This is an IN or OUT issue for Britain

In Out Sign. Source: http://www.123rf.com

The House of Commons has been in the spotlight this week over the potential renegotiation of Britain’s EU membership.

Prime Minister David Cameron has previously declared, and in several occasions, that he wants the UK to stay in the European Union.

However, he also demands a renegotiation of the terms of the country’s membership and is planning to hold a referendum in order to stay in at his own conditions.

He reckons this move is necessary to avoid the catastrophe to the country’s economic and has stressed that the only way to ensure the 2017 referendum since now, is to vote Conservative on the next election, in 2015.

Meanwhile, the prospect of such a referendum in four years’ time may be stopping industries from investing in the UK and this could be quite worrying. 

In fact, 50 per cent of present UK trade is with the European Union.

In yesterday’s vote, 55 per cent of Tory backbenchers expressed disagreement towards Mr Cameron’s plan, as they think other members of the EU would not agree to the sort of changes he wants. They assume that any kind of renegotiation may increase the chances of Britain eventually leaving the UK.

Both Labour Leader Ed Miliband and shadow Chancellor Ed Balls are opposed to a referendum.
“I want to stay in the European Union; I am absolutely clear about that,” Mr Balls said.

David Cameron’s draft Bill is a real problem for many inside Downing Street, because for them it is all about saving Britain’s EU membership.

The UK without being part of Europe, in fact, may be losing its international impact in the short-medium term.