Britain: Latest EU referendum poll of polls: Brexit just one point behind Remain on final day of campaigning

Leaders of the Leave and Remain sides have been crossing the country all day in a frenetic final push for the winning line.

YouGov's latest EU referendum poll of polls has Leave on 44 per cent, Remain on 45 per cent and Don't Know on 11 per cent, suggesting last-minute campaigning could yet be crucial.

The bookmakers disagree, however, with most of the major gambling outlets offering odds of 3/1 on Brexit and 1/4 on Remain.

Read more: Latest EU referendum poll of polls: Brexit just one point behind Remain on final day of campaigning « Express

Brexit - latest news, breaking stories and comment -

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn last night warned he would not take the “blame” if Labour supporters tipped the balance in favour of Brexit.

In an interview on Sky News Mr Corbyn, who has been accused of running a lackluster remain campaign, admitted he was “not a lover of the European Union”.

But he insisted he wanted Labour supporters to vote to stay – although if they didn’t it was not the fault of his party.

“I am not going to take blame for people’s decision,” he said.

“There will be a decision made on Thursday. I am hoping there is going to be a remain vote. There may well be a remain vote. But there may well be a leave vote. Whatever the result – that will be the result of the referendum. We have got to work with it.”

Mr Corbyn also warned that the EU must change "dramatically" even if Britain remains a member.

Facing questions from a studio audience Mr Corbyn admitted that most people “do not understand” all of the implications of this Thursday’s vote.

But despite having voted against European treaties in the past Mr Corbyn insisted that Britain was better off in the EU than outside.

Read more: Brexit - latest news, breaking stories and comment - The Independent

Brexit: Michael Moore: 'Britain Is A Toxic Place... Should Vote To Stay In The EU'

The Oscar-winning documentary-maker was promoting his new film, ‘Where to Invade Next’, which sees him visiting European countries to claim their best features for his home nation.

The UK does not feature in the film as it has nothing to offer against the likes of Italian holiday entitlement, Norwegian prisons and French school lunches. Michael Moore explained:

“It was a conscious and purposeful decision to not come to the UK. I mean this with respect, we didn’t feel like there was anything left to learn here. And that you had given up on yourselves.”

In particular, the Guardian reports, Mr. Moore cited Tony Blair’s support for allying Britain to the 2003 invasion of Iraq in the poisoning of the UK’s reputation, saying:

“You may be over Tony Blair. We’re not. We expected George W Bush to start that war. That wasn’t a surprise. But he was able to do it because you – the Brits, under Tony Blair – gave him back-up. You made it possible for him to say: ‘Hey, it’s not just me!’

“Honestly, if Blair hadn’t supported that war, I don’t know that [Bush] could have pulled it off. We’re not quite over the damage that this country has done to us and to the world by so-called liberals here voting and revoting for an individual who was anything but a liberal.

“This is a toxic place.
”
Mr. Moore did suggest that the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader atoned for some of the country’s sins, claiming: “that’s getting back to what Labour stood for, its roots. I wish Tony Benn were still around to see this.”

Nevertheless he identified what he sees as a further blot on the UK’s record, namely people voting for “bonkers” Brexit in the upcoming referendum.

“Why would you do this? You saved Europe. Europe today is, in large part, because of you, the UK. Why would you want to leave?

“Because, see, what are the arguments I’ve had to listen to this morning already on the news?  ‘It costs too much money…it’s 50 billion pounds a day…immigrants, immigrants, immigrants, immigrants…’
“Really? You know, that’s not who you are.”

Mr. Moore went on to draw comparisons between the EU referendum and November’s U.S. Presidential Election. He believes it likely that Brexiteers are similar to Donald Trump supporters, being more dedicated to their cause and therefore more likely to vote.

“I’m guessing the majority of Brits don’t want to leave the European Union,” he said. “But on election day who’s going to be out there? The haters.”

