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7-9-23 Brexit WS

The UK held a referendum in June 2016 on whether to remain in or leave the EU, which the Leave campaign won with 51.9% of the vote. This launched the Brexit process. In March 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, which outlines a two-year period for a member state to negotiate its withdrawal. After several extensions, the UK finally left the EU on January 31, 2020 and the transition period ended on December 31, 2021.

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18 views2 pages

7-9-23 Brexit WS

The UK held a referendum in June 2016 on whether to remain in or leave the EU, which the Leave campaign won with 51.9% of the vote. This launched the Brexit process. In March 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, which outlines a two-year period for a member state to negotiate its withdrawal. After several extensions, the UK finally left the EU on January 31, 2020 and the transition period ended on December 31, 2021.

Uploaded by

Julian Bőttger
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Brexit

The result of the United Kingdom European


Union Referendum in June 2016 was a victory
for the 'Leave' campaign, amassing a total of
51.9% of the vote. This meant that the
outcome was in favour of the United Kingdom
to leaving the European Union, a decision and
process that has come to be known as
"Brexit". Consequently, British Prime
Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 on
29th March 2017, starting the process of the
UK's exit from the EU.

What does Brexit mean?


It is a word that has become used as a shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU -
merging the words Britain and exit to get Brexit.

What is article 50?


Article 50 is a plan for any country that wishes to exit the EU. It was created as part of the
Treaty of Lisbon - an agreement signed up to by all EU states which became law in 2009.
Before that treaty, there was no formal mechanism for a country to leave the EU.
It spells out that any EU member state may decide to quit the EU, that it must notify the
European Council and negotiate its withdrawal with the EU, that there are two years to
reach an agreement - unless everyone agrees to extend it - and that the exiting state
cannot take part in EU internal discussions about its departure.

Who wanted the UK to leave the EU?


The UK Independence Party has campaigned for many years for Britain's exit from the EU.
They were by about half the Conservative Party's MPs, including Boris Johnson and ve
members of the then Cabinet. A handful of Labour MPs and Northern Ireland party the
DUP were also in favour of leaving.

What were their reasons for wanting the UK to


leave?
The 'Leave' campaign campaigned primarily on
issues relating to sovereignty and migration. They
said Britain was being held back by the EU, which
they said imposed too many rules on business and
charged billions of pounds a year in membership
fees for little in return. They also cited sovereignty
and democracy, and they wanted Britain to take
back full control of its borders and reduce the
number of people coming here to live and/or work.
One of the main principles of EU membership is
"free movement", which means you don't need to
get a visa to go and live in another EU country.
The Leave campaign also objected to the idea of
"ever closer union" between EU member states
and what they see as moves towards the creation
of a "United States of Europe".
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Who wanted the UK to stay in the EU?
Then Prime Minister David Cameron was the leading voice in the Remain campaign. Sixteen
members of Mr Cameron's Cabinet, including the woman who would replace him as PM, Theresa
May, who then became a Brexiteer . The Labour Party, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, the
Green Party and the Liberal Democrats were all in favour of staying US president Barack Obama
also wanted Britain in the EU, as did other EU nations such as France.

What were their reasons for wanting the UK to stay?


The remain campaign focused on the economic impacts of leaving the EU. Those campaigning for
Britain to stay in the EU said it got a big boost from membership - it makes selling things to other
EU countries easier and, they argued, the ow of immigrants, most of whom are young and keen to
work, fuels economic growth and helps pay for public services.
They also said Britain's status in the world would be damaged by leaving and that we are more
secure as part of the 28 nation club, rather than going it alone.

What was the result of the referendum?


A referendum - a vote in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting age can take part - was
held on Thursday 23 June, 2016, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the
European Union. Leave won by 51.9% to 48.1%. The referendum turnout was 71.8%, with more
than 30 million people voting:
• England voted for Brexit, by 53.4% to 46.6%.
• Wales voted for Brexit, with Leave getting 52.5% of the vote and Remain 47.5%.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland both backed staying in the EU.
• Scotland backed Remain by 62% to 38%,.
• Northern Ireland voted Remain 55.8% and 44.2% Leave.
On what terms did the UK leave the EU?
It was feared that Britain would leave the EU with a no-deal (Hard Brexit), but after lengthy
negotiations a compromise was found. Main topic of contention was the Irish - Northern Irish
border. Without a solution it would have become an enforced EU external border with border
control and customs. This would have likely led to a renewed inner Irish con ict, as this violates the
“Good Friday”-Agreement. The compromise was to move the customs border into the Irish Sea
and allow for the status quo to continue.

When did the UK leave the EU?


After a handful of extensions to the 2 year period of article 50 the UK left on 31 January in 2020 at
11pm and it left the transition period on 31 December 2021.

Tasks:
1. Read the text and write down any questions or unknown vocabulary.
2. Answer the following questions:
1. What happened in June 2016?
2. What is article 50 and what are its terms?
3. What was the nal outcome of the vote?
4. Why was the Northern Irish border a problem?
3. Speak to your neighbour and come up with arguments for and against Brexit. There
are some in the text. Research more on the internet. Consider the British perspective
(challenges of migration and the history of the British Empire) and your own as the
youth.
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