Dear Mr. Moore,
I imagine that I am in a similar position to many expat British people, both retired and younger working and looking to settle and bring up their family here and who have made substantial financial commitments to this end. Like me, they have to make a very important voting decision in June which may effect all our futures and which is very difficult to reach.
There are many compelling reasons why we might wish to leave the EU, not least the overbearing, very expensive and unaccountable central administration which seeks to impose all manner of controls on what we do with our lives, which Westminster seems powerless to refute and overrule, thanks to subservience to a EU court, again which accounts to no elected administration for its decisions. Spain, like other EU countries, seems to be able to filibuster much of this legislation in favour of existing local rules and laws, which may or may not profit us from time to time.
Then we have the issue of excessive migration, for which we may be morally sympathetic, not of our making and which is sucking too much government resource from other essential services sorely in need of attention. Not to mention our ongoing struggle to balance the books.
On the other side of the argument is the strength of the pound v. the euro, so important for all of us receiving English pensions. Also the lesson of history and the reason the last generation fought hard to unite Europe to protect EU countries from themselves and outside threats, which have seemed endless since the end of WWII.
What is missing so far in this debate are irrefutable facts which enable us to understand the significance of deciding one way or the other. I am bombarded daily by “Brexit” supporters on e-mail telling me this or that with no real substantial proof of what they purport to be the future. It is a similar story with the “Stay In” camp, although at least we have a status quo to look forward to as a back-up, if that's a plus.
Nobody has expressed an opinion as to the current state of Europe, what happens when the ECB is forced eventually to stop printing money, the effect on existing bankrupt countries, where they stand at present, the due diligence, if any, being applied to countries waiting to enter the EU zone, and the cost of funding them in the initial years. Where is the opinion from the German electorate, the paymasters, which could turn all this on it's head, and possibly signal the end of the EU as we know it?
Closer to home and what might happen, I was interested to read Ray Fleming's Looking Around article which while, bias admitted, highlighted the macro issues, to which I referred earlier.
What he doesn't say is how the Spanish government, assuming we have one in June, would react to us in the light of a “Brexit”. How can he? Existing laws can be repealed or changed for new laws.
For we UK expats in Spain, what is required is some definitive evidence from the Spanish government, from the Majorcan government and the British government through its consular system as to exactly how our lives will be effected, so that in June we can make the correct vote to protect all our futures. I have no doubt the Majorca Daily Bulletin has all the contacts to extract this information. What are they telling you at present, if anything?
No fudges please, no "We shall have to see after the vote" and definitely no lies. We need facts and NOW!
Kind regards,
Paul Satterly
Sa Coma
In response to “John Major”
Dear Sir,
I have always been an admirer of Sir John Major but, in my humble opinion, his opinions regarding the EU, published in Ray Fleming’s article, are wrong or at least misguided.
Firstly, Sir John says we have the best-performing economy in Europe due to quote “domestic reforms”. I wonder if these reforms would or could have taken place without Margaret Thatchers obstinance and her putting Britain instead of the EU first.
Also, could the small matter of Britain having its own central bank and currency, something we wouldn't have had if we were at the “heart” of Europe, as many people wished we had been, be also a factor ?
Sir John says that our children and grandchildren will look back at this pivotal moment in our history. With respect, remaining or not in the EU will not be a pivotal moment in our history.
Our pivotal moment will be facing up to and taking drastic measures against the ever-increasing attacks against our culture and religion, something that, so far, the EU seems to have shown very little leadership or ideas on how to tackle, which if not done soon, whatever the consequences, will leave our aforementioned children and grandchildren with a very small or possibly non-existent Europe at all.
Your sincerely,
Simon Tow