Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

marcbernard said:
Thursday, October 27, 2016 @ 4:06 PM

I am unable to vote since I am not in favour of either of your alternatives.

Tadd1966 said:
Friday, October 28, 2016 @ 3:02 PM

How many people have voted?

mac75 said:
Friday, October 28, 2016 @ 6:47 PM

As of today at 18:00 249 people had voted

mac75 said:
Friday, October 28, 2016 @ 6:47 PM

Sorry macbernard

What option do you suggest I add?

midasgold said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 6:24 AM

As we are going to get the big NO anyway in the so called negotiations, we MUST go hard and start by stopping the 350mil donation to the corrupt " gravy train" EU politicians.
The sooner we get our sovereignty back - the better.

midasgold said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 6:25 AM

1

Alan Jones said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 8:24 AM

I am a European citizen, born in the UK, and wish to remain in Europe. I am anti-Brexit in all its forms.

Ron said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 8:49 AM

I think a great deal of water is yet to flow under the bridge and that money and finance will ultimately prevail as the key determinates.

Andalusguy said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 9:15 AM

The problem is that many who are voting in these type of polls have not got a clue about the economic impact from brexit either hard or soft. UK society is highly reliant upon its migrant workforce and the economic benefits from our lucrative trade agreements with the EU. Migration is very much an issue that needs better control measures putting in to place to manage but brexit may yet prove to be a far more damaging decisihon for us both short and long term.

DeJaey said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 9:17 AM

If only the European political elite had realised, we are happy to part of a trading partnership, (as it was meant to be), but to be ruled by the Germans?......no thanks......and that should not have come as a surprise, we told them that twice in the last century.

wigmore said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 9:24 AM

If we decide to take out spanish residency would it affect our UK pension?

A Jay said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 10:40 AM

Can't believe that such a huge majority of Eye on Spain readers, all of whom enjoy the freedom of movement that being in the EU has provided, are so in favour of a hard brexit and stronger borders. Complete double standard.

catalanbrian said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 10:45 AM

I am quite astonished that a poll of people, who presumably all live in Spain, can come up with a large majority for the "hard Brexit" option. Clearly there are some very stupid people out there. I guess that general lack of knowledge is more widespread than I had thought, as is exemplified by people asking whether their pension will be affected by taking out residency. If you live in Spain you are resident and you should regularise it. As for pensions who knows as this is a decision yet to be made by the UK government.

A Jay said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 10:53 AM

Can't believe that such a huge majority of Eye on Spain readers, all of whom enjoy the freedom of movement that being in the EU has provided, are so in favour of a hard brexit and stronger borders. Complete double standard.

A Jay said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 10:54 AM

Can't believe that such a huge majority of Eye on Spain readers, all of whom enjoy the freedom of movement that being in the EU has provided, are so in favour of a hard brexit and stronger borders. Complete double standard.

Peter C said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 11:21 AM

I have voted "hard" but that is only because of the binary choice of the question. Why do all the politicians and the media refer to the UK possibly "losing access" to the single market if we insist on no more free movement? The UK will never lose access, what it might face if the EU is silly enough is the imposition of tariffs on our exports to the single market. Since the £ has dropped by 20% or so against the Euro since the vote, all that a say 10% tariff will do is make our goods 10% less competitive but still 10% better than before. But suppose the UK says, if you impose a 10% tariff on all of our goods and services, naturally we will do the same on yours. They export far more to the UK than in the other direction, and that 10% tariff on their goods would raise approx £28 billion for the Treasury, far more than, but in addition to, the approx £10 billion that the UK will save when it stops contributions to the EU budget which has never been signed off. That's £38 billion for spending on the NHS, Education, and on and on. It part of it was then used to lower VAT, that would benefit the less well-off and that would be a tangible result, and make the UK even more competitive, whilst preventing free movement and the imposition of laws that the UK Parliament did not vote for! No-one should be calling for the end of migration to the UK, but it needs to be controlled. Meanwhile we are free to enter trade deals around the world with zero tariffs in both directions so the overall result will not be an increase in consumer prices, just for EU goods!

Annie said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 12:17 PM

I voted Remain but even I know that people from the UK came to live in Spain long before the Common Market. So why are so many people insisting that we can't after we leave the EU.

We are, and will always be, part of Europe and we are, and will always be, Europeans.

Mick Glover said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 12:47 PM

You are asking the wrong question it is based that Brexit is going to happen. It has to pass though the House of Parliament yet and it looks very unlikely they will sanction A50. And given the circus of lies and deceit of the Brexit event, for instance the Red Bus lies, a lot of those who voted for leaving are changing their minds.

Peter C said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 1:56 PM

Can't agree Mick. Parliament voted by 6-1 to agree the Referendum and your inference is that since the majority of sitting MP's don't like the result they will not vote on anything that progresses towards the exit. That's fundamentally anti-democratic. Parliament should not have the power to vote against the formal trigger of A50, the power to trigger must lie with the Executive, essentially the PM. There will then be at least 2 years, which can be extended by mutual consent, in which to agree the deal. Again Parliament should scrutinise by all means, but not be allowed to vote against the final deal otherwise it will never happen and that again frustrates the will of the electorate. Nor do we need a second referendum on anything. Likewise calls - mostly from the opposition - for the Government to tell everyone up front the "travel of direction" are just posturing. Everyone knows the travel of direction as far as the UK is concerned, which is to maintain tariff free access to the rest of the Single Market but prevent free movement. In other words going back to the original core aims of the Common Market, trading freely, greater prosperity for all, and avoidance of conflicts or worse wars. Not a Federal Union of European States with the same currency (disaster) the same interest rates (joke when you compare Germany and Greece) and everything else in between including destroying jobs. What is the unemployment rate in Andalucia? People already settled both in the UK and the EU will not be asked to leave, that's obvious. But of course the EU is saying that UK objective is a non-starter and that is where the battle lines are drawn. It's about who blinks first unless, as I said earlier, the UK will never allow free movement after we leave, and take the trading and other consequences as the price that has to be paid and deal with them.

Graham in Spain said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 1:58 PM

Lets just get on with it. Do what they need to do and then we can stick 2 big fingers up to Brussels. I live here in spain but the sooner we get out of the EU then the better...DO IT NOW

Jarvi said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 2:18 PM

A simple question -If we had never been in the EU and If you were voting today to JOIN the EU, would anybody vote yes to joining? Not many I think regardless of personal circumstances....

mutley51 said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 2:40 PM

To be honest there is not such thing as a "soft" exit. The decision has been made to leave and it means exactly that. "Soft" was introduced by the post remain contingent who now wish to frustrate the process in the hope there will be a change of mood and Parliament (who were 80% + remainers ) will overall the democratic decision of the voters. Just look at the Open Europe mob of Blair/Mandleson/Milliband/Soubry and the other wet Tories and rich self interested lobby and lefty celebs and the BBC and you see a pattern emerging. God help us all.

karisy said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 2:44 PM

I’m for as hard a Brexit as possible; complete control of immigration, sovereignty & our legal system with a reciprocal, no strings free trade access for those that want it, for those that don’t we should revert to world trade tariffs. We should stick two fingers up at any country that wants to impose trade sanctions or punish the UK for leaving & impose similar even worse restrictions on them, they need us more than we need them! We are a strong country with a good work ethic, all we have to do is focus on the positive aspects, forget the winging & get on with it, brushing aside any EU country that doesn’t like it!

The EU is just a huge gravy train, corrupt to the core & on a slippery slope to nowhere. It’s all but finished & once we leave it will be even less attractive to those foolish enough to remain.

John Simmons said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 4:04 PM

It is becoming quite clear that this is going to be the biggest mistake the Uk has ever made ,and that's before we even triggered article 50 .its time for either a second vote or a general election .Teresa may has just become a self styled dictator . IF brexit was such a good thing, then just ask one question why didn't article 50 get triggered the day after the vote!!

Al Lindsay. said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 4:59 PM

I live in Spain, but voted out. The EU is not what I voted for in 1975. We were lied to by Heath and Wilson. For me the Referendum was about the UK taking back control.

Who makes the laws, the UK Parliament or the EU ?
Who has the final say on those laws, the Supreme Court or the EU ?
Who controls the borders, the UK Border Agency or the EU ?

Hard Brexit and trade with the world.

mutley51 said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 5:06 PM

Sorry John- you are so wrong and misguided to think that this is a big mistake. You have no evidence to support your contention and indeed to date there has been no adverse economic downside to the Brexit result - even the fall in the £ has its benefits. Even if you are correct the decision has been made and should be respected. Theresa May has a job to do and she should be supported in her efforts to achieve the best terms possible. Whining and groaning about the decision will only encourage the doomsters.

DJF42 said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 6:21 PM

So pleased there people out there that are thinking outside the box and not going on about their own blinkered little world.
UK pension have nothing to do with the EU, they have no say in how, when or what is paid, so tick that off as a non starter.
I totally agree with the comments of Mutley 51, Al Lindsay and Peter C.
Europe needs us more than we need them, we will have the world to trade with which, since 1975, the EU has told us we can't. A perfect example is New Zealand lamb and Australian wool. They are a closed, narcissistic society and will regret their restrictions and self serving controls over members.
To have activated Artical 50 from the start would have left us in a precarious position, as we will not have put together our proposals and requirements regarding the exit process and final outcome.
That is what is happening at present, hence the perceived "delay".
As regards the European non elected gravy train bureaucrats, lance corporal Jones summed it up in Dad's Army, "They don't like it up 'em Mr Mannering!"

Peter said:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 8:49 PM

Frankly those of you resident in Spain, arguing for Brexit are just deluded or hypocrites. For those who say "immigration must be controlled", leave Spain now to the UK and don't come back, BECAUSE YOU ARE IMMIGRANTS. For those who talk about control and sovereignty, you have no clue about how the institutions of the EU actually work, or what sovereignty actually means. For those of you who think Britain will actually flourish after losing its access to the single market, you are just economically illiterate.

I give up, I'm applying for Spanish nationality, I don't want to be associated with the UK anymore, I just can't relate to 52% of you. Estoy harto de esto.

alant said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 8:06 AM

Peter, as you say we are immigrants, yes immigrants who pay our way and bring employment to our adopted country.
I do not know what you spend every month here in Spain but I think that 1,000 would be a fair average and on that basis apart from the initial investment my 500+ clients made (I am a builder who has Spanish partners) they spend here in Spain 500,000 Euro each month.
Do immigrant workers in the UK do this?

catalanbrian said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 10:07 AM

Alant, perhaps you could advise me from where you get your belief that immigrant workers in the UK do not pay their way. I think that if you were to do proper research, rather than relying on the Daily Mail, The Express or the Sun, as clearly you do, you might find that your beliefs are completely wrong.

Peter C said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 12:37 PM

Lively debate, but too many red herrings. This vote was turned by some into perceived attacks on existing migrants, scaremongering about "sending them packing" in which case the NHS and other institutions would collapse. No-one sensible had that in mind. It should be about proper control of borders one of the first responsibilities of any Gov. Free movement means just that, and what will happen when Germany grants permanent residence or citizenship to the million plus that Mrs. Merkel allowed to enter? Under the existing rules they would then be free to move to the UK. That was hardly mentioned during the debate, only Turkey with Mr. Cameron telling the Turkish Parliament 6 years ago that he was their best friend and entry to the EU was only a matter of time, which changed to a millenium when that friendship wasn't looking so clever after all! Most migrants in the UK do pay their way but that is not the point. We have to control the numbers and right now we cannot. Peter, with respect you make the same mistake as the media when you refer to loss of access to the Single Market. You should be referring to loss of "tariff-free" access which is totally different.

mac75 said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 12:48 PM

As of 10 minues ago... 1045 people have voted on this poll, that's quite a number and quite a surprising result in such a short time...

Tony said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 1:28 PM

With Canada getting a free deal why can't the U.K. Are they going to have free movement

william said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 1:50 PM

As an outer i firmly believe our government must reflect the wishes of the british people.We are going out but I'm convinced there will be good negotiations undertaken to the benefit of both sides. If the EU messes the discussions up i think other member states will look at their negotiators as incompetent.

Falcón said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 2:28 PM

Wonderful!! 1045 people what have voted.

baltiking said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 2:33 PM

Why are people wanting a general election? It's not the tories fault that We came out Europe . They told us exactly what would happen if we came out of Europe. They never lied to us. They are only guilty of underestimating the stupidity of the general public that voted to get us in the state that we now find ourselves. Fuel costs rising clothes costs rising the pound dropping on a daily basis and this is just the start. Not to mention migrants getting beaten up on the streets. Is this putting the Great back into Britain? We where a strong country before Brexit. Strong economy. Good prime minister strong pound etc etc. The rest of the world is now laughing at us. Just saying.
Martin.

baltiking said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 2:41 PM

The USA have a general election coming up soon. Let's hope they haven't underestimated the stupidity of their voting general public as well' Or we could have Donald Trump in charge in a couple of weeks. Can you imagine? But I said that about Brexit.

Peter said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 5:12 PM

Peter C

With respect, I meant exactly what I said, and it is not a mistake. Financial services, the bedrock of U.K. Exports, requires membership of the common market. Post Brexit, if we leave completely, passporting WILL end, and the relocations will be significant. I work for a London Financial services company, and we are looking for an alternative jurisdiction. As regards physical goods, you do understand don't you that goods produced outside the EU have to go through a rigorous certification procedure. Tarriffs or no tarriffs, supply chains WILL be broken (there was a nice little article in the FT recently to help explain it), and the rump of British manufacturing WILL suffer.

AlanT, every single EU migrant I have ever met living in the U.K. Is working and contributing to society in the form of PAYE, as hard working net contributors doing jobs that locals don't want to do. I cannot say the same of the English I have met on the costa. I have lost count of the number of times English "workers" have tried to rip me off and provided an inferior service. Seriously, I think is English really have to get over ourselves, it's embarrassing.

AlanR555 said:
Sunday, October 30, 2016 @ 10:16 PM

The referendum vote gave the UK government the
duty to negotiate Brexit. It did not specify the terms
of that exit. Indeed, the whole exercise was a scene
of speculation with very little actual information.

When Greenland voted to leave in 1982, they had a
"confirmation" referendum after the terms had been
negotiated. The UK deserve no less.

Theresa May has vowed to seek the best terms for
the UK but the UK public cannot know whether the
terms achieved are acceptable until a draft treaty
has been published. Then we can vote on facts
rather than on speculation.

Apart from logistical issues like immigration and
market access plus the more emotional issues
like control (control by the UK government that
is elected by a minority of the UK public - 36.9%
last time), there are vital issues like the border
control in Ireland and (as should concern us here
in Spain) between Gibraltar and Spain.

For me the greatest issues are maintenance of
the peace in Ireland and the economic well-being
of the UK (including in the service sector). Others
may have other priorities.

Personally, I am in the process of applying for an
Irish passport - to enable my continuing ability to
enter freely into Spain as a fellow European. I give
thanks to my grandfather who had the foresight to
be born in what is now the Republic of Ireland!

wigmore said:
Monday, October 31, 2016 @ 8:55 AM

to catalan brian
of course I have residency. but I said - spanish recidencia - spanish nationality.

mac75 said:
Friday, November 4, 2016 @ 6:13 PM

FYI as of 4/11/2016

1412 people have taken part in the poll.

tteedd said:
Tuesday, November 8, 2016 @ 11:18 PM

No such thing as hard or soft Brexit.
We voted to exit.
Soft Brexit has been invented since the vote to try and confuse matters.
Despite previous comment (calling people stupid is hardly an intelligent comment) even people wanting to stay in are likely to vote hard if they are sensible because soft Brexit is not an option.

Rappo said:
Friday, November 18, 2016 @ 6:22 AM

We can expect little mercy from any number of countries, and no mercy from the jumped up officials, especially one. It is amazing how little thanks the UK has received for ensuring democracy exists in Europe !

Charlietwice said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 12:46 PM

I've never bought into anything without at least knowing something about it, even a pair of socks! To make a decision that affects the lives of every single uk person, and others as well, without knowing anything (in the way of a plan) seems to be political suicide. I'd perefer to leave big decision making to those who are paid to know rather than 'the man down the pub' who may be a good plumber, but his EU knowledge may be a bit lacking.

tteedd said:
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 @ 11:00 PM


No such thing as 'Hard' or 'Soft' Brexit.
As Mrs May said very succinctly 'Brexit means Brexit'.
The people of the UK voted to leave the EU.

Nels said:
Saturday, April 29, 2017 @ 9:52 AM

How many of us remember when we joined the EU ? How hard we tried to join? How we were blocked by some?
We were classed as the sick man of Europe, why did we want to join? If our economy is strong now, why?
History has a habit of repeating itself, how long before we regret our decision to leave?
Is any country in this World independent?