Leaving The Eu

[pdq1]

If we left the EU what European countries would need a visa to enter Britain. I assume countries like France, Germany and Italy would still have free movement and allowed in on their passports, but anyone else?

[ichkeria]

I would hazard a guess that it would make no difference. There are several different types of visa though so it isn't that straightforward

[boxtops]

Surely if the UK was no longer in the EU, there might be the need for additional documentation from any EU country? it's only by being in the EU that border access is relatively easy. IMO.

[emmie]

everyone would have to get a visa, so it can very verified you are who you say you are, of course like passports they could be forged, but this could also be verified on a database at the airport. Slows up everything of course, so unlikely this would be viable.

[ichkeria]

I doubt that very much. Visa-less travel within Europe to the UK is not dependent on a country's membership of the EU but the question can't be seriously addressed without considering visa types, not to mention the political landscape in however many years' time. There's nothing in the 'rule book' about it
And the general worldwide trend is toward less travel restriction not more. If that were to change it's likely to be down to factors other than a country's membership of the EU

[emmie]

do you need to have a visa to get in to Australia, USA, New Zealand?

[ichkeria]

May I(not for the first time today) suggest consulting the FCO website for that

[New Judge]

We need to be a bit careful to differentiate between the need for a Visa and a Passport.

There are well over 100 countries where UK passport holders usually require no visa to undertake a visit either for business or pleasure. Among perhaps the more surprising nations for which no visa is required are Argentina, Taiwan, South Korea and Uruguay.

As far as I can recall (though it’s going back a bit) no visas were required to visit the western European nation s pre-EU, but I’m not sure about the more recent additions in the east.

The “borderless” arrangement for members of the Schengen agreement will not alter as the UK is not a member of that group. At present UK passport holders entering any of the Schengen nations from the UK need to produce a passport, but thereafter they can travel between other member states without hindrance.

[emmie]

i made a point because i believe you do, i remember i had to have one for the USA, and it seems unlikely that the other countries don't have them.
I don't see why all countries in the EU couldn't have them either.

[pdq1]

I agree with that Em but with tit for tat would make it very difficult for us to go abroad in Europe.

[EDDIE51]

It's not going to happen so why worry?

[New Judge]

Very true , Eddie. I think we're getting ahead og ourselves !!!!

[ichkeria]

Hmm not sure what current US visa requirements for UK citizens has to do with the question. Thought it was a separate query (!)

[pdq1]

If the poll taken by AB contributors is anything to go and representative how the country feels they want OUT.

[emmie]

but as been pointed out it is unlikely to happen, Cameron has said that if he wins the next election, what makes anyone think he will still be leader then. Or that Ed Milliband won't promise his party faithful more or less the same, then saddle up with the Lib Dems who look set to fall off a cliff any day soon. So one could see another coalition but this time lib dem/labour

[New Judge]

God save us !!!

[emmie]

NJ, better be an atheist, at least one can trust one's own judgement, rather not leave it to some fictional being. Unholy alliance, but it could happen.

[jake-the-peg]

The Liberals don't have enough support now to form a coalition with anybody

Based on the current opinion polls Ed Milliband will have a 100 seat majority.

Ironically had PR been voted in you'd probably have seen a UKIP/Conservative coalition and a departure from the EU.

[emmie]

not now, but no one knows how the next three years will pan out.

[jake-the-peg]

Thats true but right now a lot of Tory support is going to UKIP and a lot of LibDem support is going to Labour.

Cameron needs to reverse both those two trends to win.

Personally I don't think he's promised enough this week to reverse the first trend and unless Cleg steps down (which he's running out of time to do and doesn't seem inclined to ) I don't see the second reversing.

The economic miracle or "Falklands factor" wild card scenarios also look pretty improbable.

He's 3:1 against winning with the bookmakers and they do tend to know what they're talking about

[pdq1]

///Thats true but right now a lot of Tory support is going to UKIP and a lot of LibDem support is going to Labour///

I agree with that 100%. I'm sure thats why Cameron faced up to it and offered a free vote to nullify the support for UKIP. If the Tories match UKIP in asking for a referendum whats the point of voting UKIP and their trump card. Disaffected Tories can now have their say.

Lib Dem support for Labour is a bit more worrying for Cameron. At the last general election Labour had a minority vote and even with the Liberals it wouldn't have been sufficient. Now Labour are in the ascendency they could make their coalition stick.