The Brexit referendum happened over two years ago. Since the vote, which came out with a very close majority of 53.4% (leave) to 46.6% (remain), Brexit has been in and out of the news with varying information about what leaving the European Union means for us. There have been trade deals proposed and rejected on both sides of the table, with Prime Minister Theresa May assuring the public she is doing her best to get the best deal for the UK. This article will explore the Brexit pros and cons and will explore what you need to know about the changes and how you could be affected by them.
Before the referendum, Britain had free movement across Europe and was part of the free market. The free market means that you can sell products across the Union with no extra fees or need for visas etc. These are the two factors that have caused the most issues since the Brexit vote. For students and young people, the loss of free movement meant that working or studying in the European Union could be in jeopardy.
Currently the UK is set to divorce the European Union on the 29th March 2019. Meaning that within the year, our relationship with the union will have changed dramatically. This date is also followed by a transition period until 31st December 2020, where we get everything in place and deal with the many issues that will ensue. However, as conversations and negotiations are still ongoing we (as a country) do not know how this will effect our relationship and reliance on the European Union.
Despite the majority of students voting to stay in the EU, it is still wise to explore the pro side of the Brexit debate to understand how leaving could have some positive results for our country.
Currently, the UK contributes £10 billion a year to EU parliament. As a richer country we put in more money and resources than we got out of the union. Through this we were helping out the poorer countries, some argue that this is not our job and all countries should be equal in the Union.
By leaving the European Union, we no longer need to abide by the EU’s fishing policies, so we have more power over our own fisheries and oceans. This means that UK fishermen/women would have more power and ability to create bigger national businesses. This is definitely a major pro on the list of Brexit pros and cons.
The EU’s common agricultural policy favours inefficient, smaller continental farms. By leaving the EU we are able to control and regulate our own farms and can rely on their produce more strongly.
As a country, we will be able to negotiate independent bilateral trade deals, which means going for products and produce we want from the countries we want, without having to deal with EU policy. This means we can start deals with new countries and create our own trade links. This a really interesting pro on this list of Brexit pros and cons!
Without the EU’s input, the UK will be able to create our own regulations and deals without the bureaucratic overhead from the EU policy makers. These policy makers have many difficult levels and regulations that need to be met and agreed upon before anything changes – trade deals, regulations etc.
The European Union Elections cost the UK taxpayer £107 million per election we hold. During the referendum process, the Brexit pioneers fought saying this money could be spent on the NHS or nationalisation of some institutions. Of course, with current negotiations this isn’t certain but it is, for the UK, a better spend.
Leaving the EU could mean being able to re-establish historical trade links with Commonwealth countries. When the UK joined the EU, the country was made to give up direct trade links to Australia, New Zealand and other such countries; now we are no longer part of the free market, we could create our own trade links.
The cons side of the debate is equally as important to way up both sides of the argument, and to be able to understand what Brexit will mean to many different social groups.
Previous to leaving the EU, people from the UK could hop on a plane at a moments notice and be in France within the hour. However, one item under negotiation is the issue of free travel, which if lost means anyone planning on travelling to mainland Europe would need a VISA or some form of bureaucratic document. Of course, this could be sorted out in the same way that means anyone in the European Union can travel to Scandinavia without a VISA and enjoy free movement. Restricted travel is a huge con on the list of Brexit pros and cons!
The Erasmus scheme is one that is very popular and important to university students. The loss of freedom to study abroad with ease in European countries could mean a loss of European students coming into England and could therefore affect the amounts of the money coming into the country.
Without the ability to cross freely into mainland Europe, Lorries and other trade transporters would not be able to move as quickly and continue the fast paced trade we’ve come to accept as normal in the UK.
By leaving the EU, we are pushing the UK further away from the idea of ‘one world, one love’. Instead, the country is pushing itself further away from free movement across the world. If other trade and movement routes are set up in wake of our departure then that creates more options for free movement around the world, but currently this doesn’t look immediate.
With regards to trade and movement, there will be increased bureaucracy because we will no longer have access to common trade and will have another layer of regulations to go through to be able to access trade that was once easy.
To leave the European Union, the UK will have to pay a lot of money to the Union in ‘divorce fees’. So, whilst there will be savings for the UK once we have left, the cost of leaving is very substantial and will cost the taxpayer a lot of money which could have been put to better use.
There is always the factor of uncertainty. An uncertainty of what will happen when we do leave as no real negotiations have been decided and we are still in limbo and will be for at least another year and a half. This is a definitely a prevalent con on the list of Brexit pros and cons!
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