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| Economic forces driving the EU referendum call | Economic forces driving the EU referendum call |
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| Your report on the latest spat within the Conservative party over the EU referendum (Cabinet crisis for Cameron as ministers break ranks over EU, 13 May) raises an interesting question about what the Tories' real agenda is. Big business and the City, the latter now largely owned by US investment banks which view the UK as an important bridgehead into Europe, clearly want to retain access to the single market – but without the employment, health and safety and welfare protections negotiated by the labour movement. This suggests that much of the Tory dissension is disingenuous posturing, designed to negotiate repatriation of powers in these areas and take the sting out of the Ukip threat, or represents "Little Englander" attempts to replace control of our economy by international monopoly capital with that of British monopoly capital, wedded to a continuation of austerity and deepening inequality. | Your report on the latest spat within the Conservative party over the EU referendum (Cabinet crisis for Cameron as ministers break ranks over EU, 13 May) raises an interesting question about what the Tories' real agenda is. Big business and the City, the latter now largely owned by US investment banks which view the UK as an important bridgehead into Europe, clearly want to retain access to the single market – but without the employment, health and safety and welfare protections negotiated by the labour movement. This suggests that much of the Tory dissension is disingenuous posturing, designed to negotiate repatriation of powers in these areas and take the sting out of the Ukip threat, or represents "Little Englander" attempts to replace control of our economy by international monopoly capital with that of British monopoly capital, wedded to a continuation of austerity and deepening inequality. |
| But this shouldn't obscure the progressive argument for leaving the EU. The EU stability and growth pact outlaws Keynesian-style reflationary policies. Competition policy prevents state aid to strategic industries. The EU services directive forces privatisation of what remains of the public sector. And European court of justice rulings undermine collective bargaining and wage levels. Social Europe is a con. The left needs to make the case for an alternative, progressive future outside the EU – where we have the right to self-determination, can rebalance the economy away from finance towards manufacturing and can construct a society on democratic, socialist terms. Chris Guiton Crowborough, East Sussex | But this shouldn't obscure the progressive argument for leaving the EU. The EU stability and growth pact outlaws Keynesian-style reflationary policies. Competition policy prevents state aid to strategic industries. The EU services directive forces privatisation of what remains of the public sector. And European court of justice rulings undermine collective bargaining and wage levels. Social Europe is a con. The left needs to make the case for an alternative, progressive future outside the EU – where we have the right to self-determination, can rebalance the economy away from finance towards manufacturing and can construct a society on democratic, socialist terms. Chris Guiton Crowborough, East Sussex |
| • I wonder if Messrs [(sorry, French word) Gove, Hammond et al [(that's better, Latin) have considered the possible effects on the "British" motor industry of a withdrawal from the EU by UK plc. | • I wonder if Messrs [(sorry, French word) Gove, Hammond et al [(that's better, Latin) have considered the possible effects on the "British" motor industry of a withdrawal from the EU by UK plc. |
| In France, Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroën have declining home sales and therefore overcapacity, and are closing lines and currently shedding many jobs; Citroen's Rennes plant ceased production earlier this year. Since 1999, Renault has had a 44% share in Nissan and already assembles its vans in France. According to the Renault CEO, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is "beginning to bear fruit" and the French press reported a couple of weeks ago that, from 2016, the Renault plant at Flins, outside Paris, would use spare capacity to build the next generation of Nissan Micra cars. The current model is produced in India and the one before that in … Sunderland. | In France, Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroën have declining home sales and therefore overcapacity, and are closing lines and currently shedding many jobs; Citroen's Rennes plant ceased production earlier this year. Since 1999, Renault has had a 44% share in Nissan and already assembles its vans in France. According to the Renault CEO, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is "beginning to bear fruit" and the French press reported a couple of weeks ago that, from 2016, the Renault plant at Flins, outside Paris, would use spare capacity to build the next generation of Nissan Micra cars. The current model is produced in India and the one before that in … Sunderland. |
| The Conservative party plans a referendum on leaving the EU – should they win the election – sometime after 2015. What might strategists at Nissan and the other Japanese carmakers who have their European operations based in the UK be thinking about that? Adrian Lloyd Hughes Welshpool, Powys | The Conservative party plans a referendum on leaving the EU – should they win the election – sometime after 2015. What might strategists at Nissan and the other Japanese carmakers who have their European operations based in the UK be thinking about that? Adrian Lloyd Hughes Welshpool, Powys |
| • There has always been a whiff of de haut en bas elitism around those who are happy to allow a referendum to settle the constitutional relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK but who oppose a referendum to settle the constitutional relationship between the UK and the EU. Polly Toynbee's article (Labour must stand firm: no to a referendum on Europe, 10 May) rather proves the point. | • There has always been a whiff of de haut en bas elitism around those who are happy to allow a referendum to settle the constitutional relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK but who oppose a referendum to settle the constitutional relationship between the UK and the EU. Polly Toynbee's article (Labour must stand firm: no to a referendum on Europe, 10 May) rather proves the point. |
