| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Well I'm happy | |
| Posted by: | T P Howell | |
| Date/Time: | 27/06/16 22:27:00 |
| Oh my god. Not the "cars, wine and cheese" argument! Facts: - last year 44% of our exports went to the EU; - 80% plus of the UK economy is based on services ("invisibles") - it is very easy to export tangible goods (cars, wine and cheese) - on the whole, the only barriers you can put in their way are tariff barriers, i.e. import duties; - it is very easy to put up non tariff barriers for "invisibles", such as compliance rules and regulations, or just tell someone "you can't open your office here, or bring your people in without jumping through all sorts of hoops"; - financial services is the biggest sector of our economy (probably not a good thing, but a fact) 29% of our exports, the highest proportion in the world (US = 15%, Japan 3%). - our economy depends on what you would no doubt call "EU red tape" - i.e. the numerous directives and regulations that create a single market for financials services throughout the EU, from which we greatly benefit. If you think that this is just the markets being reactionary, then I regret that you have no understanding of the fundamentals of the UK economy. My apologies for being so direct - but Gove's "I think that this country has had enough of experts", and the complete and utter economic illiteracy that has driven much of the debate, is extremely damaging for this country and our future. Do you seriously think that the rest of the EU is going to give us an easy passage out, or needs to do so? They have every incentive to make our exit as difficult as possible, not least "pour encourager les autres". |