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Brexit:AllyouneedtoknowabouttheUKleavingtheEU
ByBrianWheeler&AlexHunt
BBCNews
2October2016 Brexit
GETTYIMAGES
Thisarticleisdesignedtobeaneasytounderstandguideonwhathappensnowthat
theUKhasvotedtoleavetheEuropeanUnion.
WhatdoesBrexitmean?
ItisawordthathasbecomeusedasashorthandwayofsayingtheUKleavingtheEU
mergingthewordsBritainandexittogetBrexit,inasamewayasapossibleGreekexitfrom
theeurowasdubbedGrexitinthepast.
WhyisBritainleavingtheEuropeanUnion?
Areferendumavoteinwhicheveryone(ornearlyeveryone)ofvotingagecantakepart
washeldonThursday23June,todecidewhethertheUKshouldleaveorremaininthe
EuropeanUnion.Leavewonby52%to48%.Thereferendumturnoutwas71.8%,withmore
than30millionpeoplevoting.
Findtheresultinyourarea
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Enterapostcode,councilnameorNIconstituency
WhatwasthebreakdownacrosstheUK?
EnglandvotedstronglyforBrexit,by53.4%to46.6%,asdidWales,withLeavegetting52.5%
ofthevoteandRemain47.5%.ScotlandandNorthernIrelandbothbackedstayingintheEU.
ScotlandbackedRemainby62%to38%,while55.8%inNorthernIrelandvotedRemainand
44.2%Leave.Seetheresultsinmoredetail.
Whathashappenedsincethereferendum?
BritainhasgotanewPrimeMinisterTheresaMay.Theformerhomesecretarytookover
fromDavidCameron,whoresignedonthedayafterlosingthereferendum.
LikeMrCameron,MrsMaywasagainstBritainleavingtheEUbutshesaysshewillrespect
thewillofthepeople.Shehassaid"BrexitmeansBrexit"butthereisstillalotofdebateabout
whatthatwillmeaninpracticeespeciallyonthetwokeyissuesofhowBritishfirmsdo
businessintheEuropeanUnionandwhatcurbsarebroughtinontherightsofEuropean
UnionnationalstoliveandworkintheUK.
ForadaybydaydigestofalltheAugustdevelopmentscheckoutourSummerBrexit
Watch.
Whatabouttheeconomy?
TheUKeconomyappearstohaveweatheredtheinitialshockoftheBrexitvote,althoughthe
valueofthepoundremainsneara30yearlow,butopinionissharplydividedoverthelong
termeffectsofleavingtheEU.SomemajorfirmssuchasEasyjetandJohnLewishave
pointedoutthattheslumpinsterlinghasincreasedtheircosts.
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BritainalsolostitstopAAAcreditrating,meaningthecostofgovernmentborrowingwillbe
higher.Butsharepriceshaverecoveredfromadramaticslumpinvalue,withboththeFTSE
100andthebroaderFTSE250index,whichincludesmoreBritishbasedbusinesses,trading
higherthanbeforethereferendum.
TheBankofEnglandishopingitsdecisiontocutinterestratesfrom0.5%to0.25%arecord
lowandthefirstcutsince2009willstaveoffrecessionandstimulateinvestment,withsome
economicindicatorspointingtoadownturn.
HereisadetailedrundownofhowBritain'seconomyisdoing
WhatistheEuropeanUnion?
TheEuropeanUnionoftenknownastheEUisaneconomicandpoliticalpartnership
involving28Europeancountries(clickhereifyouwanttoseethefulllist).Itbeganafter
WorldWarTwotofostereconomiccooperation,withtheideathatcountrieswhichtrade
togetheraremorelikelytoavoidgoingtowarwitheachother.
Ithassincegrowntobecomea"singlemarket"allowinggoodsandpeopletomovearound,
basicallyasifthememberstateswereonecountry.Ithasitsowncurrency,theeuro,whichis
usedby19ofthemembercountries,itsownparliamentanditnowsetsrulesinawiderange
ofareasincludingontheenvironment,transport,consumerrightsandeventhingssuchas
mobilephonecharges.Clickhereforabeginners'guidetohowtheEUworks.
SowhenwillBritainactuallyleaveit?
FortheUKtoleavetheEUithastoinvokeanagreementcalledArticle50oftheLisbon
Treatywhichgivesthetwosidestwoyearstoagreethetermsofthesplit.TheresaMayhas
confirmedthiswillbedonebytheendofMarch2017,meaningtheUKwillbeexpectedto
haveleftbythesummerof2019,dependingontheprecisetimetableagreedduringthe
negotiations.
Oncenegotiationsofficiallybegin,wewillstarttogetaclearideaofwhatkindofdealtheUK
willseekfromtheEU,ontradeandimmigration.
ThegovernmentwillalsoenactaGreatRepealBillwhichwillendtheprimacyofEUlawin
theUK.ItwillincorporateEUlegislationintoUKlaw,afterwhichthegovernmentwilldecide
whichpartstokeep,changeorretain.
WhoisgoingtonegotiateBritain'sexitfromtheEU?