| It was Labour that gave the British people the first UK-wide referendum on EEC membership after the Tories had voted to take Britain in without a referendum (just as it was the Tories who took us into the EU without a referendum). Since then there have been nine further national and regional referendums, eight on devolution issues and one on the alternative vote (AV), and there have been dozens of local referendums on local governance issues (elected mayors etc). With the exception of the AV referendum, which was part of the coalition agreement, all of those referendums have been initiated by Labour governments. | It was Labour that gave the British people the first UK-wide referendum on EEC membership after the Tories had voted to take Britain in without a referendum (just as it was the Tories who took us into the EU without a referendum). Since then there have been nine further national and regional referendums, eight on devolution issues and one on the alternative vote (AV), and there have been dozens of local referendums on local governance issues (elected mayors etc). With the exception of the AV referendum, which was part of the coalition agreement, all of those referendums have been initiated by Labour governments. |
| Labour has a proud tradition of consulting the people on constitutional issues and it beggars belief that it will allow candidates to go into the next election opposing a referendum on the most important constitutional issue of all. Apart from anything else, it is surely in Labour's interest to fight the next election on the issues that really matter to people like jobs, housing, healthcare and welfare rather than get bogged down on the European issue. Richard Cotton London | Labour has a proud tradition of consulting the people on constitutional issues and it beggars belief that it will allow candidates to go into the next election opposing a referendum on the most important constitutional issue of all. Apart from anything else, it is surely in Labour's interest to fight the next election on the issues that really matter to people like jobs, housing, healthcare and welfare rather than get bogged down on the European issue. Richard Cotton London |
| • The current political squabble about the UK's membership of the EU is being conducted with far too narrow a focus on economic costs and benefits. The European project was initiated after the second world war to try to ensure that no more land wars would devastate our lives and communities. The period since 1945 has seen the longest interval without military conflict between France and Germany since the mid-1630s. Given that the UK found itself unable to keep out of most European land wars between 1635 and 1945, it would be a serious mistake to discount the consequences of narrow nationalism, especially when combined with hostility towards those deemed "foreign". Figures on the Guardian website suggest that EU membership, on average, costs UK citizens about £150 per year, of which about half comes back into the UK economy. Even if it cost us each £1,000 per year, in exchange for long-term security in a war-free zone, it would be a bargain. Increasing trade without pooling sovereignty cannot guarantee peace. Erik Millstone Brighton | • The current political squabble about the UK's membership of the EU is being conducted with far too narrow a focus on economic costs and benefits. The European project was initiated after the second world war to try to ensure that no more land wars would devastate our lives and communities. The period since 1945 has seen the longest interval without military conflict between France and Germany since the mid-1630s. Given that the UK found itself unable to keep out of most European land wars between 1635 and 1945, it would be a serious mistake to discount the consequences of narrow nationalism, especially when combined with hostility towards those deemed "foreign". Figures on the Guardian website suggest that EU membership, on average, costs UK citizens about £150 per year, of which about half comes back into the UK economy. Even if it cost us each £1,000 per year, in exchange for long-term security in a war-free zone, it would be a bargain. Increasing trade without pooling sovereignty cannot guarantee peace. Erik Millstone Brighton |
| • I was shocked to read of yet another European intrusion into our lives (What does the Queen's speech mean for me?, Money, 11 May). The EU consumer rights directive is going to force hard-working British businessmen to give consumers yet more rights! This is precisely the kind of constraint on commercial activity that Ukip promises to free us from. Might I suggest that you have a symbol printed at the top of every article where such meddling is featured, to highlight how much the EU is interfering in our liberties? Stephen McNair Coltishall, Norfolk | • I was shocked to read of yet another European intrusion into our lives (What does the Queen's speech mean for me?, Money, 11 May). The EU consumer rights directive is going to force hard-working British businessmen to give consumers yet more rights! This is precisely the kind of constraint on commercial activity that Ukip promises to free us from. Might I suggest that you have a symbol printed at the top of every article where such meddling is featured, to highlight how much the EU is interfering in our liberties? Stephen McNair Coltishall, Norfolk |
| • Why a referendum on the EU, but not on reform of the the NHS, privatisation of Royal Mail, or much else that is just as influential on everyday life? When there are many such issues where public opinion is hazy, ill-informed and overemotional, why is it only the one which has the favour of the political right that get pushed by press hysteria into being the subject of a referendum? Matthew Huntbach London | • Why a referendum on the EU, but not on reform of the the NHS, privatisation of Royal Mail, or much else that is just as influential on everyday life? When there are many such issues where public opinion is hazy, ill-informed and overemotional, why is it only the one which has the favour of the political right that get pushed by press hysteria into being the subject of a referendum? Matthew Huntbach London |
| • I always understood that in this so-called parliamentary democracy no parliament could pass legislation binding its successor, so what is this bill promising a referendum in 2017 all about? Roland White Bognor Regis, West Sussex | • I always understood that in this so-called parliamentary democracy no parliament could pass legislation binding its successor, so what is this bill promising a referendum in 2017 all about? Roland White Bognor Regis, West Sussex |
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