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Opinion: Confused Britain

by Ian Shires on 21 October, 2014

Published on Liberal Democrat Voice By  | Mon 20th October 2014 – 9:10 am

Map of the European Union

EU citizens should have the right to live and work in the UK:
36% Yes, 46% No.

British citizens should have the right to live and work in the EU:
52% Yes, 26% No.

These results from ComRes were presented by the Guardian Data Editor Alberto Nardelli, alongside the title “Confused Britain“. However, in many ways it summarises an increasingly predominate view on the European Union. It seems vast swathes of the public are happy to have their cake and eat it when it comes to the EU.

It is a choice that has been presented to people by many Eurosceptics. Conservatives are increasingly discussing the notion of quota systems on EU migration, even though Angela Merkel has stated that such an impingement on free movement would be non-negotiable. Ukip have often stated that trade between the UK and the EU would be made easier, not harder, through removal from the free market area. Presented with such options, it has become popular thinking to believe that the UK can have a pick ‘n’ mix agreement with the European Union.

However, the findings of the ComRes poll show where the cracks in this logic begin to become evident. Figures released in February 2014, in response to a question in the Lords by Matthew Oakeshott, revealed that 2.3 million EU citizens lived in the UK, whilst 2.2 million UK citizens are living elsewhere in the EU. The problem, therefore, is UK citizens are as reliant on free movement for their jobs and careers as anyone else. To begin to discuss quotas on other EU nations, we also have to consider the possibility that any other EU nation could impose the same on us. If the ComRes figures are anything to go by, then such a move would be met with umbrage by many in the UK, who view our contributions to the EU as overwhelming positive.

The European Union has always relied on mutually accepted agreements of its member states. It is on this agreement that the future of the EU must continue. Yet, if we in Britain begin to counter fundamental principles of the European Union, then we must be ready to accept the consequences on our own citizens. If we are unwilling to accept the liabilities of European Union membership, we cannot accept to bask in the perquisites. Mooting quotas could have a detrimental impact on UK citizens working abroad, and if it does the 20% who accept UK emigrants, but not EU immigrants, may have to question the logic of their position.

* Scott Stables is Secretary for Edinburgh North East and Leith Liberal Democrats and blogs at Slant and Sensibility

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