Flyin'Dutch' wrote:..
The UK is by objective measures amongst the most prosperous in Europe - hence it is a big net contributor.
That so much of the infrastructure and services are awful has everything to do with the way the UK chooses to manage itself spend its money on itself and nothing to do with the EU or the pitiful amount the UK makes to the EU finances
.. etc etc etc all managed by the UK for the UK.
.. or, one might say, managed by London for London ..
In Saturday's Times Business pages, there is an article by Simon French, described as 'Chief economist of Panmure Gordon', entitled 'Potholes are not the only obstacles in the way of improving regional output'. He notes that he commutes by bike, passing along The Mall twice daily. The road surface has always been immaculate. By contrast, there are no Central Government offices nor Ministers based near Oldham Road, Manchester, the road whose potholes attracted the most complaints last year.
Central Government instantly covered the latest cost overrun of London's Crossrail, pledging far more money than the extension of long-promised electrification of the South Wales railways, cancelled again as unaffordable.
The EU regional structural funds scheme plays a small part in creating or improving infrastructure, and so economic prospects, from relatively more to relatively less prosperous parts of the Union, even or especially within member nations where the difference in prosperity is greatest. For decades UK Central Government has failed to do this, under some governments more glaringly than others, and under some as national policy less prosperous areas have actually been discouraged or prevented from accessing such funds. It has, of course, been within the sovereign right of UK governments to do this, which some will applaud.
(mere guide at) Jet Age Museum, Gloucestershire Airport
http://www.jetagemuseum.org/TripAdvisor Excellence Award 2015
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction ... gland.html