French far right in 'earthquake' win as EU votes

[7by7]

The problem is that often it is not the primary person that makes the difference - its when they get citizenship and over comes the relatives.

Sorry, wolf, but that's wrong, too. Bringing over the relatives, whether one has British citizenship or not, is not as easy as some would have you believe.

See Apply to join family living permanently in the UK (eligibility).

[DiamondKing]

Electing far right, racist, xenophobic, anti-semitic MEPs is truly shocking. Something is very wrong in Le Republic.

UKIP are xenophobic but have done very well in trying to get rid of the racists and anti-semites that support them. Farage is entertaining, but in all reality they are a joke party and a protest vote against the mainstream ineffectual parties.

The turn-out in the UK says it all. Some earthquake!!

So every new agency is reporting it was a Earhtquake in UK and Euro politics but you say different LOL

OK

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about and are part of the reason they won so CONVINCINGLY with your BS spouting

[DiamondKing]

Do you live in Thailand?

If so, whether you are a visa runner, work permit holder or have a non immigrant visa of some kind; you are an immigrant.

Regardless of the legalese.

A guest is someone who plans to stay for a short period.

How long do you plan to remain in Thailand?

Bernard Flint says he has not lived in the UK for 11 years; obviously he is not living for a short period outside the UK!

An immigrant, by definition, is someone who moves to another country to live permanently.

Which is, is it not, the intention of many of the members of this forum who do live in Thailand?

If not permanently, then at least long term.

Furthermore, your definition means that the majority of immigrants from the EEA currently living in the UK are not immigrants at all, as they intend to return to their home country at some point in the future.

Which makes Bernard Flint's post somewhat redundant.

Are you seriously implying us living in thailand are the same as people moving to the UK try getting Thailand to pay your rent give you free healthcare a free house and child support

APPLES TO ORANGES

get a grip

[DiamondKing]

Electing far right, racist, xenophobic, anti-semitic MEPs is truly shocking. Something is very wrong in Le Republic.

UKIP are xenophobic but have done very well in trying to get rid of the racists and anti-semites that support them. Farage is entertaining, but in all reality they are a joke party and a protest vote against the mainstream ineffectual parties.

The turn-out in the UK says it all. Some earthquake!!

Abject nonsense. UKIP won the European election in the UK. They've done pretty well in the local elections too. I don't see any joke. They are on their way to the Westminster.

European Elections: UKIP Tops British Polls

Sky News – 1 hour 16 minutes ago

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/european-elections-ukip-top-british-polls-221803283.html#OvZdSz6

Try reading their manifesto and their policies then you might see the joke! Yes, they won the Euro election on a tiny turnout and as an anti-EU/immigrant protest. They have zero chance of winning a General Election. Zero.

NOW YOU HAVE JUST PROVEN THAT YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT

UKIP does not have a manifesto currently as it will be released this summer so obviously you have no clue what you are talking about where a manifesto is concerned.

As for them not winning a general election you are actually correct however they are going to cause all kinds of problems for Westminster and will for sure have seats in Westminster in 2015

Its a start the people army are rising and the people will be heard.

[manarak]

France's situation is very bad, unemployment (real rate) around 25% and still on the rise, record high taxes (around 43% in AVERAGE), ever-increasing debt, the part of the public sector in the GNP at a record height of nearly 57% and rising, industrial production index constantly falling for 20 years...

Traditional political parties are not capable of changing the country enough for it to break these trends. Many voters recognized that and used the European elections, which aren't really important, to protest againt the policies of the dinosaur parties.

While I don't support the far right, I am pleased to see some reaction among voters - now if only a party could come forward with real solutions!

[folium]

The E U IS THE WORST THING TO HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO EUROPE ,OUT I SAY .

apart from war that is.

What a ridiculous comment....

No member state of the EU has gone to war with a fellow member state since its inception, thus breaking a centuries old "tradition" of repeated, brutal warfare that has wracked Europe.

The EU is far from perfect, to put it mildly, but I am afraid to say your comment takes the whole packet of biscuits for displaying such ignorance of European history.

[folium]

France's situation is very bad, unemployment (real rate) around 25% and still on the rise, record high taxes (around 43% in AVERAGE), ever-increasing debt, the part of the public sector in the GNP at a record height of nearly 57% and rising, industrial production index constantly falling for 20 years...

Traditional political parties are not capable of changing the country enough for it to break these trends. Many voters recognized that and used the European elections, which aren't really important, to protest againt the policies of the dinosaur parties.