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TheresaMayhassetupanewgovernmentdepartment,tobeheadedbyveteran
ConservativeMPandLeavecampaignerDavidDavis,totakeresponsibilityforBrexit.Former
defencesecretary,LiamFox,whoalsocampaignedtoleavetheEU,hasbeengiventhejob
ofinternationaltradesecretaryandBorisJohnson,wholedtheLeavecampaign,isforeign
secretary.
ThesemendubbedtheThreeBrexiteerswillplayacentralroleinnegotiationswiththeEU
andseekoutnewinternationalagreements,althoughitwillbeMrsMay,asprimeminister,
whowillhavethefinalsay.ThegovernmentdidnotdoanyemergencyplanningforBrexit
aheadofthereferendumanditisnowrushingtohireateamofskillednegotiatorsto
managethecomplexbusinessofnegotiatingwithdrawalandensuringBritaingetsthebest
possibledeal.
HowlongwillittakeforBritaintoleavetheEU?
OnceArticle50hasbeentriggered,theUKwillhavetwoyearstonegotiateitswithdrawal.But
noonereallyknowshowtheBrexitprocesswillworkArticle50wasonlycreatedinlate2009
andithasneverbeenused.
FormerForeignSecretaryPhilipHammond,nowChancellor,wantedBritaintoremaininthe
EU,andhehassuggesteditcouldtakeuptosixyearsfortheUKtocompleteexit
negotiations.ThetermsofBritain'sexitwillhavetobeagreedby27nationalparliaments,a
processwhichcouldtakesomeyears,hehasargued.
EUlawstillstandsintheUKuntilitceasesbeingamember.TheUKwillcontinuetoabideby
EUtreatiesandlaws,butnottakepartinanydecisionmaking.
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WhywillBrexittakesolong?
Unpicking43yearsoftreatiesandagreementscoveringthousandsofdifferentsubjectswas
nevergoingtobeastraightforwardtask.Itisfurthercomplicatedbythefactthatithasnever
beendonebeforeandnegotiatorswill,tosomeextent,bemakingitupastheygoalong.
ThepostBrexittradedealislikelytobethemostcomplexpartofthenegotiationbecauseit
needstheunanimousapprovalofmorethan30nationalandregionalparliamentsacross
Europe,someofwhommaywanttoholdreferendums.
ThelikelyfocusofnegotiationsbetweentheUKandEU
Inverysimplifiedterms,thestartingpositionsarethattheEUwillonlyallowtheUKtobepart
oftheEuropeansinglemarket(whichallowstarifffreetrade)ifitcontinuestoallowEU
nationalstheuncheckedrighttoliveandworkintheUK.TheUKsaysitwantscontrols"on
thenumbersofpeoplewhocometoBritainfromEurope".Bothsideswanttradetocontinue
afterBrexitwiththeUKseekingapositiveoutcomeforthosewhowishtotradegoodsand
services"suchasthoseintheCityofLondon.ThechallengefortheUK'sBrexittalkswillbe
todoenoughtotackleimmigrationconcernswhilegettingthebestpossibletrade
arrangementswiththeEu.
SomeBrexiteers,suchasexchancellorLordLawson,saythatastheUKdoesnotwant
freedomofmovementandtheEUsaysthatwithoutitthereisnosinglemarketmembership,
theUKshouldseektoend"uncertainty"bypushingaheadwithBrexitandnot"wastetime"
tryingtonegotiateaspecialdeal.
Whatdo"soft"and"hard"Brexitmean?
ThesetermsareincreasinglybeingusedasdebatefocusesonthetermsoftheUK's
departurefromtheEU.Thereisnostrictdefinitionofeither,buttheyareusedtorefertothe
closenessoftheUK'srelationshipwiththeEUpostBrexit.
Soatoneextreme,"hard"BrexitcouldinvolvetheUKrefusingtocompromiseonissueslike
thefreemovementofpeopleinordertomaintainaccesstotheEUsinglemarket.Attheother
endofthescale,a"soft"BrexitmightfollowasimilarpathtoNorway,whichisamemberof
thesinglemarketandhastoacceptthefreemovementofpeopleasaresult.
ExchancellorGeorgeOsborneandLabourleaderJeremyCorbynareamongthosetohave
warnedagainstpursuinga"hard"option,whilesomeEuroscepticConservativeMPshaveput
forwardtheoppositeview.
WhathappenstoEUcitizenslivingintheUK?
ThegovernmenthasdeclinedtogiveafirmguaranteeaboutthestatusofEUnationals
currentlylivingintheUK,sayingthisisnotpossiblewithoutareciprocalpledgefromotherEU
membersaboutthemillionsofBritishnationalslivingonthecontinent.
EUnationalswitharighttopermanentresidence,whichisgrantedaftertheyhavelivedinthe
UKforfiveyears,willbebeabletostay,thechiefcivilservantattheHomeOfficehassaid.
TherightsofotherEUnationalswouldbesubjecttonegotiationsonBrexitandthe"willof
Parliament,"headded.
