Income Tax and NI to the British Government all their working life) weekly allowance £106.00
Immigrants/refugees (paid no tax or NI) weekly allowance £225.00
British OAP weekly spouse allowance £25.00
Immigrant/refugee spouse allowance £225.00
British OAP hardship allowance £000.00
Immigrant/refugee hardship allowance £100.00
OAP YEARLY BENEFIT £6,000.00
IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE YEARLY BENEFIT £29,000.00
I wondered where the capping figure for benefits to be introduced will be £26,000.00
Who will be on that figure – Immigrants/refugees – the influx of the expected 600,000 Bulgarians and Romanians – EU out now – we have been sold down the river again .
.www.brokenbritainun
dertories.com

ajtib3 says...
5:12pm Sun 27 Jan 13

Repeating a half-truth does not make it true.

There is nothing like those figures expected to come in - and in fact if there were the government would have to accept total responsibility given their rules on the link given.

http://www.ukba.home
office.gov.uk/euciti
zens/bulgaria-romani
a/

PS Benefit limits are for all - including pensioners. Pensioners will often be on other benefits too so its not a like for like comparison you are giving.

simmo707 says...
5:20pm Sun 27 Jan 13

ajtib3 wrote:
Repeating a half-truth does not make it true.

There is nothing like those figures expected to come in - and in fact if there were the government would have to accept total responsibility given their rules on the link given.

http://www.ukba.home

office.gov.uk/euciti

zens/bulgaria-romani

a/

PS Benefit limits are for all - including pensioners. Pensioners will often be on other benefits too so its not a like for like comparison you are giving.
"there is nothing like those figures expected to come in"
The Universal Credit Handbook states that benefits are capped at £26,000 - I suggest you withdraw your head from up your arse and do some research before you accuse others of 'repeating half truths' engage brain before opening mouth

IanfromCrook says...
7:42pm Sun 27 Jan 13

Information about what asylum seekers are actually entitled to rather than copying any old rubbish right wing propaganda from non-legitimate sources. This reponce is on a gov website in responce to the pushing of the ridiculous figures earlier mentioned...........
................

DWP response
I should first clarify that illegal immigrants are by definition unable to claim or qualify for any benefits whatsoever as they are usually living in the UK unknown to the relevant authorities.
There is no standard benefit that asylum seekers can receive in the way suggested by the information you have received. Since 3 April 2000, asylum seekers who require assistance are offered support by way of a cash
allowance for living expenses and in some cases, accommodation. This
scheme is administered by the Home Office’s Asylum Support Service. The
weekly asylum support rates from April 2011 are £36.62 for a single person
and £72.52 for a couple over age 18.
The United Kingdom is a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention
relating to the Status of Refugees. As a consequence we must fully honour
our obligation to consider all applications for asylum made in this country or at
our ports. In order to qualify for asylum a person must be outside his or her
country of nationality and have a well founded fear of being persecuted for
reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group
or political opinion.
In the event of an asylum seeker being granted refugee status, they are
subject to the same rules of entitlement to benefit, and rates of benefit, as
United Kingdom citizens.

IanfromCrook says...
7:50pm Sun 27 Jan 13

After a little research on possible figures on how many Romanians and Bulgarians may come to the UK. Taking a half dozen legitimate sources and looking at the averages it would seem to be 50 to 75 thousand............
........maybe someone added a nought to their figures above to try and prove an invalid argument.

greenfinger says...
8:46pm Sun 27 Jan 13

one is one too many. they're the dregs of europe. thats why it's taken them so long to get in.

IanfromCrook says...
11:14pm Sun 27 Jan 13

greenfinger wrote:
one is one too many. they're the dregs of europe. thats why it's taken them so long to get in.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Judge not, that ye be not judged.

ajtib3 says...
12:38pm Mon 28 Jan 13

simmo707 wrote:
ajtib3 wrote:
Repeating a half-truth does not make it true.

There is nothing like those figures expected to come in - and in fact if there were the government would have to accept total responsibility given their rules on the link given.

http://www.ukba.home


office.gov.uk/euciti


zens/bulgaria-romani


a/

PS Benefit limits are for all - including pensioners. Pensioners will often be on other benefits too so its not a like for like comparison you are giving.
"there is nothing like those figures expected to come in"
The Universal Credit Handbook states that benefits are capped at £26,000 - I suggest you withdraw your head from up your arse and do some research before you accuse others of 'repeating half truths' engage brain before opening mouth
Perhaps you would like to demonstrate your research - or did it amount to some headline you saw in the Daily Mail?

The truth is that the Universal credit does intend to set that limit for all benefit claimants. The un-truth was everything else you said. Hence - half-truth.

victorjames says...
8:31pm Mon 28 Jan 13

IanfromCrook wrote:
Purely political, Cameron has realised he is heading to loose the next election so is rolling the dice to keep his job. Will the public be that dumb??? We will see
Quite correct and if he does win he wont hold a referendum any way. Politicians are bigger liars than second hand car salesmen.

MSG says...
11:06pm Mon 28 Jan 13

With all the fuss & dread about the hordes of Romainians & Bulgarians coming will 2013 see the BNP making a comeback ?

IanfromCrook says...
11:18pm Mon 28 Jan 13

MSG wrote:
With all the fuss & dread about the hordes of Romainians & Bulgarians coming will 2013 see the BNP making a comeback ?
A comeback would give the impression that they were once prominent,,,,,they weren't. Hopefully they will stay slinking in the shadows..........or even better shrinking.

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