This.
Brexit: the referendum
- Thread starter MikeG
- Start date
Pro Europe MEP's "mythbusting" website about Europe
http://www.richardcorbett.org.uk/mythbusters/
Looks pretty reeasonable at first glance
http://www.richardcorbett.org.uk/mythbusters/
Looks pretty reeasonable at first glance
ComfySlippers
Banned
I see where you are coming from, but it shows that it isn't a massive employer.
Would it be better to say that it is less than six times the number employed by the Houses of Parliament?
Given the need for translators, and the number of countries it serves, that seems pretty reasonable to me.
ComfySlippers
Banned
The person is playing a silly trick. Or maybe he's genuinely stupid, I don't know - I've never met him.
He's trying to make it sound as if Leeds Council employees equals number of Leeds City Councillors, or people who make decisions affecting Leeds. Whatever his reasons he should remove the misleading statement.
"Employees", in the true sense, The EC wins obviously. (52,000?) over Leeds 15,000.
Just a nitpick but thank you for not tarring and feathering me.
Regarding actual voting members:
UK Parliament: about 650
EC: 28(?)
Which is better than the other, 650 or 28, I'm not qualified to say.
But I get your point.
There are more than a few which are a bit naughty. How about "We actually left a free trade zone (EFTA) to join the EU"........which is just nonsense. We left the EFTA to join the EEC, which was quite a different beast from the EU.
I make the European Commision at about 23k, from here Page 2
http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/docs/europa_sp2_bs_sexe_x_age_en.pdf
ComfySlippers
Banned
Yep, I noticed that but decided to keep quiet.
I'm sure there are more naughties but in all honesty I couldn't give a crap.
There will be naughties from both sides, such is life unfortunately.
ComfySlippers
Banned
If I can find the link Ill post it but the *estimated* number based on available figures was about 52,000 in 2007. Note that this was Employees.
The EC, and some of it's departments(?) don't publish some figures re employee numbers unless "a jolly good reason is given for asking".
How many millions of pounds per.day.is our net contribution to EU funds?
Which descriptive term did you object to: pigheaded or buffoon?
I see he descended to insulting the leader of the opposition's suit and tie in PMQs today.
How much do we make in return by being members, in terms of ease of trade, freedom of movement and so on?
The issues for expats are very simple at present most of us do not need work permits to work in our jobs in the EU or retain our residency or gain the equivalent work permits if we are self employed. There is no clarity from anyone in any embassy if we will need them if the UK vote is to leave. To apply for a work permit as a non EU citizen normally needs
1. The employer has to prove that he cannot find the same skills from the existing national population in a country.
2. The permit has to be granted before the person has a right to residency.
3. And every time we change jobs we would need to go through the same process again.
At present due to the refugee and immigration crisis in the EU work permits are very hard to come by in many EU countries. The Vienna treaty does not cover this as we have no acquired right as we have never needed work permits in the first place. Therefore at present there is a lot of uncertainty for the 2.2 million expats but on the other hand if we left the UK less than 15 years ago we do a get a vote and on that basis I suspect that many of us will vote to stay in on the basis that we know what rights we are voting for rather than the uncertainty of what may happen in what will no doubt be a set of difficult negotiations if the vote is to leave.
Didn't Brits need work permits prior to its joining the EU? It was my understanding that the 'acquired right' started in 1973.
What sovereignty have we lost and what would we gain if we left and what practical changes would that result in?
So, not this then:
Nope.
H'ethetheth
fishy rocket scientist
I agree that the Leeds city Council comparison is misleading for the reasons you mention, but why are you then comparing the European Commission with the UK Parliament? That's like comparing the UK cabinet (22?) with, say, the European Parliament, which has 750 voting members.
No you only get the acquired rights if it has been continuous in the period so in the case of work permits this right was in fact cancelled by our joining the EU and the fact that we no longer need them. There may be an argument if you have worked for the same employer since 1972 and had a work permit then but for most of us that will not hold. Also work permits are country specific whilst other visa in the EU are schengen based.
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I see, cheers. Well, that could be rather dramatic. I imagine it will be one of the arguments put forward by the "stay" campaign.