While I don't support the far right, I am pleased to see some reaction among voters - now if only a party could come forward with real solutions!

Quick quiz....

Name the party and country that won the highest % of the vote in the EU elections.

[I Like Thai]

Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose party topped the poll in Germany - described the far right victories as "remarkable and regrettable" and said the best response was to boost economic growth and jobs.

Should that not be the main purpose of the EU anyway and not just a reaction to a threat to their power ?

[folium]

France's situation is very bad, unemployment (real rate) around 25% and still on the rise, record high taxes (around 43% in AVERAGE), ever-increasing debt, the part of the public sector in the GNP at a record height of nearly 57% and rising, industrial production index constantly falling for 20 years...

Traditional political parties are not capable of changing the country enough for it to break these trends. Many voters recognized that and used the European elections, which aren't really important, to protest againt the policies of the dinosaur parties.

While I don't support the far right, I am pleased to see some reaction among voters - now if only a party could come forward with real solutions!

Quick quiz....

Name the party and country that won the highest % of the vote in the EU elections.

And the answer is....Matteo Renzi's centre left government in of all places Italy.

The country that has long been a basket case, and under Bungasconi little more than a joke, has seen Renzi receive 41% of the vote, thrashing Beppo's populist circus. The reason has nothing to do with politics but everything to do with Renzi's intent to fundamentally reform his country.

This is what most European voters are looking for is a party that identifies issues and is prepared to address them. The lack of such intent to reform the closed shops, conflicts of interest and stunning inefficiencies underlines that most people will vote based on their pocket book. If a country is or is perceived to be moving the right direction in terms of the economy, the party responsible will receive the majority of votes cast. It's a classic case of "the economy, stupid". Show intent of sorting out the long put off structural reforms and you win the lion's share of the vote.

France reflects the opposite where Hollande has done little to bring in the hard reforms necessary. In the UK the fruits of Osborne's efforts are yet to be widely felt, but at least he has a year before the really important election to ensure that they are more widely experienced.

Talking of protest votes in Greece is laughable. A country that makes Italy, under its previous regime, look well- managed and fiscally responsible, that should never have been allowed into the EU in the first place, that had to be bailed out by EU taxpayers from problems entirely of their own making, driven by greed, stupidity and mendacity, now has the nerve to whine about austerity measures that stand but a small chance at best of sorting out the shambles that masquerades as the Greek economy/tax base.

[folium]

Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose party topped the poll in Germany - described the far right victories as "remarkable and regrettable" and said the best response was to boost economic growth and jobs.

Should that not be the main purpose of the EU anyway and not just a reaction to a threat to their power ?

That, hopefully, is the positive spin on the drubbing faced by many ruling parties at the ballot box. Rather than using the crawling recovery as another excuse to put off the necessary reforms, this "earthquake" might just act as the opportunity for bold politicians to get on and sort out the shambolic elements found in many European economies.

[englishoak]

And that is how it is done, without a coup, effect change from within and campaign

[folium]

From the Dreyfus affair to Vichy to Le Pen, France has always been a sinister country.

But overall in Europe, the citizens have spoken out against the waste, corruption and arrogance of the Brussels regents. People want more direct democracy, accountability, safer neighbourhoods and protection of individual freedoms. A new broom in Brussels ... hooray!

Dreyfus was eventually released then cleared, in any other country at that time he would just have spent his life in jail if not been executed on the spot, Vichy was an occupation regime and Le Pen though I can't say I'm a fan would look like a shy leftist in most countries, US included.

Rather depends on whether we are talking about the cleansed/airbrushed daughter (Marine le Pen) or the out and out Jew-hating, Holocaust-denying, fascist of her father (Jean Marie Le Pen)....

[MAJIC]

The EU parliament should be very interesting with 23 new MEP's from the UK's new "Official Monster Raving Loony Party" hell bent on the destruction on the EU.

" hell bent on the destruction on the EU"

If the UK doesnt pull out of the EU it will be the destruction of the UK! (what's left)

Which do you prefer?

[folium]

Electing far right, racist, xenophobic, anti-semitic MEPs is truly shocking. Something is very wrong in Le Republic.

UKIP are xenophobic but have done very well in trying to get rid of the racists and anti-semites that support them. Farage is entertaining, but in all reality they are a joke party and a protest vote against the mainstream ineffectual parties.

The turn-out in the UK says it all. Some earthquake!!

