-
'They need us more then we need them'
The lady behind the bar at the pub this evening believed this to be true. I'm still not sure why anyone would believe this to be true. Precisely why does anyone think that the 27 other countries in the EU are so dependent upon the UK? Genuinely mystified, particularly as it seems to be a commonly-held belief.
Brommers-
I'm loathe to spend too much time attempting to out any logic to a brexitty slogan,
but,
I thnk it is partly based the Trade Deficit the UK runs with the EU27*,
and maybe because the UK is one of the few net contributors to the EU Budget**.*Some of this is due to other EU countries sweetheart deals with tech companies;
buy a Dell, it counts as an import from Ireland,
purchases from Apple likewise,
Starbucks domiciled in the Netherlands,
let alone the many companies domiciled in Luxembourg.** When the north of the UK was hit by extraordinary floods in '15 or'16,
Cameron famously refused to apply for EU funding to restore basic services. -
I had this same conversation this afternoon.
"Well they are going to find it is just as bad for them as it is us so it's in their interest to renegotiate with us"
And that's from a remainder. Worried about the pound tanking and making the French mortgage on her holiday home more expensive
-
It often seems to be based on the fact the UK is UK is either the second or third largest economy in the EU (leavers often say it's the second of course but it depends on the measures used).
But given we're a net importer and all our exports via road have to go via Europe...
A good practical example is food. We grow 61% of the food we eat, but if you look specifically at fruit and veg, there's a huge deficit in fruit and vegetable production. In 2015, imports of fruits to the UK were valued at £3.1 billion; imports of fresh vegetables (excluding potatoes because they're not vegetables they're a carb) at £2.1 billion.
55% of our tomatoes come from the EU - a lot from the Netherlands, which despite being tiny is the second largest exporter of food behind only the U.S. (because they've embraced modern high tech farming methods).
Britain will never be self-sufficient in food production, according to the president of the NFU.
But right, they need us more than we need them...
mespilus
jaitch
Fox
So, back to the electorate.
We've had 2 years of unravelling of the Leaver claims,
from 'easiest Trade Deal ever', 'it'll be just like it is now, but we'll be free to spend our money on the NHS', 'They need us more then we need them',
to 'There will be sufficient food', 'Brexit will be survivable', 'I'm the biggest buyer of fridges'.
Almost 3 years of newly age-allowed voters*,
and, three years of typical UK age mortality.
should be a walk for Remain.
(* Vested interest; mespilus jr. is now old enough to vote).