Commenting on the Prime Minister’s European referendum speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said yesterday:
The Prime Minister is calling on businesses to step up and join the campaign to remain within the European Union. I call on him to step up and make the case himself and not hide behind businesses. He needs to lead, not follow.
The Liberal Democrats are the only party united in the case to remain. Together the EU has created the world’s largest free trade area, delivered peace, and continues to give the British people the opportunity to live, work and travel freely. History shows that Britain is better when it is united with Europe.
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8 Comments
“Make the case for Europe yourself and stop hiding behind business’ – Farron
With complete respect to Tim: “Europe” is a geographical continent and the “EU” is a political organisation – we are voting about leaving the “EU” political organisation, not European geographical continent (P.S. I am an English teacher :-)).
…………….I call on him to step up and make the case himself and not hide behind businesses. He needs to lead, not follow…………..
I am no fan of Cameron but this must be one of Tim’s silliest statements….The MAJOR reason for remaining in Europe is trade…..I thought Nick’s performance in debate was woeful, let’s hope Tim will not follow his example…
Wars between France and Germany, often affecting others, happened in 1870, 1914, 1939 but have not happened since. Germany is now democratic, united and peaceful. Long may this happy state of affairs continue.
expats
Agree,hope we are not going to hear about the 3 million jobs that will be lost with Brexit,the same 3 million jobs that were going to be lost if the UK didn’t join the €uro.
Philip: – what a helpful contribution – I am so sorry that I have never understood this before . . .
expats: – this is NOT about ‘trade’ – it is about building a single integrated economy which can compete with the USA and China. Here is a huge difference – trade is about goods only. A single economy needs free movement of goods and services and capital and labour. Much more complex and difficult to achieve. There has not been a new Free Trade Agreement since the failure of the Doha round of WTO negotiations 14 years ago. The future is TIPs trade and investment partnerships. These cover services and capital as well as goods. The EU economy is at least 5% bigger than. It would have been without EU initiatives which means that every £1 ever spent by the EU has generated at least £10 more wealth as measured by GDP.
Richard: – you didn’t mention Wellington, Marlborough or the Thirty years war either! More relevant today is the €2bn of EU money that has helped implement the Good Friday Agreement or forcing Spain to open its border with Gibraltar and many other micro peace initiatives.
John: – I agree! I’d rather talk about the 9,000 businesses in the South East of England that have said they would shut up shop if we leave the EU.
@Mike – are you denying that there have been numerous criticisms that politicians are “conflating” the “EU” and “Europe” – should all politicians try to avoid that – yes or no?
@Mike “€2bn of EU money” – the UK pays far more in than gets back – ergo “EU money” is in all but name “UK” money – yes or no?
@Mike – you talk about “peace” – admittedly I am not an expert on this, however heard that the EU trying to get the Ukraine into the EU helped to provoke a civil war (and also Russia stepping in to protect its interests) – your opinion?