Abject nonsense. UKIP won the European election in the UK. They've done pretty well in the local elections too. I don't see any joke. They are on their way to the Westminster.

European Elections: UKIP Tops British Polls

Sky News – 1 hour 16 minutes ago

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/european-elections-ukip-top-british-polls-221803283.html#OvZdSz6

Try reading their manifesto and their policies then you might see the joke! Yes, they won the Euro election on a tiny turnout and as an anti-EU/immigrant protest. They have zero chance of winning a General Election. Zero.

NOW YOU HAVE JUST PROVEN THAT YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT

UKIP does not have a manifesto currently as it will be released this summer so obviously you have no clue what you are talking about where a manifesto is concerned.

As for them not winning a general election you are actually correct however they are going to cause all kinds of problems for Westminster and will for sure have seats in Westminster in 2015

Its a start the people army are rising and the people will be heard.

Perhaps you should have watched Farrage being interviewed recently on Sunday Politics by Andrew Neil.

Here's part of the transcript:

Andrew Neil: You have promised these tax cuts, how much will they cost?

Nigel Farage: No idea. I’m not here to talk about, I’ve read the local election manifesto and it doesn’t make those promises.

AN: It does

NF: We do talk about local services, we do talk about the need to keep council tax down but we don’t talk about income tax. Absolutely not.

AN: In local election campaigning you say you would restore cuts to policing, double prison places, restore cuts to front line NHS, spend more on roads, how much would that cost?

NF: You are obviously reading different documents to me.

AN: It’s your website not mine.

And here is the UKIP local election manifesto.

http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/themes/5308a93901925b5b09000002/attachments/original/1397750311/localmanifesto2014.pdf?1397750311

Bottom line is that blagging your way to gaining votes in local or European elections is one thing, but hopefully most Brits with a grain of nous and commonsense will require more than entertaining waffle to guide their choice in May 2015 for the General Election.

@Diamondking. If you believe UKIP had no manifesto, on what basis do they gain your apparent support?

Farrage is very good at playing the blokeish, grumpy, white guy, wrong side of 45, who likes a drink or three. Basically he is the Jeremy Clarkson of British politics, ie knows how to milk a gullible audience and goes long on arrogance, opinionated views and a healthy dose of concocted controversy.

Crunching the numbers sees that UKIP won 27% of the vote in a 34% turnout. Half their 10% jump in votes came from the merciful collapse of the scummy BNP (fascist party) and much of the rest were grumpy, white guys on the wrong side of 45 who defected from the Tories. That means that an enormous 9.4% of the British electorate cast their vote for UKIP, an organization apparently without a manifesto, or at least one that their leader recognizes.....

In 2010 a 16.5% share of the EU vote for UKIP became a 3.1% share of the General Election vote, let's all hope and pray that we see a similar coming to its senses by the British electorate in 2015.

[NowImEasy]

The EU parliament should be very interesting with 23 new MEP's from the UK's new "Official Monster Raving Loony Party" hell bent on the destruction on the EU.

The EU is designed to destruct Europe first of all. Unless you lived under a rock the last years, it's clearly to see we pay for regime change in (Ukraine, Greece) and out (Syria, Egypt) the EU. It's clearly they forced us into the bank way that destroyed the USA from inside out. The EU is designed to overthrow governments and take over surrounding Russia, build more army bases and get the resources cheap. They always know they can't pay back the loan and the "help to rebuild" the country. The loan mostly end up as investments and for the lobbyists and never the people who really need it. Those lobbyists also advice what the politics should decide. There for exactly we don't live in democracies in the EU and USA. Theocracy is what we have, and it's religion is MONEY. No money = fear, so we suck up the BS and pretend to May vote as long as we can pay to eat and live. But we all can be next you know? How many countries are doing better after the EU was created?

The USA has been destroyed? Is this some secret? When did it happen? Wow, I must have slept right through the destruction.

[folium]

The EU parliament should be very interesting with 23 new MEP's from the UK's new "Official Monster Raving Loony Party" hell bent on the destruction on the EU.

The EU is designed to destruct Europe first of all. Unless you lived under a rock the last years, it's clearly to see we pay for regime change in (Ukraine, Greece) and out (Syria, Egypt) the EU. It's clearly they forced us into the bank way that destroyed the USA from inside out. The EU is designed to overthrow governments and take over surrounding Russia, build more army bases and get the resources cheap. They always know they can't pay back the loan and the "help to rebuild" the country. The loan mostly end up as investments and for the lobbyists and never the people who really need it. Those lobbyists also advice what the politics should decide. There for exactly we don't live in democracies in the EU and USA. Theocracy is what we have, and it's religion is MONEY. No money = fear, so we suck up the BS and pretend to May vote as long as we can pay to eat and live. But we all can be next you know? How many countries are doing better after the EU was created?