WhathappenstoUKcitizensworkingintheEU?
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AlotdependsonthekindofdealtheUKagreeswiththeEU.Ifitremainswithinthesingle
market,itwouldalmostcertainlyretainfreemovementrights,allowingUKcitizenstoworkin
theEUandviceversa.Ifthegovernmentoptedtoimposeworkpermitrestrictions,thenother
countriescouldreciprocate,meaningBritonswouldhavetoapplyforvisastowork.
WhataboutEUnationalswhowanttoworkintheUK?
Again,itdependsonwhethertheUKgovernmentdecidestointroduceaworkpermitsystem
ofthekindthatcurrentlyappliestononEUcitizens,limitingentrytoskilledworkersin
professionswherethereareshortages.
Citizens'Advicehasremindedpeopletheirrightshavenotchangedyetandaskedanyone
tocontactthemiftheythinktheyhavebeendiscriminatedagainstfollowingtheLeavevote.
BrexitSecretaryDavidDavishassuggestedEUmigrantswhocometotheUKasBrexitnears
maynotbegiventherighttostay.Hehassaidtheremighthavetobeacutoffpointifthere
wasa"surge"innewarrivals.
Whatdoesthefallinthevalueofthepoundmeanforpricesintheshops?
SummerholidaymakerstravellingoverseasfromtheUKarefindingthattheirpoundsare
buyingfewereurosordollarsaftertheBrexitvote.
Thedaytodayspendingimpactislikelytobemoresignificant.Evenifthepoundregains
someofitsvalue,currencyexpertsexpectittoremainatleast10%belowwhereitwason23
June,inthelongterm.
Iftheyarecorrect,importedgoodswillconsequentlygetmoreexpensivethatmeansfood,
clothingandhomewarearealllikelytogetpricier.
Thesepricerisesmightnotkickinimmediately.Forexample,allthebigretailerswouldhave
factoredinthecurrencyriskwhenorganisingtheirfinances.Ineffecttheyhaveinsured
themselvesagainstafallinthepound,butthiswillstarttounwindnextyearleadingtoprice
increasesintheshops.
Sellersofluxuryitems,suchashighendcars,havemuchbiggerprofitmargins,somaybe
abletoabsorbtheextracostswithoutpassingtheseontocustomers.
Willimmigrationbecut?
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PA
PrimeMinisterTheresaMayhassaidoneofthemainmessagesshehastakenfromthe
LeavevoteisthattheBritishpeoplewanttoseeareductioninimmigration.
ShehassaidthiswillbeafocusofBrexitnegotiations.ThekeyissueiswhetherotherEU
nationswillgranttheUKaccesstothesinglemarket,ifthatiswhatitwants,whileatthesame
timebeingallowedtorestricttherightsofEUcitizenstoliveandworkintheUK.
MrsMayhassaidsheremainscommittedtogettingnetmigrationthedifferencebetweenthe
numbersenteringandleavingthecountrydowntoa"sustainable"level,whichshedefines
asbeingbelow100,000ayear.Itiscurrentlyrunningat330,000ayear,ofwhich184,000are
EUcitizens,and188,000arefromoutsidetheEUthefiguresincludea39,000outflowofUK
citizens.
Couldtherebeasecondreferendum?
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Itseemshighlyunlikely.BoththeConservativesandtheLabourPartyhaveruledoutanother
referendum,arguingthatitwouldbeanundemocraticbreachoftrustwiththeBritishpeople
whoclearlyvotedtoLeave.TheLiberalDemocratshavevowedtohaltBrexitandkeepBritain
intheEUiftheywinthenextgeneralelection.
Somecommentators,includingformerHouseofCommonsclerkLordLisvane,haveargued
thatafurtherreferendumwouldbeneededtoratifywhateverdealtheUKhammersoutwith
theEU,buttherearefewsignspoliticalleadersviewthisasaviableoption.
WillIneedavisatotraveltotheEU?
WhiletherecouldbelimitationsonBritishnationals'abilitytoliveandworkinEUcountries,it
seemsunlikelytheywouldwanttodetertourists.Therearemanycountriesoutsidethe
EuropeanEconomicArea,whichincludesthe28EUnationsplusIceland,Lichtensteinand
Norway,thatBritishcitizenscanvisitforupto90dayswithoutneedingavisaanditis
possiblethatsucharrangementscouldbenegotiatedwithEuropeancountries.
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WillIstillbeabletousemypassport?
Yes.ItisaBritishdocumentthereisnosuchthingasanEUpassport,soyourpassportwill
staythesame.Intheory,thegovernmentcould,ifitwanted,decidetochangethecolour,
whichiscurrentlystandardisedforEUcountries,saystheBBC'sEuropecorrespondent,
ChrisMorris.
Somesaywecouldstillremaininthesinglemarketbutwhatisasingle
market?
ThesinglemarketisseenbyitsadvocatesastheEU'sbiggestachievementandoneofthe
mainreasonsitwassetupinthefirstplace.
