Referendum Campaign

1. SYNOPSIS OF BREXIT ASSERTIONS –
AND BEST ANSWERS

2. 1. We’ll have control over our own laws
No - we won’t. We’ll still need to
harmonise with Europe. The only
difference between now and then
is that at the moment we get to
influence those laws. If we leave
we just have to adopt them (See
Norway).

3. 2. British courts can make the final
decision
More complex this one but, in short –
no, they can’t. At least not any more
than now. The European Court of
Human Rights (the Daily Mule’s biggest
enemy) has nothing to do with the EU.
The European Court of Justice is the
final arbiter of EU law (not national
law)

4. 3. We can control our own borders
Er… We already do. You remember
that passport thing you have to
show the man?

5. 4. We can control immigration
In theory, yes, we could. We could
pull up the drawbridge and fill in
the tunnel, too. But it won’t
happen, because we lose more
than we gain.

6. 5. Staying in makes terrorism more likely
One of the more facile claims, this is so
brilliantly stupid that it is almost genius.
Staying in the EU makes us a hotbed for
terrorism whilst leaving means we’re all
safe. There you have it! The only problem
is, it’s not true. First of all, see point 4
above. Then consider that terrorists are
just like multi-nationals – they don’t
respect national borders, they don’t play
fair and they don’t care about you.

7. 6. We’ll renegotiate free trade
deals to replace the EU
We won’t. Certainly not quickly at least. We’ll
trade with the EU as a member of the EEA so we
get pretty much the same as now but we lose the
power to influence any future changes. Again, see
Norway. And the US has already made it clear it
has no interest in a FTA with a newly isolated and
rapidly sinking UK. But if you believe we can do
instant deals why don’t you start with Scotland.
As it will undoubtedly leave if the UK leaves the
EU. As eventually will Northern Ireland. And then
Wales…

8. 7. We’ll be strutting our stuff as
world power again.
Newsflash! The UK is a world power. It has
a seat on the UN Security Council. It
punches enormously above its weight on
the international stage. This is in part
because of its connectedness to Europe and
its power within the EU. Leave and what
are you left with? There is momentum
building to review the UNSC membership:
what do you think are the odds that an
isolated UK will still be there?

9. 8. The economy will thrive if
we’re outside the EU
Seriously? It’s not even worth bothering trying
to answer this one! The statement is just so
blatantly devoid of logic. We’re not Norway -
we sold off most of the family silver years ago.
And what’s left is rapidly being outsourced
and sold off too. And that great shining
generator of wealth (for a small few), the
financial sector? That will move to Frankfurt -
did you ever see a bank with loyalty? (OK, I
accept that this could be seen as a plus). In
short, if we leave, we get to live through a
fire sale at the sunset of a once great
economic and political power.

10. 9. The EU is incompetent, badly
run and a drain on resources
Yes. It is. It is beyond incompetent in many
cases. But we’re stuck with it one way or the
other – leaving does not change that. It might
be hard to change it, but at least it’s possible
from the inside (now more than ever). What
can we do from outside? It’s also worth
pondering that many of the problems with
supposed-EU dictates lie in the local
implementation (remember, it was the UK’s
fault it didn’t impose the moratorium in
immigration in 2004, as Germany and others
did).

11. 10. What’s it ever done for us anyway?
Nothing much. Other than working time
directives and other ways that protect your
rights at work, protect your children. Then
there’s consumer protection and European
peace. Not to mention the wholesale transition
of Eastern Europe from volatile authoritarian
states into thriving democracies. Maybe you
don’t care about any of those things. But you
should.

12. PF PowerPoint Presentations