Ryan, you better tell the professor he is wrong. And ask his bosses for his job. Clearly you have studied international political economy more than he has, and have uncovered the correct figures. (the Daily Mail has the effect of making many of us senior academics). This was a 2013 figure on trade, not exports, I doubt he made it up, don’t you?

Much of the pan-european agreement – freedom to work anywhere, security co-operation etc listed, as well as targetted urban regeneration,workplace reform and the rest, would indeed have happened anyway, but without us.

Perhaps it’s all about perspective?

I doubt the ‘class-formerly-known-as-working’ generally know, because the tabloids haven’t mentioned it to us, how much crappier it might have got without our emergency entry into the EU (EEC). We are about to find out.

Dunno, John. Maybe it’s your very traditional right-wing anti-intellectualism?

Put the pistol away, Herman. It’s international political economy, not economics.

I think you will find that Bosnia and Serbia were not standing on the foundation the professor was referring to. As we won’t be, shortly.

From Simon Sweeney, Lecturer in international political economy, University of York.

“What did the EEC/EU ever do for us? Not much, apart from: providing 57% of our trade; structural funding to areas hit by industrial decline; clean beaches and rivers; cleaner air; lead free petrol; restrictions on landfill dumping; a recycling culture; cheaper mobile charges; cheaper air travel; improved consumer protection and food labelling; a ban on growth hormones and other harmful food additives; better product safety; single market competition bringing quality improvements and better industrial performance; break up of monopolies; Europe-wide patent and copyright protection; no paperwork or customs for exports throughout the single market; price transparency and removal of commission on currency exchanges across the eurozone; freedom to travel, live and work across Europe; funded opportunities for young people to undertake study or work placements abroad; access to European health services; labour protection and enhanced social welfare; smoke-free workplaces; equal pay legislation; holiday entitlement; the right not to work more than a 48-hour week without overtime; strongest wildlife protection in the world; improved animal welfare in food production; EU-funded research and industrial collaboration; EU representation in international forums; bloc EEA negotiation at the WTO; EU diplomatic efforts to uphold the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; European arrest warrant; cross border policing to combat human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling; counter terrorism intelligence; European civil and military co-operation in post-conflict zones in Europe and Africa; support for democracy and human rights across Europe and beyond; investment across Europe contributing to better living standards and educational, social and cultural capital. Finally the EU has for 60 years been the foundation of peace between European neighbours after centuries of bloodshed”.

Yes, Reg.. but apart from all of that, what has the EU ever done for us?

Let’s run a test.

DONALD TRUMP IS NOT A PARTICULARLY GREAT PRESIDENT

No, that’s a complete xxxxer.

Got to admit, JC would go up in the polls if he demoted DA.

It’s only funny in its ignorance of how dictatorships work. An armed civilian militia is something of a feature.