BritainwasamemberofafreetradeareainEuropebeforeitjoinedwhatwasthenknownas
thecommonmarket.Inafreetradeareacountriescantradewitheachotherwithoutpaying
tariffsbutitisnotasinglemarketbecausethememberstatesdonothavetomergetheir
economiestogether.
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TheEuropeanUnionsinglemarket,whichwascompletedin1992,allowsthefreemovement
ofgoods,services,moneyandpeoplewithintheEuropeanUnion,asifitwasasinglecountry.
Itispossibletosetupabusinessortakeajobanywherewithinit.Theideawastoboost
trade,createjobsandlowerprices.Butitrequirescommonlawmakingtoensureproducts
aremadetothesametechnicalstandardsandimposesotherrulestoensurea"levelplaying
field".
Criticssayitgeneratestoomanypettyregulationsandrobsmembersofcontrolovertheir
ownaffairs.Massmigrationfrompoorertorichercountrieshasalsoraisedquestionsabout
thefreemovementrule.Readmore:AfreetradeareavEUsinglemarket
HasanyothermemberstateeverlefttheEU?
NonationstatehaseverlefttheEU.ButGreenland,oneofDenmark'soverseasterritories,
heldareferendumin1982,aftergainingagreaterdegreeofselfgovernment,andvotedby
52%to48%toleave,whichitdulydidafteraperiodofnegotiation.TheBBC'sCarolynQuinn
visitedGreenlandattheendoflastyeartofindouthowtheydidit.
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WhatdoesthismeanforScotland?
Scotland'sFirstMinisterNicolaSturgeonsaidinthewakeoftheLeaveresultthatitis
"democraticallyunacceptable"thatScotlandfacesbeingtakenoutoftheEUwhenitvotedto
Remain.Asecondindependencereferendumforthecountryisnow"highlylikely",shehas
said.
WhatdoesitmeanforNorthernIreland?
DeputyFirstMinisterMartinMcGuinnesssaidtheimpactinNorthernIrelandwouldbe"very
profound"andthatthewholeislandofIrelandshouldnowbeabletovoteonreunification.
But,speakingwhileshewasstillNorthernIrelandSecretary,TheresaVilliersruledoutthecall
fromSinnFinforaborderpoll,sayingthecircumstancesinwhichonewouldbecalleddid
notexist.
Howwillpensions,savings,investmentsandmortgagesbeaffected?
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Duringthereferendumcampaign,DavidCameronsaidthesocalled"triplelock"forstate
pensionswouldbethreatenedbyaUKexit.Thisistheagreementbywhichpensions
increasebyatleastthelevelofearnings,inflationor2.5%everyyearwhicheveristhe
highest.
Ifeconomicperformancedeteriorates,theBankofEnglandcoulddecideonafurther
programmeofquantitativeeasing,asanalternativetocuttinginterestrates,whichwould
lowerbondyieldsandwiththemannuityrates.Soanyonetakingoutapensionannuitycould
getlessincomefortheirmoney.Thoughit'sworthpointingoutthatannuityrateshavebeen
fallingsincebeforethevoteanyway.
TheBankofEnglandmayconsiderraisinginterestratestocombatextrapressureoninflation.
Thatwouldmakemortgagesandloansmoreexpensivetorepaybutwouldbegoodnewsfor
savers.Howeveritisstilltoosoontosaywhetherornotthesewarningswillproveaccurate.
WilldutyfreesalesonEuropejourneysreturn?
THINKSTOCK
Journalistsandwritersonsocialmediahavegreetedthereintroductionofdutyfreesalesas
an"upside"or"silverlining"ofBrexit.AswithmostBrexitconsequences,whetherthiswill
happendependsonhownegotiationswiththeEUplayoutwhetherthe"customsunion"
agreementbetweenBritainandtheEUisendedorcontinued.
EurotunnelbossJacquesGounonsaidlastNovemberthereintroductionofdutyfreewouldbe
"anincredibleboostformybusiness"buthelatersaidthatremarkhadbeen"lighthearted".
ErikJuulMortensen,presidentoftheTaxFreeWorldAssociation(TFWA)saidafterthe
referendumvote"itisnotpossibletopredicthowBrexitwillaffectthedutyfreeandtravel
retailindustry,anditiswisernottomakeassumptionsaboutexactlywhattheimpactwillbe."
WillEHICcardsstillbevalid?
Theyareatthemomentbutnooneknowsthelongertermprospectsfordefinite.TheEHIC
cardwhichentitlestravellerstostateprovidedmedicalhelpforanyconditionorinjurythat
requiresurgenttreatment,inanyothercountrywithintheEU,aswellasseveralnonEU
countriesisnotanEUinitiative.Itwasnegotiatedbetweencountrieswithinagroupknown
astheEuropeanEconomicArea,oftensimplyreferredtoasthesinglemarket(plus
Switzerland,whichconfusinglyisnotamemberoftheEEA,buthasagreedaccesstothe
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singlemarket).Therefore,thefutureofBritons'EHICcovercoulddependonwhethertheUK
decidedtosevertieswiththeEEA.