The USA has been destroyed? Is this some secret? When did it happen? Wow, I must have slept right through the destruction.

I wouldn't worry, I think he ate the wrong mushroom.....!

[Bwanatickey]

France is a lovely country, I have enjoyed many a fine holiday in France, but who they vote for is up to them.

I have no vote in France, so I have no say.

Where you are living now, do you have the right to vote?

[simple1]

You keep mentioning the 'Poles' yeah hardworking, I know a few who still work in the UK, but you fail to mention that all the money they earn over and above living expenses goes straight back to Poland. Immigrants? all a matter of where you hail from mate, I'm from Manchester and I can tell you right now the place where I was born and bred (was a white working class area) in the last 8 years has been turned into a Ghetto, all empty properties get snapped up by buy to let landlords, next minute you have 2 family's of black African immigrants moved in (Nigeria, Senegal) this is fact not made up scare mongering nonsense , they speak their own language, our Local high street which once thrived with shops of all sorts of fayer is now just Western Union, Al-Hal butchers/supermarkets, African Cafes (see Shabeens) and gangs of these people (men) hanging out in groups of 20 outside these places. The place is now a $hit hole thanks the the local Labour councils free door attitude and the Governments open door immigration policy, yep don't tell me abouty immigration pal I am living it, My house is now worth about half of what it was. On a plus note you can buy Talipia Fish 24/7 and cooking oil - and what was once the local is now a CAB which will ensure you can claim any benefits you are entitled too and get a property, register with a local GP and Dentist, is all for free....

UKIP and Proud!

Well, I was born and bred in the East End of London (Bow) - the 70s turned it into a ghetto, so I feel you there. However, Nigerians, Senegalese etc are not from the EU. There is a work shortage in the UK for certain skilled jobs - and this will continue - coming out of the EU will simply mean that more Africans an Asians filling the jobs - and they do not go home. Yes Poles etc take home the extra money - we can't have it both ways - we either want them to stay or we don't - we can't expect them to come for short term and leave without the money - there would simply be no incentive.

The Tories tied to push for anti-immigration policies the last time Blair won - it was a major failure (and declared as racist). The Tories still push for controlling immigration and have made it harder. Even Labour are talking about limits these days. It does not take a UKIP vote to limit immigration.

Hang on, I ain't bothered where immigrants are from, I Do Not Want Them! I want to look after our own people first whether they are white, black, yellow does not matter, I am not Racist, just fed up of free-loaders taking all and giving nothing, your argument relates to hard working immigrants, lets not BS here. The average one is here for a free handout - Period. As Farage says in the speech attached to my op, if immigrants have skills we need and they are coming to contribute to our society and they are free of criminal convictions with no long term health effects and can support them selves then hey Welcome Brother, if not then F o o K OFF!

Your comments, Lokie, show that you have a total lack of knowledge regarding both the UK's immigration rules and the UK's EEA freedom of movement regulations.

I suggest that you read up on both before displaying your ignorance on these matters again; especially the parts relating to what public funds immigrants from both within the EEA and outside it are entitled to; i.e. damn all.

If any immigrant, whether from the EEA or not, is coming to the UK for a free hand out; they will be very disappointed as they aren't going to get it!

Posts talking to access to welfare by immigrants have been constantly refuted by facts, yet the counter posts are never acknowledged and always derided.

It's true UKIP currently do not have a manifesto, but has UKIP rescinded their commitments in the 2010 manifesto? Do supporters of UKIP actually believe in the nonsense articulated in so many of their commitments?

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/mar/07/ukip-policies-manifesto-commitments

I am just appalled that some TV members applaud the rise of the far right in Europe, that appears to be purely based upon their antipathy towards migrants

[MAJIC]

Electing far right, racist, xenophobic, anti-semitic MEPs is truly shocking. Something is very wrong in Le Republic.

UKIP are xenophobic but have done very well in trying to get rid of the racists and anti-semites that support them. Farage is entertaining, but in all reality they are a joke party and a protest vote against the mainstream ineffectual parties.

The turn-out in the UK says it all. Some earthquake!!

