Brexit: Are you In or Out?
On the 23rd of June this year a referendum will be held whereby Britain will decide whether or not to remain in the European Union. As one person of the young generation, the power of the student vote has never been more cruical. But the issue lies with too many students not understanding the power they have — because they simply do not know what it is all about.
What is a referendum?
A referendum is a vote in which nearly everyone in Britain of a voting age can take part, with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to a question. Whichever side gets the majority of votes has won.
Why is a referendum being held?
In David Cameron’s 2015 general election he made a promise that if his party (The Conservatives) won he would hold an election whereby the decision of remaining within the European Union would be considered. This promise was in response to growing calls from his own Conservative MPs and the UK Independence Party (UKIP), who argued that Britain had not had a say in their membership since 1975.
The EU has changed a lot since then, gaining more control over our daily lives. Mr Cameron argued, “It is time for the British people to have their say. It is time to settle this European question in British politics.”
What is the European Union?
The European Union — often known as the EU — is an economic and political partnership involving 28 European countries.
It was first set up after World War Two, creating an economic co-operation, with the idea that countries which trade together are more likely to avoid going to war against 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, 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.
What will the referendum question be?
“Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” Yes or No.
What does ‘Brexit’ mean?
It is a word that its used as a shorter way of saying the UK leaving the EU — merging the words Britain and exit to get Brexit.
The Facts
Reasons for Britain to stay in the EU
1.) Payment of our membership fee allows the UK free trade and inward investment. Last year, Britain paid £13billion to the EU, but it also received £4.5bn worth of spending.
2.) Britain will have a say on the trading rules. There will also be no tariffs put onto imports or exports within membership states.
3.) Currently, a global free trade area is being negotiated with the likes of the US. This could mean that the EU member states would be able to receive and send more trade from the major powers of the global stage.
4.) The EU acts as a gateway to such financials centres, such as the US banking system.
5.) The EU is a security blanket should another financial crisis or bank crash ever occur again.
6.) 3 million jobs could be lost as a result.
7.) Free movement within Europe for UK residents, allowing people the right to work in different EU countries.
Reasons for Britain to leave the EU
1.) Cost saving strategy — last year Britain paid £13billion to Brussels. The gross cost works out £350million a week.
2.) Being part of the EU, Britain is currently not allowed to implement its own trade agreements, so leaving would allow the nation a free opportunity to do this.
3.) Britain has the potential to become a super economy with no EU regulations restricting it.
4.) Leaving the EU would allow tighter control of UK borders, immigration will be reduced and the benefits that migrants recieve will have stricter rules enforced to them. The current public services are under heavy strain, due to over population and the number of migrants. High immigration has also driven down wages for British workers.
Net migration (the difference between those coming to the UK to live for more than a year and those leaving) is currently 323,000. Of this 172,000 came from the EU. [Migration Watch UK]
5.) Potential for new jobs to be created if immigration is reduced and an increase in wages could be possible.
6.) With control on borders, security can be heightened and the threat of terrorism diminished. Being in the EU makes it easier for terrorists to come to the UK.
The Latest Results
How am I going to vote?
Personally, I have done extensive research into this referendum. I have gone back and forth between leaving and staying — but I have finally come to my choice of how I will be voting on June 23rd.
I will be voting to leave the EU. And my reasons behind that is, after carefully consideration of the pros and cons, I believe that Britain is significantly worse off by remaining in the EU. Over the last 41 years — since the last referendum, Britain has not reaped many rewards through their membership. I strongly believe that Britain has already created a strong relationship with my EU member states that through leaving, this would still remain.
Immigration and cost of EU membership are two very important factors for myself when choosing to vote to leave the EU. Around 70% of EU migrants are in skilled jobs.
And those now being accepted, or have previously been accepted in the last 5 years into the EU and then into Britain as refugees, now have the ability to bring in their families and, in 5 or 6 years, will be able to become EU citizens entitled to free movement.
Britain was backed into a corner when the refugee crisis fuelled out of control, we were pressured by other EU member states — especially Brussels, to take in as many refugees as we could. But we have take 200% more than the original quota we agreed each year. Britain has its own poverty situation, (120,000 homeless people last year alone) without having to take in refugees who instantly reap the benefits of being a UK citizen — free education, housing, benefits, NHS.
Leaving the EU Britain would reduce immigration from the EU by as much as 100,000 a year. Alongside saving ourselves £13billion a year — which could be used on improving our expensively declining public health services.