Willcarsneednewnumberplates?
Probablynot,saysBBCEuropecorrespondentChrisMorris,becausethere'snoEUwide
lawonvehicleregistrationorcarnumberplaces,andtheEUflagsymbolisavoluntary
identifierandnotcompulsory.TheDVLAsaystherehasbeennodiscussionaboutwhatwould
happentoplateswiththeflagiftheUKvotedtoleave.
CouldMPsblockanEUexit?
CouldthenecessarylegislationpasstheCommons,giventhatalotofMPsallSNPandLib
Dems,nearlyallLabourandmanyConservativeswereinfavourofstaying?Thereferendum
resultisnotlegallybindingParliamentstillhastopassthelawsthatwillgetBritainoutofthe
28nationbloc,startingwiththerepealofthe1972EuropeanCommunitiesAct.
ThewithdrawalagreementalsohastoberatifiedbyParliamenttheHouseofLordsand/or
theCommonscouldvoteagainstratification,accordingtoaHouseofCommonslibrary
report.Inpractice,ConservativeMPswhovotedtoremainintheEUwouldbewhippedto
votewiththegovernment.Anywhodefiedthewhipwouldhavetofacethewrathofvotersat
thenextgeneralelection.
Onescenariothatcouldseethereferendumresultoverturned,isifMPsforcedageneral
electionandapartycampaignedonapromisetokeepBritainintheEU,gotelectedandthen
claimedthattheelectionmandatetoppedthereferendumone.TwothirdsofMPswouldhave
tovoteforageneralelectiontobeheldbeforethenextscheduledonein2020.
WillleavingtheEUmeanwedon'thavetoabidebytheEuropeanCourtof
HumanRights?
TheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights(ECHR)inStrasbourgisnotaEuropeanUnion
institution.
ItwassetupbytheCouncilofEurope,whichhas47membersincludingRussiaandUkraine.
SoquittingtheEUwillnotexempttheUKfromitsdecisions.
However,theUKgovernmentiscommittedtorepealingtheHumanRightsActwhichrequires
UKcourtstotreattheECHRassettinglegalprecedentsfortheUK,infavourofaBritishBill
ofRights.
Aspartofthat,theUKgovernmentisexpectedtoannouncemeasuresthatwillboostthe
powersofcourtsinEnglandandWalestooverrulejudgementshandeddownbytheECHR.
However,theEUhasitsownEuropeanCourtofJustice,whosedecisionsarebindingonEU
institutionsandmemberstates.
ItsrulingshavesometimescausedcontroversyinBritainandsupportersofaBrexithave
calledforimmediatelegislationtocurbitspowers.
WilltheUKbeabletorejointheEUinthefuture?
BBCEuropeeditorKatyaAdlersaystheUKwouldhavetostartfromscratchwithnorebate,
andenteraccessiontalkswiththeEU.EverymemberstatewouldhavetoagreetotheUKre
joining.ButshesayswithelectionsloomingelsewhereinEurope,otherleadersmightnotbe
generoustowardsanyUKdemands.Newmembersarerequiredtoadopttheeuroastheir
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currency,oncetheymeettherelevantcriteria,althoughtheUKcouldtrytonegotiateanopt
out.
WhowantedtheUKtoleavetheEU?
TheUKIndependenceParty,whichreceivednearlyfourmillionvotes13%ofthosecastin
May'sgeneralelection,hascampaignedformanyyearsforBritain'sexitfromtheEU.They
werejoinedintheircallduringthereferendumcampaignbyabouthalftheConservative
Party'sMPs,includingBorisJohnsonandfivemembersofthethenCabinet.Ahandfulof
LabourMPsandNorthernIrelandpartytheDUPwerealsoinfavourofleaving.
WhatweretheirreasonsforwantingtheUKtoleave?
TheysaidBritainwasbeingheldbackbytheEU,whichtheysaidimposedtoomanyruleson
businessandchargedbillionsofpoundsayearinmembershipfeesforlittleinreturn.They
alsocitedsovereigntyanddemocracy,andtheywantedBritaintotakebackfullcontrolofits
bordersandreducethenumberofpeoplecomingheretoliveand/orwork.
OneofthemainprinciplesofEUmembershipis"freemovement",whichmeansyoudon't
needtogetavisatogoandliveinanotherEUcountry.TheLeavecampaignalsoobjectedto
theideaof"evercloserunion"betweenEUmemberstatesandwhattheyseeasmoves
towardsthecreationofa"UnitedStatesofEurope".
WhowantedtheUKtostayintheEU?
ThenPrimeMinisterDavidCameronwastheleadingvoiceintheRemaincampaign,after
reachinganagreementwithotherEuropeanUnionleadersthatwouldhavechangedthe
termsofBritain'smembershiphadthecountryvotedtostayin.
HesaidthedealwouldgiveBritain"special"statusandhelpsortoutsomeofthethings
Britishpeoplesaidtheydidn'tlikeabouttheEU,likehighlevelsofimmigrationbutcritics
saidthedealwouldmakelittledifference.
