So I have just finished watching Question Time it is very rare for me to sit through an entire episode of the hour long version of PMQs (with less research) but, I actually enjoyed the discourse.

It proved something that I've been seeing more and more of; the political, social and business elites of the UK have NO CLUE about what's going on beyond the M25. If the referendum on the EU was to happen tomorrow and, that audience is representative of Doncaster, Doncaster would be an lock for the out vote.They spent half of the programme on the EU and only the SNP Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson MP could come up with positive reasons why the UK should stay in the EU. The audience was very hostile towards remaining in the EU and even the GREEN panellist (Baroness Jones) was against the staying in the EU.

The panel was basically 3-2 against the EU.

The most interesting point made however was in a two second sound bite during a question from Andy Ramsbottom around 28 minutes into the programme.

Blink and you would have missed it. Here it is.

That person yelled, "If we come out of the European Union and I want to work in France; if I have the skills, they'll let me work in France! Why do I have to be in the European Union for that?!

Would they?

I'm an immigrant so I know the joys of trying to get a job internationally. I also know that as an American, I have a much easier time getting in to countries like the UK or France because of where I come from. I also recognise that the US is one of the hardest countries to get into but, for now let us look at non-EU people getting into EU countries.

Using the French US consulate's webpage, we can get an idea of what the UK may have to deal with if it was out of the EU.

Let's assume that a French company would want to hire this person. First, that company would have to draw up a contract and have that contract approved by the Local Authority.

IF APPROVED, the employment contract goes to the French Immigration Office for final approval. IF THAT IS APPROVED, a work permit is issued to the local consulate and that man would have to go in person to provide:

*a valid passport with 2 blank visas pages + one copy of the ID pages of the passport
*A proof of residence
*A French Immigration Form
*2 long stay French immigration application forms if he wanted to be authorized to work more than 3 months in France OR,
*2 short stay French immigration application forms

Provided the Consulate approves that additional application, after paying the applicable fees and registering with the immigration office, that guy would be home free until the next year when he would have to re-apply to stay in the country and keep his job.

Of course, if he does not speak French or, more likely, the local authority wants all the jobs to go to local workers, this guy could lose the job before he even step foot on French soil.

While that person is right, he doesn't need to be in the EU to work in France in the same way he doesn't need to be an US citizen to work in America, the barriers that exist to people from outside of those countries are substantial and easy entry, especially for work, is not guaranteed.

Free movement is one of the undeniable benefits of the EU and, that person's argument against the EU is actually his argument for the EU.