Shit. The amount of folks who don't know what it is is scary. I think it's one of the most important issues we face today!

It's a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, allowing trade and competition to become easier between the USA and Europe.

Essentially if European producers have to compete with American, while also following (relatively expensive) European standards they will not stand a chance.

It will allow more US products to be sold in Europe, you know all the stuff we don't like, GM foods, private medical, etc etc.

It will allow foreign companies to sue European governments for infringing on their right to profit from European markets.

(I understand a similar agreement has caused a lawsuit from tobacco companies over a Nation's smoking rules in the past).

Even if you look at a specific industry, like farming. TTIP will make it easier for American farmer to sell their less-ethical, antibiotic ridden meat in Europe easier, thus undercutting our more-ethical, minimal additive, locally produced meats.

But it effects a broad range of industries.

Banking, where there are tighter regulations in the US and more lax regulations in the UK. It would be crazy to think for one moment that profit and growth will be put aside and that all members will adopt the most stringent banking regulations, obviously the lowest common denominator will become standard.

There are gripes about the transatlantic medical industry going up against the NHS too.

It's basically an agreement allowing large, multinational corporations to sidestep the health, safety and ethical standards that exists across many industries.

Oh and it's all secret until it's in place. So the electorate have zero democratic power over it's content and direction.

Anything that accellerates the neo-liberal race to the bottom is bad news in my book. I don't want my kids to grow up in a World where we have to compete globally for the lowest wages and the least restrictive standards.

TTIP is incredibly important, above are just snippets of my personal opinion on it. I'd highly, highly recommend doing some googling, reading other opinions and forming your own before accidently voting for a government who will rush the agreement through at the potential detriment to the entire economy and society, for generations to come.