Cameron talks of repatriation of powers but is careful not to say which ones.
Which of these powers are so harmful to be in the hands of the EU ... and why are the rest of the EU so happy with them if they are so harmful?

You will find it is mostly to do with employment legislation such as the working time directive.

What EU employment law does is protect the majority of people in this country from unscrupulous employers and the Tories would love to repeal all of it so people end up with no job security or employment rights whatsoever.

Those calling for exit won't mention that much at all though. They will play to nationalism, immigration and as Dally mentioned the cost of being a member of the club.

What most people don't realise is if we leave, the EU will NOT let us trade with them if we do not abide by their rules in exactly the same way Norway has to do so.

Indeed so, Cameron wants UK industry to have the economic advantage of sweating its labour.

Spot on.

I have to say, I really don't get how supposedly economically literate people could ever consider this 'good'.

Look at the current impact of a lack of confidence. People aren't spending and, however much we dislike the fact that our national economy is dependent on the service sector (including retail), in the short term at least, we need people to spend.

But if you have a continued drive to the bottom on wages, terms and conditions, rights etc, you will damage confidence and, indeed, you will remove – at least to a degree – consumers from a consumer economy. Which really should be a case of 'duhh' with half a brain.

Although the government want to boost exports. Taking demand out of the economy also helps the balance of payments - most consumer goods being imported.

taking demand out of the economy does nothing to boost said economy and with it jobs though does it?

Well its now becoming slightly clearer as the "Fresh Start Group" have four main demands for what they want:

• A complete repatriation of social and employment laws such as the working time directive which imposes a 48-hour working week. Britain has an opt-out from that aspect of the directive.

• A opt-out from all criminal justice measures.

• An "emergency brake" that would give Britain an effective veto over new financial services regulations which are currently decided by qualified majority voting (QMV).

• An end to the monthly plenary sessions of the European parliament held in Strasbourg.

The question has to be asked [iwhy[/i do they want the powers repatriated? The obvious answer is so they can repeal the legislation and for most people in this country that would be a bad thing.

If they framed a referendum question along the lines of "Do you support the abolition of the working time directive and other employment laws so your employer can work you to death then sack you at the drop of a hat?" I think the answer would be a resounding "no". However that is what this country could well be walking into as people vote "yes" because they prefer bent bananas.

Or, to be more accurate: because large numbers of people believe the myths about 'bent bananas'.

Myths? My banana definitely bends - to the left.

I was almost certain it would bend to the right.

That reads very much like a "we only want the bits we like" manifesto with no room for a compromise to get something. Why do they think the UK would get a veto when they basically want the UK to say stuff the EU? Nonsense.

Yes, they seem to want to be able to veto elements of the fiscal union whilst remaining outside of it.
I' m thinking this is because they are worried about the City (outside the fiscal union) losing trade to Frankfurt (inside the fiscal union)... but refusing to compromise will only accelerate that loss of trade.