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Question Of The Day

Should We Be Part of the EU?

"Yes. I'm from Lithuania, so I'd have to go home if you left."

Photo by Ines Saraiva

The EU debate is a tricky one. Does the EU drain the UK's economy and open the door to people coming here and stealing the jobs we're unqualified and completely unwilling to do? Or does it prop us up into an essential trade network and strengthen political ties to other European countries? No one's 100 percent sure what Cameron thinks about the situation quite yet, so that's useless. Tony Blair reckons we should remain members of the EU, but he's old news.

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No – what's really most important is what Britain's civilians think about it, so we went out and asked them. People of London, should we be part of the EU?

Victor, tourist: It's a difficult thing to decide, but I think being outside of the European community would be a bad thing.

VICE: Surely there are a lot of positives in leaving – we might benefit economically, for example.
Maybe, but I think that the UK would be better off staying in the EU overall. There are, of course, lots of small factors to consider and they all make a difference, but overall I think staying in would be best.

Helen, studio manager: Yeah, we should definitely be a part of the EU. Leaving would be a really bad thing to do, I reckon.

What about the argument that we pump a lot of money into the EU and don't get much back?
Yeah, but in terms of trade and the wider political picture, we need to stay in the EU. Trade and relationships are more stable between countries in the EU.

So immigration in Britain isn’t a problem to you?
No, definitely not.

Alright then.

Pete, lawyer: We should definitely be a part of the EU, yeah – it makes more sense to be part of something than a lone ranger out on our own.

You don’t think that economically we’d be best to stop sending money to poorer parts of the EU?
No, I think that’s a different issue. That's more to do with currency than us being a member of the EU.

Okay, if we're talking currency – should we adopt the euro?
No, certainly not. That would be a terrible, terrible idea.

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Alright then.

Calma, HR manager: Oh, of course. It should definitely be part of the EU. I'm from Lithuania, so it would affect me directly if it wasn't part of the EU.

Oh yeah. Do you like working in the UK?
Yes, definitely – there are lots of great opportunities. I mean, there are good opportunities in Lithuania, too, but lots more opportunities here.

Camille, editorial intern: I think we should stick with the EU because it’s nice to be connected – to be part of a group on the global scale. And then it’s good for culture and trade and that kind of thing as well.

Have you worked in other parts of the EU?
No, I worked in Asia and Australia, though. I think we should be able to work wherever we like, to be honest.

Yeah, but it's not like many people are moving to Bulgaria for work.
This is true.

Previously - Would You Eat a Family Member to Survive?