SixteenmembersofMrCameron'sCabinet,includingthewomanwhowouldreplacehimas
PM,TheresaMay,alsobackedstayingin.TheConservativePartywassplitontheissueand
officiallyremainedneutralinthecampaign.TheLabourParty,ScottishNationalParty,Plaid
Cymru,theGreenPartyandtheLiberalDemocratswereallinfavourofstayingin.
USpresidentBarackObamaalsowantedBritaintoremainintheEU,asdidotherEUnations
suchasFranceandGermany.
WhatweretheirreasonsforwantingtheUKtostay?
ThosecampaigningforBritaintostayintheEUsaiditgetsabigboostfrommembershipit
makessellingthingstootherEUcountrieseasierand,theyargued,theflowofimmigrants,
mostofwhomareyoungandkeentowork,fuelseconomicgrowthandhelpspayforpublic
services.
TheyalsosaidBritain'sstatusintheworldwouldbedamagedbyleavingandthatweare
moresecureaspartofthe28nationclub,ratherthangoingitalone.
Whataboutbusinesses?
BigbusinesswithafewexceptionstendedtobeinfavourofBritainstayingintheEU
becauseitmakesiteasierforthemtomovemoney,peopleandproductsaroundtheworld.
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GiventhecrucialroleofLondonasafinancialcentre,there'sinterestinhowmanyjobsmay
belosttootherhubsintheEU.FourofthebiggestUSbankshavecommittedtohelping
maintaintheCity'sposition.ButHSBCwillmoveupto1,000jobstoParis,theBBC
understands.
SomeUKexporterssaythey'vehadincreasedordersorenquiriesbecauseofthefallinthe
valueofthepound.PestcontrolfirmRentokilInitialsaysitcouldmake15mextrathisyear
thankstoaweakercurrency.
Othersarelessoptimistic.HilaryJones,adirectoratUKcosmeticsfirmLushsaidthe
companywas"terrified"abouttheeconomicimpact.Sheaddedthatwhilethefirm'sDorset
factorywouldcontinuetoproducegoodsfortheUKmarket,productsfortheEuropeanmarket
maybemadeatitsnewplantinGermany.
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Wholedtherivalsidesinthecampaign?
BritainStrongerinEuropethemaincrosspartygroupcampaigningforBritainto
remainintheEUwasheadedbyformerMarksandSpencerchairmanLordRose.Itwas
backedbykeyfiguresfromtheConservativeParty,includingPrimeMinisterDavid
CameronandChancellorGeorgeOsborne,mostLabourMPs,includingpartyleader
JeremyCorbynandAlanJohnson,whorantheLabourInforBritaincampaign,theLib
Dems,PlaidCymru,theAlliancepartyandtheSDLPinNorthernIreland,andtheGreen
Party.Whofundedthecampaign:BritainStrongerinEuroperaised6.88m,boostedby
twodonationstotalling2.3mfromthesupermarketmagnateandLabourpeerLord
Sainsbury.OtherprominentRemaindonorsincludedhedgefundmanagerDavidHarding
(750,000),businessmanandTravelexfounderLloydDorfman(500,000)andtheTower
LimitedPartnership(500,000).ReadaWho'sWhoguide.Whoelsecampaignedto
remain:TheSNPranitsownremaincampaigninScotlandasitdidnotwanttosharea
platformwiththeConservatives.Severalsmallergroupsalsoregisteredtocampaign.
VoteLeaveAcrosspartycampaignthathasthebackingofseniorConservativessuch
asMichaelGoveandBorisJohnsonplusahandfulofLabourMPs,includingGiselaStuart
andGrahamStringer,andUKIP'sDouglasCarswellandSuzanneEvans,andtheDUPin
NorthernIreland.FormerTorychancellorLordLawsonandSDPfounderLordOwenwere
alsoinvolved.IthadastringofaffiliatedgroupssuchasFarmersforBritain,Muslimsfor
BritainandOutandProud,agayantiEUgroup,aimedatbuildingsupportindifferent
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communities.Whofundedthecampaign:VoteLeaveraised2.78m.Itslargest
supporterwasbusinessmanPatrickBarbour,whogave500,000.FormerConservative
PartytreasurerPeterCruddasgavea350,000donationandconstructionmogulTerence
Adamshandedover300,000.ReadaWho'sWhoguide.Whoelsecampaignedto
leave:UKIPleaderNigelFarageisnotpartofVoteLeave.Hispartyranitsown
campaign.TheTradeUnionandSocialistCoalitionisalsorunningitsownoutcampaign.
Severalsmallergroupsalsoregisteredtocampaign.
WilltheEUstilluseEnglish?
Yes,saysBBCEuropeeditorKatyaAdler.Therewillstillbe27otherEUstatesinthebloc,
andotherswantingtojoininthefuture,andthecommonlanguagetendstobeEnglish
"muchtoFrance'schagrin",shesays.
WillaBrexitharmproductsafety?
