Is that the Rotterdam effect?
"Even at the time, his statistics were questionable. Many British-made goods are routed via Antwerp and Rotterdam to overseas markets. They thus show up in the raw figures as exports to the EU, even though their final destination might be Argentina or Australia. Economists call it the Rotterdam Effect."
Britain's non-EU exports now account for the majority of our overseas sales – however you measure it – Telegraph Blogs
Strange how Japan trades with the rest of the world without these EU restrictions...
That's my problem! If we get a referendum, I like to think I would place a responsible vote, based upon agreed common statistical data between the two "sides".
It won't happen, and in the end you vote with your guts, instead of your brain! It appears to be happening in the Scottish referendum.
For you Scots out there, is that right ? I know you're sensitive about names, note NOT Scotch.:Biggrin2:
It shouldn't just be Angus MacHaggis vs Quentin Fortescue-Slimey, there should be agreed data for comparison.
Part of the issue is whether Scotland would carry over EU membership. I assume AS has been trying to get an answer for a few years.
The EU might have a rule to cover it, but they don't really know. If they can't fudge it, a treaty change is needed.
When all 28 countries have ground their own particular axe (via 28 different interpreters) and agreed on the change, a good many need a referendum to ratify it.
I hate to think how long that will take, and I don't think the EU dare have many referenda for some time, if ever.
Maybe 2 years down the line? In the meantime Scotland's in limbo, too small to worry about.
It's too big, can't make decisions before it doesn't matter much any more, and exists to please the inner circle.
I also resent Britain being treated like a local council. Guess which way I'll be voting? Enough is too much!