bnc 2016 - issue4: brexit and the eu referendum
TRANSCRIPT
BREXIT AND THE
EU REFERENDUMIllustration: Alix Thomazi / www.alixthomazi.com
BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Background
1BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMBackground
The EU was originally set up to help neighbouring countries work more closely together.
2 BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMBackground
If Britain votes to leave the EU,
this would deeply affect the future
of Europe.
Without Britain, the EU would be weaker
and less influential in the world.
It would also get stricter with member
countries, and less committed to free
trade.
3BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMBackground
June 23rd is shaping up to be the most important vote in Britain, and probably in Europe, for many years.
BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for staying in the EU
4BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMArguments for staying in the EU
This year, David Cameron has negotiated changes to the rules that Britain has to follow, or the things it must do, to be part of the EU.
With these changes, he wants to stay in.
5BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for staying in the EU
Mr Cameron argues that
Britain gains influence and
power in the world by being part of the EU.
6BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMArguments for staying in the EU
Mr Cameron says Britain has the “best of both worlds” because it’s in the EU but not signed up to the parts that work least well. For example we do not use the European currency, the euro.
Also Britain has not signed up to be part of the Schengen passport-free travel zone, an area where you don’t even need a passport to travel between some European countries.
7BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for staying in the EU
Mr Cameron also says Britain needs to stay in
the EU so we can trade as easily as
possible with other European
countries. He says this easy trading is
necessary for Britain to prosper, and we could lose
this if we walk away from the EU.
8BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMArguments for staying in the EU
The chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, says that if Britain wanted keep trading with other EU countries just as easily after Brexit then it would have to follow all the EU’s rules, pay into the EU’s budget and accept free migration, without having any say.
9BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for staying in the EU
Some people point out that
Canada trades freely with
European countries even though Canada
is not a member of the EU. Mr Osborne
argues back that Canada still has to pay
taxes to trade with European countries,
and it’s not allowed to trade on some things
that Britain would want to.
10BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMArguments for staying in the EU
Some people don’t like the fact that being part of the EU means being unable to limit migration from other EU Countries.
Mr Cameron’s response is that one of the changes he has made allows us to limit welfare benefits for EU migrants, so where necessary we can use that to persuade migrants not to come to Britain.
Picture credit: Malcolm Chapman / Shutterstock.com
11BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for staying in the EU
Also, Mr Cameron insists that
alternatives to membership
are not good.
As the foreign secretary, Philip
Hammond, has put it, no other option
“comes close to matching the deal we
already have.”
BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for leavingthe EU
12BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMArguments for leaving the EU
People who would prefer for Britain to exit from the EU (Brexit), argue that Britain would still be able to trade freely with EU countries as a non-member. Nigel Farage, the UK Independence Party leader, says that many other non-member countries trade with the EU, therefore Britain could also continue to trade, but on Britain’s own terms.
13BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for leaving the EU
Brexit supporters criticise the
EU’s rules and regulations for
imposing big costs on British business. They say that large businesses may be
fine in the EU, but small businesses suffer because of
the huge number of rules they have to
stick to.
14BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMArguments for leaving the EU
They say getting out of the EU would allow Britain to steer clear of the troubles of the euro and of Europe’s current refugee and migration crisis.
15BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
Arguments for leaving the EU
Leading ‘Brexiters’ include several of Mr Cameron’s
own party, including Boris Johnson, (the mayor of
London) and Michael Gove (secretary of state for
justice). These two argue that being a member makes
us less free to do what we want, because being in the EU means having to follow
EU laws.
As Mr Gove has put it, EU membership “stops us
being able to choose who makes critical decisions
which affect all our lives.”
16BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMArguments for leaving the EU
He and Mr Johnson are especially critical of the fact that, as a member, Britain is not allowed to limit or control migration from other EU countries.
BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
What’s next?
17BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMWhat next?
You have seen some of the arguments that will be heard from the two sides between now and June 23rd. Voters who worry that Brexit will be risky to Britain’s economy and bad for Britain’s jobs will support staying in the EU.
Those who worry that Britain’s EU membership is bad for sovereignty, and who want to take back control of migration, will choose Brexit.
18 BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUM
What next?
If the vote is to leave, Mr Cameron
will most likely have to resign. His successor is likely
to be somebody who backs Brexit, probably
Mr Johnson.
19BREXIT AND THE EU REFERENDUMWhat next?
A vote for Brexit could also lead to another referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom, since the Scots are likely to vote to stay in the EU. So the EU referendum will have a big impact on British politics.
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