The turnout in the UK was fairly low,which makes the results of the voting all the more shocking! It's too late for other Political Parties to play the Racist card,UKIP have already been bombarded with this form of calculated abuse,and have come through unscathed.

The French results are entirely different,and IMHO opinion should not be compared with UKIP.

I note you think UKIP are: " but in all reality they are a joke party" It may interest you that Chancellor Osborne now claims he respects Forage.

And Cameron doesn't repeat his statement, "a Party of Fruitcakes" I don't know who has had the biggest shock Clegg (who has seen the Lib Dems practically wiped out) or Cameron who has been given a severe wake up call,and is backpeddling for all he's worth,and is hinting that a Referendum on Europe,is not so impossible,but in my opinion he will not be around to see it through in 2017! He will obviously dangle the carrot i.e vote for me in 2015 and you will get a Referendum. .....It's a shame that most of the Electorate are unlikely to believe him!

[folium]

Hopefully Europe now has the opportunity to resolve what has been termed Juncker's Curse.

The ex PM of Luxembourg and Chair of Eurozone finance ministers once commented:

“We all know what to do. It’s just we don’t know how to get re-elected after we’ve done it.”

Perhaps Renzi in Italy can now set the pace and break this curse and other European countries can use the opportunity/excuse of these recent elections to introduce genuine reforms to stimulate growth and job creation, rather than just propping up the status quo.

[I Like Thai]

Irish Labour leader and Government partner resigns after the party suffered a collapse in local council elections held in conjunction with Euro elections. The Euro elections in Ireland also saw a backlash against the traditional established parties

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections/eamon-gilmore-resigns-as-leader-of-labour-party-30305318.html

EAMON Gilmore has warned against the Labour pulling out of government following his dramatic decision to resign as party leader.

Mr Gilmore said he "agonised" over the decision to step down which was made just hours before eight members of the Labour Parliamentary party tabled a vote of no confidence.

[Somtamnication]

Finally, some countries are reverting to self control and taking powers away from the EU. What a farce that has been. Enough!

[folium]

Finally, some countries are reverting to self control and taking powers away from the EU. What a farce that has been. Enough!

Who...which powers?

[bangon04]

I voted UKIP in both EU and local elections,

at every turn the media have tried to put the Racist party slant on them, just watch a few of the discussions on news channels etc where they try to cross swords with Farage, he is a brilliant Orator and runs rings around most of them. People are pi$$d off with the mainstream three who all pi $ $ in the same pot anyway, time for change and time to make our own laws and look after our own people first instead of giving all these free-loaders all the benifits and free health care for Nowt, F o o k Em!!

Catch some of the hilarious Farage exchanges in the EU chamber

Being a good orator is good for a public speaker - it does not make his policies sound. Hitler and Goebbels were great orators! A party is also more than the head man - move down a step and look at the morons that inhabit that party. Farage spouts much the same as those war time fascists, though not as extreme of course, blaming the ills on immigration etc, when the numbers just don't stack up. This is why he and his party is seen as a joke - a dangerous joke, sure, but a joke just the same. It makes no sense - is emotive crap that pulls at the bigot in us - listen to the people on the streets that vote for him when interviewed - its always the same, "immigrants". Britain NEEDS immigrants ( especially from the EU where they tend to go home after providing skilled, cheap, labour ), it has the worlds most expensive (per head of capita) welfare system in the world and an aging community of baby boomers that blew most of the country's wealth in the 80s. WRT Immigrant benefit scroungers: pregnant wives and sick relatives that get free NHS, when the husband/son comes on a work visa - are rarely from the EU - they are from old Commonwealth countries like India and Pakistan. People from Eire come to the UK and claim unemployment benefit - often whilst working in the construction industry - that was until the Poles replaced them for skills and cost and without the dole money! The Irish come not because of EU free movement, but because of agreements made back in the 1920s.

The UKIP does one thing, it helps Labour. It waters down the Tory vote. Farage would be better as a Tory candidate, and push for reform in Europe rather than trying to isolate the UK. The EU is ripe for change (Merkel showed willingness to discuss this when she visited Britain in a joint televised address with Cameron - within reason of course), but it is silly to destroy it or jump ship - that only pays the Americans and Chinese. Britain would be the loser.

Cameron and others had their chance. The best they could do was to offer a vague "reform" agenda after the next election.

The UKIP vote was a slap in the face for Cameron. It is serving its purpose by provoking the debate. It is a protest vote. A protest against sleepwalking into more Euro sludge.