Read more: Michael Moore: 'Britain Is A Toxic Place... Should Vote To Stay In The EU'

Britain: Governor Bank Of England Mark Carney: "EU exit is 'biggest domestic risk'

 The possibility of Britain leaving the EU is the "biggest domestic risk to financial stability", Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said.

He told the Treasury Committee that an exit vote could create economic uncertainty, although he added that remaining in the EU also carried risks.

Mr Carney emphasised the Bank was not taking sides in the EU referendum.

But Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg accused him of making "pro-EU" comments.

The governor told the committee that an exit posed the biggest "domestic" risk in part because there could be uncertainty over such things as investment, household spending, and the impact on sterling.

Mr Carney said: "It is the biggest domestic risk to financial stability. I would say that in my judgement the global risks, including from China, are bigger than the domestic risks."

However, he told the committee that continued EU membership brought risks as well. "The principal risk - risks, I should say, because there are more than one - are associated with the unfinished business of European Monetary Union," Mr Carney said.

Read more::  Mark Carney: EU exit is 'biggest domestic risk' - BBC News

British EU Referendum: UK PM Cameron suffers defeat in parliament on EU referendum rules

While the defeat in the House of Commons was on a technicality, it highlights the struggle Cameron faces to keep eurosceptic rebels in his own centre-right Conservative party in line before the vote, due by the end of 2017.

It was Cameron's first defeat in the Commons, where he has a majority of only 16 seats, since he won Britain's general election in May.

The government had wanted to water down the usual rules on so-called "purdah", under which ministers are banned from making any announcements which could affect the result of the vote for the last 28 days of a referendum or election campaign.

But the normal rules will now be applied after the government's plans were defeated by 312 to 285 votes. Thirty-seven Conservatives rebelled against Cameron.

Note EU-Digest: Continental polls show that not too many Europeans on the mainland of Europe care if Britain goes or stays in the EU. Some believe it might actually turn out to be a case of good riddance if what many Europeans consider as "those conceited British" who always "want their cake and eat it too", and still believe they are the center of the world, pack it up and start facing the real world. They could be in for a big surprise.

Europe - UK PM Cameron suffers defeat in parliament on EU referendum rules - France 24

EU-US Free Trade Talks: NSA spying scandal clouds second round of EU-US free trade talks

Originally, the second round of talks on the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership(TTIP) between the European Union and the United States was scheduled to be held in October. However, the US government shutdown postponed negotiations.

Moreover, allegations that the US intelligence agency NSAspied on EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, sparked bitter recriminations and calls in Europe to halt TTIP talks.

Issues of trust had been raised, an EU official close to negotiations told the German DPA news agency on Friday, adding that the matter would not be a subject on the agenda of the talks.

Nevertheless, the EU's personal data protection standards would not be compromised in the discussions as the transfer of data in general was a key component of a modern economy, the official said.

The current round of talks, which began Monday, covers services, investment, energy, raw materials and focuses on regulatory issues. Negotiations were still in an exploratory phase, the EU official said, adding that it would take a further round to identify more clearly where the talks might need a political impulse.

Tariffs between the EU and the United States are already rather low, meaning that the free trade talks need to focus on reducing regulations and bureaucratic hurdles. Controversial sectors are said to be agriculture, including food safety, as well as the auto industry. Harmonizing regulatory standards in the car industry, for example, might cut costs by 20 percent, the EU estimated.

Note EU-Digest: several members of the EU parliament have voiced the suggestion that if these talks ever come to an agreement it, not only the national parliaments would have to agree but that the agreement  should also be subject to an EU- referendum  with all member countries participating.

Read moreNSA spying scandal clouds second round of EU-US free trade talks | Business News | DW.DE | 11.11.2013

Britain: Leaving the EU will mean economic disaster for UK or for that matter any other EU member copy-cats - by RM

Whatever your views are about the EU, the first thing that happens when your local political establishment decides through a referendum or other manipulation to get out of the Union, is economic disaster.

In the case of Britain getting out of the EU big companies and financial conglomerates will decamp from London to Frankfurt or Paris. The pound will immediately  fall.. Many of the British exporters have no idea what's going to happen to them, and the banks will not be keen to stick out their neck in their favor.

