The
Information Hub
Europe Referendum Special |
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REALITY CHECK
for claims being made by both sides
in the debate over 'BREXIT'. |
| Clear,
simple information - backed up with
comprehensive research and data. (more) |
Essential details
about the in-out referendum on UK membership
of the EU which the Prime Minister is
proposing.
More details about UK membership of
the EU. |
When:
|
June
23 2016 |
The
question: |
"Should
the United Kingdom remain a member of
the European Union or leave the European
Union?" |
Who
will vote?
UK nationals |
British,
Irish and Commonwealth citizens over
18 who are resident in the UK, along
with UK nationals who have lived overseas
for less than 15 years. |
What
is the EU?
- an economic
and political partnership (now including
a single market) ;
- based on
the idea that countries which trade
together are less likely to go to
war with each other.
|
The
European Union - often known as the
EU - is an economic and political
partnership involving 28 European
countries.
It began after
World War Two to foster economic co-operation,
with the idea that countries which
trade together are more likely to
avoid going to war with each other.
It has since grown to become a "single
market" allowing goods and people
to move around, basically as if the
member states were one country.
It has its own
currency, the euro, which is used
by 19 of the member countries (not
the UK), its own parliament, and it
now sets rules in a wide range of
areas - including on the environment,
transport, consumer rights and even
things like mobile phone charges.
Click
here for a beginners guide to how
the EU works. |
Why:
It is argued
that the EU has changed a lot over
the past 40 years
- more countries
;
- extending
control.
|
Britain
had a referendum
in 1975 shortly after it had joined
the EU, or the Common Market as it was
then called. The country voted to stay
in then, but it is argued that the EU
has changed a lot over the past 40 years,
with many more countries joining and
the organisation extending its control
over more aspects of daily lives. |
Who
wants to leave the EU?
- some of the
British public
- The UK Independence
Party
- A fair number
of Conservative MPs
- Several Labour
MPs
|
The
British public are fairly evenly split,
according to
the latest opinion polls.
The UK Independence
Party campaigns for Britain's exit
from the EU.
About half of
Conservative MPs, including five cabinet
ministers, several Labour MPs and
the DUP are also in favour of leaving.
|
Why
do they want to leave?
They believe
the EU
- imposes
too many rules ;
- charges a
lot for not much ;
They also want
- to reduce
the number of people coming here
to work ;
- to stop "ever
closer union".
|
They
believe Britain is being held back
by the EU, which they say imposes
too many rules on business and charges
billions of pounds a year in membership
fees for little in return.
They also want
Britain to take back full control
of its borders and reduce the number
of people coming here to work. One
of the main principles of EU membership
is "free movement", which
means you don't need to get a visa
to go and live in another EU country.
They also object
to the idea of "ever closer union"
and what they see as moves towards
the creation of a "United States
of Europe". |
Who
wants to stay in the EU?
- David Cameron
- The Labour
Party
- SNP
- Plaid Cymru
- The Lib Dems
- some of the
British public
|
Prime
Minister David Cameron wants Britain
to stay in the EU, now he has got
some powers back from it. Sixteen
members of his cabinet also back staying
in.
The Conservative
Party has pledged to be neutral in
the campaign - but the Labour Party,
SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems
are all in favour of staying in.
US president
Barack Obama also wants Britain to
remain in the EU, as do other EU nations
such as France and Germany.
As mentioned
above, according to polls, the British
public seems pretty evenly split on
the issue. |
Why
do they want to stay?
They believe
- Britain gets
a big boost from EU membership
- Britain's
status in the world would be damaged
by leaving.
|
Those
campaigning for Britain to stay in
the EU say it gets a big boost from
membership - it makes selling things
to other EU countries easier and,
they argue, the flow of immigrants,
most of whom are young and keen to
work, fuels economic growth and helps
pay for public services.
They also believe
Britain's status in the world would
be damaged by leaving and that we
are more secure as part of the 28
nation club, rather than going it
alone. |
So
would Britain be better in or out?
It depends.
|
It
depends which way you look at it - or
what you believe is important. Leaving
the EU would be a big step - arguably
far more important than who wins the
next general election - but would it
set the nation free or condemn it to
economic ruin? Here
is a rundown of the arguments for and
against. |
What
about businesses?
55% (of members
The British Chambers of Commerce)
back staying in a reformed EU. |
Big
business - with a few exceptions - tends
to be in favour of Britain staying in
the EU because it makes it easier for
them to move money, people and products
around the world. Many small- and medium-sized
firms would welcome a cut in red tape
and what they see as petty regulations.
The British Chambers of Commerce says
55% of members back staying in a reformed
EU. |
| Based
on a BBC
article |