Death by Suicide: European Union Will Cost Brits $140 Billion Over Next Four Years

PJ Media ^ | 12-31-2015 | Michael van der Galien

[Michael van der Galien]

Things are heating up in Britain, where voters will decide upon their country's future: will it be inside or outside the European Union?

One of the most prominent British EU-critics is Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and reluctant member of the European Parliament. Farage has waged a war of words on the EU for years, so 2016 will be the year in which his life's work will either be rewarded or be undone. It's up to British voters to decide upon the matter.

That's why Farage is undoubtedly pleased by this article in the Express claiming that continued EU-membership will cost British taxpayers $140 billion -- or UK £96 billion:

BRITISH taxpayers have ploughed more than half a trillion pounds - an eye-watering £1 billion a month on average - into the European Union budget since we joined, figures showed yesterday - intensifying calls to get out of the bloc.

That's a staggering amount, of course, which makes it more than logical that Farage is touting the number on his Twitter page:

[TWEET]

Prime Minister David Cameron says he wants to renegotiate Britain's deal with the EU -- which would supposedly make it less costly for Britain to stay in the union and enable the British parliament to take back some of its powers swallowed up by Brussels -- but most British eurosceptics have had enough of the EU altogether. They want out. These shocking costs of continued membership will boost their case to the British public.

Since joining the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973, which later gave birth to the European Union (EU), Britain has spent a whopping £503 billion (or $745 billion) on the European project. That's money that might have been better spent on domestic issues.

[ronnie raygun]

Misery loves company. From day one of its creation I thought the EU was created becuase they were all in sh## up to thier eyeballs becuase of thier socialism nonsense that they needed each other to hold thier heads above it. Those who were earners will foot the bill those who are parasites will assume a host.

[jmaroneps37]

Why low ball the figure? There is no way this will cost “only” $140 billion. The invaders will not only come at an increasing rate, but they will breed more invaders with better credentials to steal welfare benefits as natural born citizens.
$140 billion a year maybe, but in four years? Try closer to one trillion.

[monkeyshine]

Why would they even entertain this idea? From controlling 2/3 of the world to a vassal in one century. America, take heed!

[monkeyshine]

A trading union makes sense but shouldn’t require a lot of paperwork, central government, currency union etc. The countries that joined the currency union are nuts. Why give up control of your wealth? Why give control of your economy to a body outside your borders that don’t have your interests at heart? They must be shell shocked from WW2, afraid of their own power so they give it away. Many US Democrats feel the same way, they want us to surrender much of our sovereignty as a means of restraint.

[SES1066]

The countries that joined the currency union are nuts. Why give up control of your wealth? Why give control of your economy to a body outside your borders that don't have your interests at heart? They must be shell shocked from WW2, afraid of their own power so they give it away.

The United Kingdom, just to be clear, is NOT part of the Euro currency union but IS PART of the European Union (trading union)! I'm not sure that the EU can ever be 'fixed' but a prime symptom of its ugliness is that there is NO elected executive but the executive bureaucrats do rule. It is the Civil Service concept run amok and results, as an example, for the UK, in shops and pubs having to go all metric or be fined. Thus no more pints nor pounds even in the village markets!

[bert]

——Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) ——

I thought he lost his seat in the last election

I saw him a lot on Cavuto and he seems like the most intelligent Brit around

[Georgia Girl 2]

My guess is the Brits will never vote to leave the EU. They are all part of what I call the Hive. Here in the US we have all the Progressives in their Hive. They lack the will for individualist thinking.

[the scotsman]

Nope, there is a huge groundswell to leave.

[monkeyshine]

Yes I know that the UK kept the pound sterling. But you described it very well. Bureaucracy run amok. All bureaucrats and no leadership to galvanize or lead the agenda. Just a bunch of technocrats running around looking for things to “fix”, so they can break them and ask for more money to fix them again.