With the in out vote now guaranteed to take place I worry that Joe Public will be guided by the headlines produced by such papers as the Daily Mail rather than looking deeper into the situation.
I feel that the vote must be earlier than later due to the uncertainty caused e.g. some of the major employers in this country have to decide whether to leave or not!

It's tricky. I'm fascinated to see how Cameron gets on with his requests for Treaty change though obviously freedom of movement is an instant no go, though I think it's a good think to have freedom of movement regardless. He's drawn out one of his red lines (there is another I can't recall) which is the changing of benefits available for migrants, which if I read correctly he should have support from within Europe as they're all very keen for us to stay. However to me I think immigration is such a miniscule section of what the EU stands for and why it's important for us to remain in.

Cameron needs to be careful though. He has a majority of 8 or so and has never been very popular with his backbenchers. He'll have them roped in for now but it'll be vital for him to keep them onside otherwise who knows what could happen. Europe's going to be a huge part of this for him.

I really hope there's no referendum though, but I would vote to remain in should the time arise.

It's tricky. I'm fascinated to see how Cameron gets on with his requests for Treaty change though obviously freedom of movement is an instant no go, though I think it's a good think to have freedom of movement regardless. He's drawn out one of his red lines (there is another I can't recall) which is the changing of benefits available for migrants, which if I read correctly he should have support from within Europe as they're all very keen for us to stay. However to me I think immigration is such a miniscule section of what the EU stands for and why it's important for us to remain in.

Cameron needs to be careful though. He has a majority of 8 or so and has never been very popular with his backbenchers. He'll have them roped in for now but it'll be vital for him to keep them onside otherwise who knows what could happen. Europe's going to be a huge part of this for him.

I really hope there's no referendum though, but I would vote to remain in should the time arise.

Why not? Surely it's democratic. Not like Milliband when he was asked in one of the debates why he wouldn't have a referendum his answer " because I don't think we should leave".

I'm one of those funny oddballs, a lefty who doesn't like the EU.

I like freedom of movement, I like the togetherness of closer integration, but I hate the undemocratic corporate run free trade block of the EU. If it was just about integration and the breaking down of nationalist boundaries I wouldn't mind, but it seems to be run by the very 1% that those of us on the left moan so much about for the very reason to keep that 1% at the top.

I'm one of those funny oddballs, a lefty who doesn't like the EU.

I like freedom of movement, I like the togetherness of closer integration, but I hate the undemocratic corporate run free trade block of the EU. If it was just about integration and the breaking down of nationalist boundaries I wouldn't mind, but it seems to be run by the very 1% that those of us on the left moan so much about for the very reason to keep that 1% at the top.

You are not that unique. I was talking to a friend of mine tonight, I call him the most right wing commie I know, he wants out as well. He is a member of the Labour party and tells me that I would be surprised of how many of you lefties feel the same.

It's tricky. I'm fascinated to see how Cameron gets on with his requests for Treaty change though obviously freedom of movement is an instant no go, though I think it's a good think to have freedom of movement regardless. He's drawn out one of his red lines (there is another I can't recall) which is the changing of benefits available for migrants, which if I read correctly he should have support from within Europe as they're all very keen for us to stay. However to me I think immigration is such a miniscule section of what the EU stands for and why it's important for us to remain in.

Cameron needs to be careful though. He has a majority of 8 or so and has never been very popular with his backbenchers. He'll have them roped in for now but it'll be vital for him to keep them onside otherwise who knows what could happen. Europe's going to be a huge part of this for him.

I really hope there's no referendum though, but I would vote to remain in should the time arise.

Why not? Surely it's democratic. Not like Milliband when he was asked in one of the debates why he wouldn't have a referendum his answer " because I don't think we should leave".

Because many people don't understand the EU (I certainly have tons left to learn about it) and frankly to leave a decision that huge in the hands of the British public concerns me. Especially since you know the campaign would be similar to this general election, ie one ran on fear more than anything else.

