Quote Originally Posted by IainR View Post
We'll see, its a very slow process, which is why the EU free market model developed, so you could quickly move workers to demand..

What do you think of the chances of a UKIP/Tory coalition after 2015? They'd probably walk the general election.. I think it could be a huge issue..

At the moment Cameron is saying no chance, but there is a lot of talk about it...
I did economics in 1981 and studied the EEC as part of it. It was a free trade zone along the lines of EFTA. That is how it was sold by Heath to the British electorate.
It has taken on a new form since 1993 and Maastricht.

Interestingly when the UK applied to join and was initially blocked, Norway also applied. In Norway though the referendum went against joining.
So they signed free trade agreements. They have since had another failed referendum and have expanded their role as a free trade partner.

So I think if we do withdraw, the Europeans would not be so stupid as to not allow a trade agreement to be in place, specially as we have a trade deficit with the EU so any barriers would hit the EU member nations.

I can't see a UKIP / Tory coalition. I can't see how UKIP can get in to double figures with first past the post.
Labour and Tory are practically guaranteed 150 seats each with another 200 generally traded between them and I can see either Labour hitting the rocks and the Tories edging in or Labour scraping enough to form a Govt with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and maybe the Libdems if there are any left.

Interestingly Milliband just been on TV - "Immigration is the biggest issue facing us" - he's chasing the Danbert vote