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In or Out?

Posted on 7th April, 2016

                How many of you feel as though you have enough knowledge to make an informed decision about the EU? When you vote “in” or “out” will it be because that’s what the media have told you is the best option, or because it’s what you believe in? Who gave you the information needed to make that choice? Wouldn’t it be nice to know that the eventual outcome, whatever the answer is, is representative of the whole country’s views? Sadly, this isn’t the case, as many people will just rock up on the day with their vote, without even fully considering the consequences of it.

                This being my first time voting, I want to make sure I have considered every option before jumping to a decision. After all, Emily Davison didn’t jump in front of the King’s horse so I would make an ill-informed decision on the day of the referendum. If you think about it, it has taken a lot for the majority of us to be able to vote. Before 1832, the only people allowed to vote were men over the age of 21 who owned land or property over a certain amount! If not for yourself, then research this for the sake of those people who fought for your right to vote.

                Here comes the next issue. Where on earth can you find information about the EU referendum that is not biased in some way? Everyone is going to have an opinion, well-informed or not. Who can you trust to tell you the truth? Let’s get straight to the point. Looking to the politicians for answers is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Every single one of them will have their own agenda, regardless of which party they are in. Look at the recent events of this week! Despite both being major figures in the Conservative party, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove along with others have started campaigning against the leader if their own party!

                Speaking of campaigning, can it really be called that? It looks to me as though all the politicians are scaremongering people into voting their way. For example, the warning from David Cameron about the risk of illegal immigrant camps springing up in the UK. They liked to call this giving us “hard truths” but was that really the intention? Since there is a huge deal being made about the immigrants recently, it seems like the perfect time to release that bombshell in order to increase the votes for the “Yes” campaign. However, that’s not saying that the other side played it any cleaner. The Conservative MP, Iain Duncan Smith has also been accused recently of scaremongering, by claiming that being in the EU risks a Paris-style terror attack. As a way of scaremongering, I would say that’s pretty effective.

                In conclusion, I’ll admit that this makes it pretty tricky to decide what to vote. This is because we don’t know what is going to happen if we opt out. Therefore, we aren’t able to compare the outcomes. Honestly, I haven’t yet decided which way I will vote, because I feel as if I don’t know enough about it to do so. Luckily, the referendum is not until the 23rd June, meaning I have plenty of time to work out the best route to go.         

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