I think this is a decision more fitting for experts, and partly because being Pro-EU I'd hate to risk it anyway of course!

I agree in free trade, but other than that it seems like a massive money haemorrhage - MEPs? Like the world needs more bloody politicians.

Because many people don't understand the EU (I certainly have tons left to learn about it) and frankly to leave a decision that huge in the hands of the British public concerns me. I think this is a decision more fitting for experts, and partly because being Pro-EU I'd hate to risk it anyway of course!

It was the British public that voted in a referendum to join the EU in the first place. You're now saying that the very same mechanism is wrong simply because it might return a answer you don't agree with?

At the risk of being a pedant, we were already members of the EEC in the previous referendum: like the promised 2017 one, it was very much an stay-in/get-out vote.

At the risk of being a pedant, we were already members of the EEC in the previous referendum: like the promised 2017 one, it was very much an stay-in/get-out vote.

You're right, my mistake. I would however point out that it was held only two years after the UK joined which is hardly enough time to gauge any long-term effects our membership would have had. The promised 2017 will take place after we've had 40+ years to evaluate our position. A much more realistic assessment.

For what it's worth I'm more-rather-than-less in favour of staying in, but only with some modifications to the arrangement.

Valid, and our arrangement with the EEC was that bit more simplistic than our current EU membership.

BTW - personally, I am very much pro-EU.

I'm one of those funny oddballs, a lefty who doesn't like the EU.

I like freedom of movement, I like the togetherness of closer integration, but I hate the undemocratic corporate run free trade block of the EU. If it was just about integration and the breaking down of nationalist boundaries I wouldn't mind, but it seems to be run by the very 1% that those of us on the left moan so much about for the very reason to keep that 1% at the top.

You are not that unique. I was talking to a friend of mine tonight, I call him the most right wing commie I know, he wants out as well. He is a member of the Labour party and tells me that I would be surprised of how many of you lefties feel the same.

Another leftie here who is at best ambivalent to the whole thing, and the monster leakage of money that it has become. I appreciate that overlapping the aims of the three main European nations has helped us not to fight each other but I think those days are gone.

As Kevin says, the creation of trans boundary markets for exports and imports is a good thing and should be retained but the real issue for many is immigration and the free movement across borders of EU residents. If Cameron can get a relaxation of this (i.e. with cross boundary movement requiring a certain level of qualifications) out of Junckers and his fellow EUrocrats, then you can see him toeing the business line and supporting staying in.

But it (the institution of the EU and its commission and parliament) is way too big - aside from the Strasbourg relocation nonsense, it makes you laugh when you hear Europoliciticans droning on about the principle of "subsidiarity" - i.e. of taking decisions at the lowest possible level, from a glass and steel tower in Brussels. I suspect that there is actually a very significant proportion of people associated with the EU who have significant doubts about what it has become.

If it could be scaled back to basics, I would be enthusiastic.

A footnote: the EU is its own worst enemy though, any organisation that is as truly appalling at its own advocacy as is the EU needs a kick up the arse.

It's tricky. I'm fascinated to see how Cameron gets on with his requests for Treaty change though obviously freedom of movement is an instant no go, though I think it's a good think to have freedom of movement regardless. He's drawn out one of his red lines (there is another I can't recall) which is the changing of benefits available for migrants, which if I read correctly he should have support from within Europe as they're all very keen for us to stay. However to me I think immigration is such a miniscule section of what the EU stands for and why it's important for us to remain in.

Cameron needs to be careful though. He has a majority of 8 or so and has never been very popular with his backbenchers. He'll have them roped in for now but it'll be vital for him to keep them onside otherwise who knows what could happen. Europe's going to be a huge part of this for him.

I really hope there's no referendum though, but I would vote to remain in should the time arise.

Why not? Surely it's democratic. Not like Milliband when he was asked in one of the debates why he wouldn't have a referendum his answer " because I don't think we should leave".

So what would Milliband have to gain by having a referendum?