Khaleej Times

Mixed feelings on UK’s EU deal Brit expats react to the question: Should UK remain in the European Union or not?

- Kelly Clarke kelly@khaleejtim­es.com

dubai — Though UK expatriate­s in the UAE seem split on the decision of whether the UK should remain in the European Union (EU) or not, it seems they all agree on one thing — the importance of voting in the upcoming EU Referendum, whether living overseas or not.

“I have registered to vote on the EU referendum and I will be voting that the UK leaves the EU,” British business owner, Jen Wilson, told Khaleej Times.

But for Mitch Don Freeley, a Qatar resident holidaying in Dubai, he’ll be registerin­g his vote online to keep the UK in the EU.

On Friday, British Prime Minister David Cameron negotiated a package of changes to the UK’s relationsh­ip with the EU.

This included changes to child benefits, whereby payments to some migrant workers will be reduced to match the rate paid in their home country.

But one of the biggest victories for Cameron was the seen-year enactment of the ‘emergency brake’. This new deal will allow him to reduce in-work benefits for EU migrants for up to seven years, but it can only be applied in the event of exceptiona­l levels of migration. Previously this ‘brake’ was redeemable for four years only.

As well as ensuring Britain keeps the pound while being in Europe, Cameron said this EU deal — which will come into effect only if the UK stays in the EU — gives the UK “special status”.

But for Freeley, this new agreement goes against the whole meaning of what an economic and political partnershi­p like the EU stands for.

“My view is that we should be part of the EU. We as a country should help others in need. To have a special status is against the principles of the EU itself. I will be voting to stay in the EU.”

British expat Benoit Gilbey, agrees with Freeley.

“I am pro EU. I think it is important for the UK to stay in it because we are one of the key players and I think that sentiment is shared by many, including the heads of many of the other EU member states,” Gilbey said.

The EU, which is made up of 28 European countries, was establishe­d to foster economic cooperatio­n, with the idea that countries which trade together are less likely to go to war with each other.

In laymen’s terms, the EU acts as one country, allowing goods and people to move around it freely.

Max migrants taken in by UK

However for Wilson, the sooner the UK is out of the EU the better.

“It’s clear it does not operate fairly. The UK has taken more migrants than any other country and regardless of the new agreement on the seven year hiatus on benefits, this will not curb migrants from passing through other European counties to get to the UK.”

She believes many migrants are not moving to countries for safety, but more for money.

“These are economic migrants who are here to abuse a system which is set up to protect the British people. I have registered to vote on the EU referendum and will be voting we leave.”

Wilson is not opposed to countries taking in migrants as it is their “responsibi­lity to take in genuine immigrants”, however she does pose one question.

“I fail to understand why we are only taking Syrian refugees, what about families who for years have been suffering civil war in Africa?”

And for British expatriate, Joe Butler, being in the EU would further dilute the UK’s already flailing identity. However these new agreements from Cameron could help claw some of that identity back.

‘UK lost its identity long back’

“As far as I’m concerned I feel the UK lost its identity a long time ago. I’m not against helping migrants or anyone from out of the UK whatever their issue, culture or status, but a line must be drawn. There’s only so much you could/should do and a lot of hard working British citizens feel like they are forgotten about.”

Though happy to extend a helping hand, Butler feels it should be the country’s people who are supported first before anyone else.

“Where is the help for university graduates that get into £20,000 worth of debt for an education, to then only struggle to secure an under paid position and dream that one day they might be able to save £30,000 for a deposit on a onebed flat. In the meantime, people are welcomed into the UK with open arms and basically given a life of royalty well above their own standards.”

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