Probablynot,istheanswer.ItwoulddependonwhetherornottheUKdecidedtogetridof
currentsafetystandards.EvenifthathappenedanycompanywantingtoexporttotheEU
wouldhavetocomplywithitssafetyrules,andit'shardtoimagineacompanywouldwantto
producetwobatchesofthesameproducts.
Thanksforsendinginyourquestions.Hereareaselectionofthem,andouranswers:
WhichMPswereforstayingandwhichforleaving?
ThegoodnewsforEdward,fromCambridge,whoaskedthisquestion,iswehavebeen
workingonexactlysuchalist.Clickhereforthelatestversion.
HowmuchdoestheUKcontributetotheEUandhowmuchdowegetin
return?
InanswertothisqueryfromNancyfromHornchurchtheUKisoneof10memberstateswho
paymoreintotheEUbudgetthantheygetout,onlyFranceandGermanycontributemore.In
2014/15,Polandwasthelargestbeneficiary,followedbyHungaryandGreece.
THINKSTOCK
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TheUKalsogetsanannualrebatethatwasnegotiatedbyMargaretThatcherandmoney
back,intheformofregionaldevelopmentgrantsandpaymentstofarmers,whichaddedupto
4.6bnin2014/15.AccordingtothelatestTreasuryfigures,theUK'snetcontributionfor
2014/15was8.8bnnearlydoublewhatitwasin2009/10.
TheNationalAuditOffice,usingadifferentformulawhichtakesintoaccountEUmoneypaid
directlytoprivatesectorcompaniesanduniversitiestofundresearch,andmeasuredoverthe
EU'sfinancialyear,showstheUK'snetcontributionfor2014was5.7bn.Readmore
numbercrunchingfromRealityCheck.
IfIretiretoSpainoranotherEUcountrywillmyhealthcarecostsstillbe
covered?
David,fromEastSussex,isworriedaboutwhatwillhappentohisretirementplans.Thisis
oneofthoseissueswhereitisnotpossibletosaydefinitivelywhatwouldhappen.Atthe
moment,thelargeBritishexpatcommunityinSpaingetsfreeaccesstoSpanishGPsand
theirhospitaltreatmentispaidforbytheNHS.AftertheybecomepermanentresidentsSpain
paysfortheirhospitaltreatment.SimilararrangementsareinplacewithotherEUcountries.
IfBritainremainsinthesinglemarket,ortheEuropeanEconomicAreaasitisknown,itmight
beabletocontinuewiththisarrangement,accordingtoaHouseofCommonslibrary
researchnote.IfBritainhastonegotiatetradedealswithindividualmemberstates,itmay
opttocontinuepayingforexpats'healthcarethroughtheNHSordecidethattheywouldhave
tocovertheirowncostsiftheycontinuetoliveabroad,ifthecountrywheretheylivedeclines
todoso.
Whatwillhappentoprotectedspecies?
Dee,fromLaunceston,wantedtoknowwhatwouldhappentoEUlawscoveringprotected
speciessuchasbatsintheeventofBritainleavingtheEU.Theansweristhattheywould
remaininplace,initiallyatleast.AftertheLeavevote,thegovernmentwillprobablyreviewall
EUderivedlawsinthetwoyearsleadinguptotheofficialexitdatetoseewhichonestokeep
orscrap.
ThestatusofSpecialAreasofConservationandSpecialProtectionAreas,whichare
designatedbytheEU,wouldbereviewedtoseewhatalternativeprotectionscouldbe
applied.ThesameprocesswouldapplytoEuropeanProtectedSpecieslegislation,which
relatetobatsandtheirhabitats.
ThegovernmentwouldwanttoavoidalegislativevacuumcausedbytherepealofEUlaws
beforenewUKlawsareinplaceitwouldalsocontinuetoabidebyotherinternational
agreementscoveringenvironmentalprotection.
HowmuchmoneywilltheUKsavethroughchangestomigrantchildbenefits
andwelfarepayments?
Martin,fromPoole,inDorset,wantedtoknowwhattaxpayerswouldhavegotbackfromthe
benefitcurbsnegotiatedbyDavidCameroninBrussels.Wedon'texactlyknowbecausethe
detailswereneverworkedout.HMRevenueandCustomssuggestedabout20,000EU
nationalsreceivechildbenefitpaymentsinrespectof34,000childrenintheircountryoforigin
atanestimatedcostofabout30m.
ButthetotalsavingwouldhavebeensignificantlylessthanthatbecauseMrCamerondidnot
gettheblanketbanhewanted.Instead,paymentswouldhavebeenlinkedtothecostofliving
inthecountrieswherethechildrenlive.DavidCameronsaidasmanyas40%ofEUmigrant
familieswhocometoBritaincouldloseanaverageof6,000ayearofinworkbenefitswhen
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his"emergencybrake"wasapplied.TheDWPestimatedbetween128,700and155,100
peoplewouldbeaffected.Butthecutswouldhavebeenphasedin.Newarrivalswouldnot
havegottaxcreditsandotherinworkbenefitsstraightawaybutwouldhavegraduallygained
accesstothemoverafouryearperiodataratethathadnotbeendecided.Theplanwill
neverbeimplementednow.
