BREXIT: The EU referendum principle arguments
On 23rd June Britain will vote in a referendum on whether to remain in the E.U, or to leave. The vote will play a key part in shaping the economic and political future of Britain. Below is an attempt to summarize the principle arguments from both sides. Within the E.U, the UK is unique in defining its relationship with the organisation strictly in economic terms. The Geo-Political aspects of the advantages or disadvantages of the E.U do not, therefore, feature much in the campaign.
Leave
- The Leave campaign wants to regain sovereignty over policy making – particularly on who can settle in the country and thereby gain access to public services. It wants the government to decide who should come into Britain to work, using a point-based system.
- The E.U is described as a spent force led by an unaccountable elite, while ‘meddling from Brussels’ causes unnecessary costs to the economy. The approximately ￡8.5bn net payment for EU membership could be better spent elsewhere.
- Britain would be able to sign favorable trade deals with other fast-countries and regions. Our trade deficit with the E.U means that Brussels will probably allow our exports similar access to the E.U as we enjoy today. A libertarian wing of the Leave campaign argues for a unilateral end to all import tariffs, which would make trade negotiations interesting!
Remain
- The Remain campaign argues that the E.U is our largest trading partner, the largest source of foreign direct investment, and is the world’s largest free-trade area. Any disruption to our relationship with it will cause economic damage. E.U negotiators are unlikely to offer the U.K the same access to the E.U market as before, since it would risk encouraging other traditionally euro-sceptic countries – such as Denmark- to follow Britain’s example.
- They argue that being a member of the E.U is not what holds back our exports to faster-growing parts of the world – just look at Germany, which exports around nine times as much as us to China.
- In return for the ￡8.5 bn net contribution, we have a seat at the policy-making table and can help set the rules. The Remain campaign acknowledges the need for reform of the E.U. The Remain campaign argues that if we were to leave we may well still have to obey E.U trade rules, and also pay an annual fee. But we will have no voice, or votes, in Brussels and unable to push for reform.
- On E.U immigration, we are reminded that the economy and the Treasury’s tax receipts benefit from their presence. And that the U.K operates border controls and therefore can, and does, turn away E.U citizens with criminal records.
(Tom Elliot – deVere Group International Investment Strategist)
Registered Nurse at Liverpool University Foundation Trust
8 年we come out all those billions won't be spread across the UK it will be given where the government want to give it making vulnerable people more vulnerable and the rich richer. I'm all for in at least it's going to stop the tories keeping the lot.
Honorary research fellow University of Liverpool, UK; Honorary volunteer Professor, Zaporizhzhia National University, Ukraine
8 年I think this summarises the key economic and political arguments being put by the official campaigns. It is disappointing that the pro-campaign is stressing economics rather than principles. I shout at them "Be more inspiring than going on about economics. We have to win a fair positive principled victory." I agree with some of the criticism of the EU made here (which you pointed out yourself, fairly, in Brussels, Colin, the need for reform). The anti-EU commentators here make complaints at the EU holding Britain back but with only one specific example (the complaint that skilled EU immigrants mean British young people have not been trained). Fair enough for those to argue it will all be wonderful outside the EU, I prefer the wonderful principle of European countries working together for the good of all, and avoiding the conflict of the past which has destroyed and delayed so much progress each generation until the EU was formed.
Haut fonctionnaire
8 年Very interesting and very useful analysis !
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8 年Tim your so very right it's time they take control and let's train our younger generation to be top of their field then you will have a nation to be proud of and watch the rest of the world look on and learn how it's done
Work Coach at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
8 年We now have an unemployment rate that we cannot afford, a poorly trained workforce and a dying economy.