Psamathe wrote:mjr wrote:As for "one can easily trade with other countries not in the EU" how much have you tried that?
Also, can our economy afford to lose even a small percentage of the existing EU trade.
When the recession hit I was surprised at how sensitive our economy was to pretty small %ages on negative growth. So to lose even a small part of the EU trade could set us back badly. And how would those losing their jobs feel about it? Plus, leaving the EU is not going to increase demand for our exports through the rest of the world.
Ian
Quite.
And many manufacturing companies from outside the EC locate factories here (and therefore provide jobs and taxes here) because this is a useful English-speaking base for them within the EU.
If we're out of the EU, there's no advantage to them being here. As there is already overcapacity in many markets due to the global recession, those that also have bases elsewhere in Europe will just close their factories here in preference to those they have elsewhere in the EU. And the rest will relocate PDQ.
EU companies, if they need to reduce headcount (as again, many do at the moment) will close their UK operations in preference to closing plants in the EU.
You'd be surprised how many job that will affect- very few manufacturing companies are British-owned these days.
It's a grim prospect.
And EU companies will tend to source components from companies within the EU too.
People have to understand that leaving the EU but keeping all the EU advantages in trading will not be an option, whatever people say. Thinking it will be is just living in la-la land.