WillwebebarredfromtheEurovisionSongContest?
AP
SophiefromPeterborough,whoasksthequestion,neednotworry.Wehaveconsulted
AlasdairRendall,presidentoftheUKEurovisionfanclub,whosays:"Allparticipating
countriesmustbeamemberoftheEuropeanBroadcastingUnion.TheEBUwhichistotally
independentoftheEUincludescountriesbothinsideandoutsideoftheEU,andalso
includescountriessuchasIsraelthatareoutsideofEurope.IndeedtheUKstarted
participatingintheEurovisionSongContestin1957,16yearsbeforejoiningthethenEEC."
HasBrexitmadehousepricesfall?
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PA
AswithmostelementsoftheUKeconomy,notenoughsoliddatahasbeenpublishedyetto
accuratelyconcludetheBrexiteffectonhouseprices.Industryfigureshavepointedto
"uncertainty"amongbuyersandsellersthatcouldpotentiallychangethehousingmarket.
Sofar,themostsignificantresearchhascomefromtherespectedRoyalInstitutionof
CharteredSurveyors,whichhaspublishedtheconclusionsofasurveyofitsmembers.This
primarilyrecordssentimentamongsurveyors.
ItfoundthathousepricesareexpectedtofallacrosstheUKinthethreemonthsafterthe
referendumvote.However,thedipinpricesisonlyexpectedtopersistoverthe12months
fromJuneinLondonandEastAnglia,surveyorspredict.
HousepriceswerealreadyslowingincentralLondon,owingtothefalloutfromchangesto
stampdutyrulesinApril.
SeparatefiguresfrompropertyportalRightmovesuggestedtheaverageaskingpriceof
housescomingontothemarketinEnglandandWalesfellby0.9%,or2,647,inJuly
comparedwithJune.Itsaidthatagentshadreportedveryfewsaleshadfallenthroughasa
resultofthevote.
Manypotentialfirsttimebuyerswouldwelcomeafallinhouseprices,withownershipamong
theyoungfallingowingtoaffordabilityconcerns.Investorsinproperty,orthosewhohavepaid
offamortgageandhopetoleavehomesasinheritancewouldbeunhappywithalongterm
reductioninvalue.
Whatisthe'redtape'thatopponentsoftheEUcomplainabout?
Ged,fromLiverpool,suspects"redtape"isaeuphemismforemploymentrightsand
environmentalprotection.AccordingtotheOpenEuropethinktank,fourofthetopfive
mostcostlyEUregulationsareeitheremploymentorenvironmentrelated.TheUKrenewable
energystrategy,whichthethinktanksayscosts4.7bnayear,topsthelist.Theworkingtime
directive(4.2bnayear)whichlimitstheworkingweekto48hoursandthetemporary
agencyworkersdirective(2.1bnayear),givingtemporarystaffmanyofthesamerightsas
permanentonesarealsoonthelist.
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ThereisnothingtostopafutureUKgovernmentreproducingtheseregulationsinBritishlaw
followingthedecisiontoleavetheEU.Andthecostsofsocalled"redtape"willnot
necessarilydisappearovernightifBritainoptedtofollowthe"Norwaymodel"andremained
intheEuropeanEconomicAreamostoftheEUderivedlawswouldremaininplace.
WillBritainbepartytotheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnership?
Ste,inBolton,askedaboutthis.TheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnershipor
TTIPcurrentlyundernegotiationbetweentheEUandUnitedStateswillcreatethebiggest
freetradeareatheworldhaseverseen.
CheerleadersforTTIP,includingformerPMDavidCameron,believeitcouldmakeAmerican
importscheaperandboostBritishexportstotheUStothetuneof10bnayear.
Butmanyontheleft,includingLabourleaderJeremyCorbyn,fearitwillshiftmorepowerto
multinationalcorporations,underminepublicservices,wreckfoodstandardsandthreaten
basicrights.
QuittingtheEUmeanstheUKwillnotbepartofTTIP.Itwillhavenegotiateitsowntradedeal
withtheUS.
WhatimpactwillleavingtheEUhaveontheNHS?
Paddy,fromWidnes,wantedtoknowhowleavingtheEUwillaffectthenumberofdoctorswe
haveandimpacttheNHS.
ThisbecameanissueinthereferendumdebateaftertheLeavecampaignclaimedthemoney
BritainsendstotheEU,whichitclaimsis350maweek,couldbespentontheNHSinstead.
TheBBC'sRealityCheckteamlookedintothisclaim.
HealthSecretaryJeremyHuntwarnedthatleavingtheEUwouldleadtobudgetcutsandan
exodusofoverseasdoctorsandnurses.TheLeavecampaigndismissedhisinterventionas
"scaremongering"andinsistedthatEUmembershipfeescouldbespentondomesticservices
liketheNHS.
FormerLabourhealthsecretaryLordOwenhassaidthatbecauseofTTIP(seeanswer
above)theonlywaytoprotecttheNHSfromfurtherprivatisationwastogetoutoftheEU.
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