Brexit again...

[Santa]

Its a good job MEP expenses have little to do with the fact that Brexit is not a good idea.

Yeah but Bendy Bananas.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Haven't seen any Brexiteers question the civil list, millions pounds of public money handed out every year to an unelected head of state and her hangers on, who don't even do anything for it! Now that's a gravy train if ever I saw one. How anyone can criticise the EU gravy train whilst we have a monarchy and one that is publically funded at that is utterly beyond me.

[Fosse69]

Meanwhile on the gravy train Euro MP's have refused to reveal how they spend their £3,900 per month expenses after investigations from anti-corruption group Transparency International?

Alternatively, what doesn't it cover such as travelling, hotels, meals drinks etc. If we knew all that it would be embarrassing. Or is it simply like the House of Lords day allowance, a matter of turning up but without the need to be there?

[For Us All]

Alternatively, what doesn't it cover such as travelling, hotels, meals drinks etc. If we knew all that it would be embarrassing. Or is it simply like the House of Lords day allowance, a matter of turning up but without the need to be there?

 

Treasury figures have shown that the annual cost of a MEP sitting in the EU assembly is £1.79 million each a year, which is three times the cost of a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.

[geosname]

Don't they think they're poor enough already? Or are they mad? Or, more likely, they really don't get what's coming their way as a result of how they voted?

Are you suggesting that all the people who voted leave are stupid/dim and only you know what's going to happen before it actually happens.

That's a bit of an arrogant leap.

They voted the way they chose to, for whatever reason they thought fit... You may not like it but that's democracy... there isn't a viable alternative... in my opinion.

I didn't like it when the unions shook the tree... nor when Maggy/the Tories got elected again and again.... but we adjust and move on.

[Paul6754]

Treasury figures have shown that the annual cost of a MEP sitting in the EU assembly is £1.79 million each a year, which is three times the cost of a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.

 

FUA, If you think it's a cushy number and it's a job you think you can do then put thee sen up for election.

 

It wouldn't surprise me that what is paid for UK MEP's is going to be dwarfed by the extra costs required by the UK to fund UK people (Civil servants or private companies) to carry out tasks that were shared by all 28 EU countries, eg dealing with trade tariffs, medicine approval and monitoring etc, etc.

[philpvfc]

You are preaching to a deaf man there, you ain’t going to get him down from his high horse, we are all mortals who’s opinions make us idiots as not the same as him all mighty.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Are you suggesting that all the people who voted leave are stupid/dim and only you know what's going to happen before it actually happens.

That's a bit of an arrogant leap.

They voted the way they chose to, for whatever reason they thought fit... You may not like it but that's democracy... there isn't a viable alternative... in my opinion.

I didn't like it when the unions shook the tree... nor when Maggy/the Tories got elected again and again.... but we adjust and move on.

I'm not suggesting that all people who voted to leave are thick but in response to a post about poor areas voting to leave my response is surely they aren't mad enough to vote to make themselves worse off so I strongly suspect they were not aware of, or were in denial of, the highly likely prospect of their being worse off due to the highly likely detrimental effect leaving the EU will have on our economy.

Let's be honest, a very large portion of the electorate are not very well informed and do not trouble themselves to become informed. This is one of the major flaws of democracy and one of the reasons holding referendums on highly complex issues is not a good idea, hence we have elected representatives who are, supposedly, experts in politics. People voted leave or remain for whatever reasons they had, personally I have seen very, very few reasons given to leave that I either agree with or think are worthy reasons to leave but if someone thinks, somehow, we'll have a better economy or immigration will be properly controlled or our laws will improve people's rights that's their prerogative. I'm a socialist, republican and a Europhile and I have known all my adult life my political views are not the most popular but at least I am politically aware, keep myself informed and think with my head not my heart. Unfortunately many of the poor and less well educated are not politically aware, informed and rational and I think many of them were sold a pup in the referendum and will pay a heavy price for it.

I respect everyone who gets off their backside and votes, even if I totally disagree with them. The people I have no respect for are those who couldn't be bothered to vote, especially on such a massive issue as EU membership. Even if they don't agree with something or there are no candidates they wish to vote for they should at least spoil their voting slip in protest (I think there should be a 'none of the above' option on voting papers).

[philpvfc]

Do you think that a lot of those who voted remain were poorly informed and don’t understand the benefits or pitfalls of remaining in the EU?

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Do you think that a lot of those who voted remain were poorly informed and don’t understand the benefits or pitfalls of remaining in the EU?

Quite possibly but I think the arguments to remain are by far the stronger. I have debated the problems regarding the EU with many people and as I have said in many previous posts in this thread t is far from a perfect organisation but so is the UK and it's system of government and you won't improve any organisation by being outside it, especially when you're better off in it!

[For Us All]

FUA, If you think it's a cushy number and it's a job you think you can do then put thee sen up for election.

 

It wouldn't surprise me that what is paid for UK MEP's is going to be dwarfed by the extra costs required by the UK to fund UK people (Civil servants or private companies) to carry out tasks that were shared by all 28 EU countries, eg dealing with trade tariffs, medicine approval and monitoring etc, etc.

 

Well,I must admit that I'd be interested if the money was right.

I will take some advise from my local MEP,once I found out who it is!!!😋

[For Us All]

Quite possibly but I think the arguments to remain are by far the stronger. I have debated the problems regarding the EU with many people and as I have said in many previous posts in this thread t is far from a perfect organisation but so is the UK and it's system of government and you won't improve any organisation by being outside it, especially when you're better off in it!

 

Far from perfect?

That is by far the understatement of the year.

Keep 'em coming.😂

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Far from perfect?

That is by far the understatement of the year.

Keep 'em coming.

But still not as imperfect as the feudal monarchist system with a partially hereditary and totally unelected second chamber to which we are subject in the UK. I would like to change that system but I'm not going to be able to unless I am either part of the UK or part of a victorious invading force, ie, the ways in which political changes are brought about.

Also, bragging about not knowing who your MEP is does not mean the EU electoral system is no good it just demonstrates your own ignorance on the matter, the same as for people who don't know who their local MP is or who the Prime Minister is.

Keep 'em coming!🤣

[jimbo57]

But still not as imperfect as the feudal monarchist system with a partially hereditary and totally unelected second chamber to which we are subject in the UK. I would like to change that system but I'm not going to be able to unless I am either part of the UK or part of a victorious invading force, ie, the ways in which political changes are brought about.

Also, bragging about not knowing who your MEP is does not mean the EU electoral system is no good it just demonstrates your own ignorance on the matter, the same as for people who don't know who their local MP is or who the Prime Minister is.

Keep 'em coming!🤣

 

No, it domonstrates I couldn't care a less about the EU and havent the slightest idea who my MEP is, nor do I care.

[For Us All]

But still not as imperfect as the feudal monarchist system with a partially hereditary and totally unelected second chamber to which we are subject in the UK. I would like to change that system but I'm not going to be able to unless I am either part of the UK or part of a victorious invading force, ie, the ways in which political changes are brought about.

Also, bragging about not knowing who your MEP is does not mean the EU electoral system is no good it just demonstrates your own ignorance on the matter, the same as for people who don't know who their local MP is or who the Prime Minister is.

Keep 'em coming!🤣

 

Well,you'll be pleased to know I've managed to locate two MEP's who represent my party,one lives 70 miles away in Kenilworth and the other lives 106 miles away in Ross-on-Wye.Not exactly on the doorstep but there you go.

I wonder what percentage of voters know who their MEP is.

Got any stats?