No, we said we wanted more control....a bit less EU superstate please.... we came begging for more before the election, and were told no, thats all you get, no way will you leave anyway attitude. EU just got too big.
We can all try and co exist nicely or all fight, we dont have to be in Euro or be in EU club to be friends.
sorry, but this entire line of rhetoric sounds way too pie in the sky. "we can leave and still have great terms with the EU and everyone else we had terms with in the EU." Don't get me wrong, I fully understand that's how it was sold to voters, but it's incredibly ignorant and naive.
Leaving the EU Britain loses a ton of this financial power you are citing. Yes treaties and agreements can be drawn up but those take time. Likewise UK loses a LOT of talent.. a lot of the cogs that make business work. And sure maybe those same executives and researchers/developers can obtain visas.. but we are now back to the question of "I'm being kicked out of the country I live in. Is it worth it for me to go through the hassle of now obtaining the visas needed to continue living in this country, or do I leave for any other EU country that I can easily work in?"
And as others have stated time and again, if UK gets similar or BETTER agreements with EU than they previously had, why the hell would any other country possibly stay in the EU? It would literally destroy the EU if they gave the UK favorable terms.
No, the most realistic outcome is that UK enters into a Norway-like model.. with or without EFTA. Free trade and movement (with controlled immigration), while basically adopting the majority of EU laws and regulations and paying into the EU, without any ability to vote. So paying even more than they already are with no say in regulation.