In general if Britain leaves the EU it would become an economic storm so big it could overshadow anything else the British public would have ever experienced.

In connection with the above, just imagine how any member country which steps out of the EU could handle the NSA spying revelations on European countries and their leaders if they had to do this just by themselves? 

Unfortunately in the case of Britain and the NSA the question which obviously arises and which has not been addressed by the EU Parliament or the Commission is how Britain, a member of the EU, has (is) participating and supporting the NSA spy program on Europeans, without the EU Commission/Parliament or the EU member states having any knowledge of it?

With friends like this who needs any enemies? 

Almere-Digest

Britain: An early EU referendum is so tempting – but Miliband must not be moved - by Jackie Ashley

British politics is hardening. The post-conference opinion polling reported by the Guardian on Monday shows a strengthening in Labour and Tory numbers – both overall, and in terms of determination to vote. To the extent that this is a national snapshot, the nation is falling out of love with the idea of coalition.

This is cheering for Ed Miliband and his decision to take on the energy companies – polarising, provocative "socialism" that the country seems to rather like. But the new dynamic offers Miliband the biggest tactical dilemma of his life. His answer could define British politics for years ahead – and it's got nothing to do with the cost of living, one nation or hard-working people. It's about Europe.

The return to left-right politics, which squeezes the Lib Dems, leaves the Tories still facing their biggest problem: Ukip. Nigel Farage's party is as much an angry annexe of the Conservative family as a new phenomenon. Combined with unreformed constituency boundaries, Ukip voting in 2015 is still likely to rob Cameron of any chance of an overall majority. If Miliband continues to radiate an unnatural sense of calm, Ukip is an important part of the cause.

Yet there is one argument that could yet save Cameron's bacon and deliver a Conservative majority, and it's a simple one, which won't gain full currency until after next year's European elections: "Vote Ukip, get Labour" (because splitting the Tory vote would let Labour in). Rightwing voters are desperate for a European referendum but are bitterly hostile to Miliband; so the Tory message that if you want a referendum, you must vote Conservative will have a lot of resonance. So far Labour is talking about a referendum only if there is a major transfer of powers to Europe. But could that change?

Of all the big tactical plays ahead, this is the big one. You haven't heard much about it yet, but this is a very hot issue wherever key Labour people get together in private. The influential backbencher Tom Watson said recently on television that he might support the Tory rebels' call for an early referendum. He is not alone.

Read more: An early EU referendum is so tempting – but Miliband must not be moved | Jackie Ashley | Comment is free | The Guardian

Greek referendum is very clever poker game of Papandreou

Financial analysts are saying the Greek prime minister George Papandreou risks a new euro zone crisis with his shock announcement that he will put the bailout deal struck last week to try to contain the EU's debt mountain to a referendum of voters already angry at harsh cuts. Euro zone leaders agreed to hand Athens a second, €130-billion-euro bailout and a 50-per cent write-down on its enormous debt to make it sustainable.

Mr Papandreou, whose ruling Socialist party has suffered several defections as it pushes waves of austerity measures through parliament while protesters rally outside, said he needed wider political backing for the fiscal measures and structural reforms demanded by international lenders.

Regardless of the fact that financial analysts are saying that holding a referendum - likely to be early next year and only Greece's second in almost 40 years - is bad for the markets, it will be a very direct way of confronting the Greek people with some realities of the actual economic situation in their country.

Voting no in the referendum would mean for Greece it will  need to get out of the EU and face more economic hardship. Gone will be all the perks provided by EU membership. Also going back to the old currency, the Drachma, would be a disaster as it would have very little value and nearly impossibility for Greece to obtain any loans. 

The referendum is a courageous and democratic gamble by Papandreou.  As to the Wall Street Casino manipulators and financial profiteers crying crocodile tears now it will just be a question of "getting with the program" or face bankruptcy. 
 
EU-Digest