Leaving the EU - how?
Discussion
I am currently reading up on the candidates for the Euro elections (the list is ridicoulous!)
Now most of them want no part of the EU, and infact one party says they (MEPs) won't even attend unless have to
Question is, as I udnerstand it, leaving the EU is up to the UK government, so even if a totally anti EU party got every single vote in these elections all they could do is influence (much?) EU policy but not actually get us out.
Am I right and can anyone actually explain how the UK would leave the EU if it did?
As I understand it UK Parliament passed a law (european communites act) saying they would follow all EU law - but what happens if they just repeal that law and do their own thing?
(not looking to get into the inevitable argument on the benefits of staying.leaving the EU!)
Now most of them want no part of the EU, and infact one party says they (MEPs) won't even attend unless have to
Question is, as I udnerstand it, leaving the EU is up to the UK government, so even if a totally anti EU party got every single vote in these elections all they could do is influence (much?) EU policy but not actually get us out.
Am I right and can anyone actually explain how the UK would leave the EU if it did?
As I understand it UK Parliament passed a law (european communites act) saying they would follow all EU law - but what happens if they just repeal that law and do their own thing?
(not looking to get into the inevitable argument on the benefits of staying.leaving the EU!)
Last point first - traditionally, Parliament has absolute sovereignty, meaning it can enact ANY law it wants to. If Parliament passes an Act removing us from the EU, UN, WTO or NATO, we're out.
As a practical matter, it would be a long, painful process. All the benefits we currently enjoy as EU members (yes, there are quite a few) would have to be seperately negotiated with each and every EU country if we want them to continue (stuff like E111, equivalence of motor insurance, visa-less travel).
I see a few reasons for anti-EU parties to stand for election to the European Parliament: they are able to provide first-hand accounts of EU activities which otherwise would be unlikely to reach us; it is their natural forum (if your subject is the EU, where better to discuss it?); they get elected, whereas they don't get elected to Westminster (PR vs FPTP works for them here)
A massive UKIP 'victory'* would be difficult for any Government to ignore (watch them try, though) and given the lack of difference between the three main parties in Parliament on this issue, may be the only way the electorate has of getting an anti-EU massage across.
*UKIP representation is currently 14 out of a total 78 UK MEPs.
A doubling of this figure next week wouldn't surprise me.
39 or over and the Government had better start on those seperate negotiations
As a practical matter, it would be a long, painful process. All the benefits we currently enjoy as EU members (yes, there are quite a few) would have to be seperately negotiated with each and every EU country if we want them to continue (stuff like E111, equivalence of motor insurance, visa-less travel).
I see a few reasons for anti-EU parties to stand for election to the European Parliament: they are able to provide first-hand accounts of EU activities which otherwise would be unlikely to reach us; it is their natural forum (if your subject is the EU, where better to discuss it?); they get elected, whereas they don't get elected to Westminster (PR vs FPTP works for them here)
A massive UKIP 'victory'* would be difficult for any Government to ignore (watch them try, though) and given the lack of difference between the three main parties in Parliament on this issue, may be the only way the electorate has of getting an anti-EU massage across.
*UKIP representation is currently 14 out of a total 78 UK MEPs.
A doubling of this figure next week wouldn't surprise me.
39 or over and the Government had better start on those seperate negotiations
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff