The British want out of Europe. ( Archived) (61)

Britain's future in Europe is on a knife-edge, according to the shock results of an exclusive Sky News poll on how the country would vote in an EU referendum.

Asked if the UK should remain a member of the European Union, a tiny majority of voters said No. And the biggest concern to voters was the power to control immigration.

The poll, by Survation, will send shockwaves through the high command of the three major parties, whose leaders are all broadly in favour of Britain remaining in the EU.

But it will provide a huge boost for Nigel Farage's UKIP and Tory Euro-sceptics, suggesting there is everything to play for in the referendum promised by David Cameron in 2017.

Asked: "Do you think the UK should remain a member of the EU?" - 44% said Yes, 45% No and 11% Don't Know. When the answers were adjusted to exclude Don't Knows, the result was 49% Yes and 51% No.
The poll also suggests that even though a referendum could be four years away, the vast majority have made up their mind and will not be swayed by the political debate between now and 2017.

Asked: "How certain are you that you would actually vote this way in a real referendum?" - 51% said they would definitely vote this way and nothing could change their mind and 45% said they would probably vote this way.

The results of our poll will also boost UKIP in the answers voters gave when asked what powers they want to see clawed back from Brussels in negotiations promised by the Prime Minister.

Voters were asked: "If there was to be a renegotiation of the UK's relationship with the EU, which of the following areas (if any) currently under EU control would you most like to see returned to the UK?"

Way out in front, on 65% was the power to control immigration between EU countries, an issue championed by UKIP and identified by Mr Farage as his party's top priority.

Next came policing and criminal justice powers, such as the European Arrest Warrant, on 45%, and third employment law, on 40%, ahead of the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy, on 36%.
The poll also revealed that most voters know little about the main figures in the EU, such as Brussels supremos Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy and Cathy Ashton.

Only 23% recognised Mr Barroso when shown a photo, 19% recognised Mr Van Rompuy and 23% Ms Ashton. Yet 74% recognised German Chancellor Angel Merkel, 52% French President Francois Hollande and 98% Mr Cameron.
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They will be OK in Ireland as Ireland and The UK have had a deal since before the EU or EEC came into being. We can move freely over there and they can do the same here.

It may really effect their foreign trade though as EU countries do business quicker with other EU Countries. No import duties to worry about. Also a lot of financial companies based in London may move their base as the UK being in the EU is one of the main reason they have their European operations there.

But it's completely up to the people of the UK to decide what they want.

What does Germany think about England seceding from the Union? Will their be civil war like when the confederate south tried to leave the holier than though United States?

I'd say Germany will be delighted. More power for them and the French. The only country getting anything from the EU at the moment is Germany. They are keeping the currency(Euro) at a low level by shafting the Southern Euro countries so their exports are flying!

Germany will be delighted. They'll get what they didn't get in 1945 without firing a shot. Control of Europe and ownership of a great deal of mortgaged property and land all around the other countries that foolish governments like the Irish one handed them on a plate. Am I the only one that has noticed that lately the decisions are being made in Berlin and not the Hague. Oh and it's not England but the UK as the union currently stands.

Lebensraum.

living space....... I see it too