I would hope that most sane people would prefer not to have UKIP running the country in reality, but saw no other way to make Cameron take real notice. Otherwise just more platitudes and non-delivery in future.

As for the EU - I was one who voted to stay in the EEC. The EEC is what the UK needs, not the EU as its father.........

I hope the AEC achieves the best bits of the EEC, but doesn't slide into the worst bits of the EU. There is already plenty of corruption to go around.....

[alyx]

Note to reporter...it's called winning by a "Landslide"...Earthquake...555555555555

Although I am not fluent in English, I will take the risk to disagree with you.

Of course, the expression " landslide election " is commonly used and heard when referring to an overwhelming participation (which is not the case by the way) and/ or result.

Nonetheless, I feel that the reporter titled his/her article purposely, and correctly.

It is a a word for word translation of the quote made by the French minister: it is, in his views, an earthquake as it has rocked the EU foundations, and, above all, brings back not so nice memories from last century.

Indeed, it is an earthquake, a seism, for some back home.

In 2002, in France, Chirac won by a landslide before Le Pen (French right wing) after the rise of his party during the first part of the elections, rise which sent a shock wave, as in a propagating, heavy, disturbance through every level of the French society.

[i claudius]

The problem is that often it is not the primary person that makes the difference - its when they get citizenship and over comes the relatives.

Sorry, wolf, but that's wrong, too. Bringing over the relatives, whether one has British citizenship or not, is not as easy as some would have you believe.

See Apply to join family living permanently in the UK (eligibility).

so they just jump out of the back of a lorry in dover.

[kamahele]

Funny how anti immigration these "blokes" are about their own home countries while they are immigrants living in Thailand.

[alyx]

Funny how anti immigration these "blokes" are about their own home countries while they are immigrants living in Thailand.

Humm.....maybe they consider themselves from "honourable" ascendancy, as in first world countries and they can support themselves without the help of the local government

In any case, tolerance is hard to find these days

[brewsterbudgen]

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NOW YOU HAVE JUST PROVEN THAT YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT

UKIP does not have a manifesto currently as it will be released this summer so obviously you have no clue what you are talking about where a manifesto is concerned.

As for them not winning a general election you are actually correct however they are going to cause all kinds of problems for Westminster and will for sure have seats in Westminster in 2015

Its a start the people army are rising and the people will be heard.

Try reading Folium's post. They have had manifestos in the past and they make for amusing reading!

The turnout in the UK was fairly low,which makes the results of the voting all the more shocking! It's too late for other Political Parties to play the Racist card,UKIP have already been bombarded with this form of calculated abuse,and have come through unscathed.

The French results are entirely different,and IMHO opinion should not be compared with UKIP.

I note you think UKIP are: " but in all reality they are a joke party" It may interest you that Chancellor Osborne now claims he respects Forage.

And Cameron doesn't repeat his statement, "a Party of Fruitcakes" I don't know who has had the biggest shock Clegg (who has seen the Lib Dems practically wiped out) or Cameron who has been given a severe wake up call,and is backpeddling for all he's worth,and is hinting that a Referendum on Europe,is not so impossible,but in my opinion he will not be around to see it through in 2017! He will obviously dangle the carrot i.e vote for me in 2015 and you will get a Referendum. .....It's a shame that most of the Electorate are unlikely to believe him!

Actually I quite admire Farage as a canny politician. But UKIP's ideas and many of its supporters are a joke and some are even (in my view) dangerous.

[TinoThailand]

Germany is also not going to fall for fascinations again. There is a lot of resistance. When Germany leaves the EU this whole obsession is finished.

I just hope we stand strong and bring the war criminals to justice just like some lobbyists, bankers and politicians. Not hope, we have to work for it and keep talking. It's ok to disagree on some points. In the end, most of us all did not vote for war and drama. On the other hand, technically speaking you do when you vote pro EU.

Can't see Germany pulling out - you are right, without Germany, there is no EU. I think if it starts to look dire, the big three will get together and make necessary reforms that appeases all (well those 3 anyway) - this is likely to happen anyway. The EU is stronger than individual counties, that is a fact. There is plenty wrong with it, but there is also plenty right with it. It needs fixing rather than destroying - baby, bathwater.

Mainstream media will be the last one telling you something. Strong signals Germany and others will join the BRIC countries. And why not? The EU is undemocratic and the banks create money out of nothing whilst we pay interest over it. As simple as that and plenty prove.

Of course I'm not saying BRIC countries are democratic but I'm saying people want to quit the dollar and the euro basically.