[beninvalencia]

"We will fuck UK over" "Now we will finally pursue tighter integration"

I have to say, with this kind of attitude, I am even more glad that the UK has left the EU. Who would want to be partners with this kind of spite and hatred?

[Sean1708]

> "We will fuck UK over"

Has the EU actually said this or is this just what people on the internet are assuming?

[tremon]

"the EU" can speak only in treaties, and so has not spoken yet.

But yes, multiple people connected with the EU government have been making statements to this effect: out means out. It is not in the EU's interest to give the UK a more favourable deal than it had before, because that signals to other member countries that leaving has financial benefits.

[mcv]

A more favourable deal than the UK already had is indeed unlikely, because the UK already had an unreasonably sweet deal. But I really do hope the EU will give the UK a fair deal in the coming negotiations. There's no point in needless hostility. Unless they want to make good on that World War 3 scare.

[lostlogin]

Why did you want to leave?

[beninvalencia]

Regain sovereignty.

Be able to set immigration to points based - like the US, Canada, Australia. Why should we discriminate against Indians, Chinese, Bangladeshis, Africans for the EU? I like immigrants and I think they help our economy, but I want this to be run better.

I don't agree with how the EU subsidizes e.g. French farmers at the expense of e.g. African farmers.

To not be a part of what seems to be a failing system and having to answer to the un-elected European Commission, and to therefore avoid being swept along in integration which isn't so good.

It might sound odd, but I didn't vote for leave. But I can see that now that this is what we have, maybe there are some reasons to be positive.

[radu_floricica]

> Be able to set immigration to points based - like the US, Canada, Australia. Why should we discriminate against Indians,

Because EU people are not immigrants. That's the whole point. They are citizens, which happen to be born 1000 km to the east and in a different historic region - but they are citizens. There is no discrimination here because you're comparing apples and oranges.

One day, if globalization advances far enough, we will have the exact same conditions for all (or most) of the world, in some form or another. But brexit is a step back from this, not forward.

[tomp]

> I don't agree with how the EU subsidizes e.g. French farmers at the expense of e.g. African farmers.

Don't you think not having enough local food production to feed the population is a liability of any sovereign nation? Personally, I think there are "strategically important" industries (like food, steel, weapons) that countries need to protect to remain sovereign, by subsidies or other means.

[chillydawg]

EU state aid laws make it illegal to prop up industries, though. The only reason it works for farmers is because..well...who knows? The UK would really, really like to give some state aid to a few steel companies right now but it blocked from doing so by the EU.

[lostlogin]

The protection of badly run farms is a shocker. They are hopelessly ineffective. New Zealander here - NZ dairy facing tariffs because of European inefficiencies annoys me.

[GunboatDiplomat]

Fewer subsidies will force increased efficiencies in the agricultural sector. More productivity for less inputs.

[PopsiclePete]

I can actually understand, to some degree, the fear of refugees, of Muslims, etc. But your fear of other European citizens boggles my effing mind, it really does. You're so worried about Polish people somehow destroying your "Britishness", but Bangladeshis and Africans - totes ok? No problem there for you?

[lostlogin]

Why are you scared of refugees and Muslims? Doesn't writing it down show you the insanity of that statement? They are fleeing horror and have a different narrow minded book to that which the locals subscribe. It seems to me that looking different is the key problem.

[PopsiclePete]

I'm not scared of refugees and Muslims. The people that vote UKIP are. But they're scared of Europeans it seems. Sorry, I'm liberal and all that as well, but in all honesty, somebody from Poland is less likely to be a strain on your social safety net, is more likely to be educated and be able to hold a job than an illiterate goat-farmer from Timbuktu. Just thinking about it logically, right?

So why are UK's xenophobes more afraid of the Polish Plumber than the Bangladeshi Goat Farmer??? That's what makes no sense to me. If you're going to be scared that your "Britishness" is disappearing, fine - but at least be logical about it. Who's more a danger to your way of life? Someone from 400 kilometers away or someone from 10,000?