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Misinformation

Why there is no mandate for Brexit

The legislation behind the referendum of June 2016 did not contain any requirement for the UK government to implement the results of the referendum, nor does the UK have any constitutional provision which require the results of any referendum to be implemented. The status of the referendum is therefore that of an opinion poll, that took a snapshot of public opinion at a particular point in time. There is no obligation for any action to be taken as a result of the referendum. Anybody suggesting otherwise is either ignorant of the facts, or is deliberately trying to mislead.

Looking at the voting figures 17,410,742 voted to leave while 16,141,241 voted to remain, and 12,949,258 failed to vote. So 29,090,499, or 62% of the electorate did not vote for Brexit.

Misinformation about the EU

A great deal of misinformation has been spread about the EU by certain sections of the media and by individuals. There is a perception that the EU is run by “faceless bureaucrats” in Brussels who enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and are very costly to maintain. The reality is that these people are the European equivalent of our own civil service, include many Brits, and despite the fact that they serve 28 countries, are fewer in number and cost less than our own Department for Work and Pensions. They are accountable to the European Council which is made up of politicians from all 28 member states, who determine policy, in the same way that our own civil servants are accountable to our UK politicians.

Nigel Farage famously claimed that there are over 50 pieces of EU legislation that we have voted against, but which we are nevertheless subject to, failing to mention the 2,474 we voted in favour of. So the suggestion that we have lost control of our own destiny is clearly not true.

The claim that the EU costs us over £350 million per week has now been disowned even by those who employed it as a campaigning slogan. We have a rebate, reducing it to £250m a week, and a lot of that comes back to us in EU payments, including those to farmers, and to disadvantaged parts of the country such as Wales and Cornwall, reducing it further to £160m a week, or about £2.50 per head of the UK population. However, that does not take into account the economic benefit to everybody that being part of the EU brings. The strong consensus amongst economists is that we will all be worse off as a result of Brexit, and the already disadvantaged will be hardest hit.

Mandate

Why does the EU exist?

The EU was created following the Second World War, with the intention of putting an end to any further wars in Europe. The rationale was that if countries work together economically and politically, they are much less likely to end up fighting against one other. The six founding countries were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and they abolished the custom duties which countries generally impose on one another, increasing the cost of buying foreign goods. This allowed them to trade freely between themselves, and all six benefited from this economically. In 1973 Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined so they could also benefit from this arrangement.

28 countries are now members of the EU, which has been totally successful in achieving its main intended purpose, of avoiding any future wars in Europe. In recognition of this, the EU was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2012.

We cannot be complacent. Whilst North Korea poses a very significant global threat, we have to look no further than Ukraine to see that war is still being waged on our doorstep.

The BREXIT mindset

The main reasons given for leaving the EU:

49% said the biggest reason for wanting to leave was “the principle that decisions about the UK should be taken in the UK”. This is clearly influenced by Nigel Farage’s misleading claim about the legislation we didn’t vote for. According to the BBC:

The UK voted against 57 pieces of EU legislation, but voted for 2,474 and abstained from 70. So we voted in favour of 95% and against just 2%.

Sovereignty is another way of expressing it, but it boils down to individuals feeling their point of view is heard. At the end of the day if your position is in the majority it will be a bigger majority if we’re in the EU than if we’re out of it, and on the other hand, if you’re in the minority, a bigger minority. It makes no difference whether we’re in or out as far as any individual’s point of view is concerned.

There are worrying parallels here with separatism – being separate and apart from our neighbours emphasises difference, not tolerance. There are very many historical examples of tragic outcomes arising from the actions of those who see themselves as a different group from others. While the Brexit mindset is not necessarily as extreme, it is on the same continuum.

A soft Brexit will paradoxically result in a loss of sovereignty. We'll still be subject to EU rules and regulations, but will have no say in shaping these.

33% said the main reason was that leaving “offered the best chance for the UK to regain control over immigration and its own borders.” While this is undeniably true, it seems very unlikely that this will be the outcome of Brexit. Even if it were, there are many other routes that immigrants follow outside EU legislation, and many of our current population have a history of immigration in their families.

13% said remaining would mean having no choice “about how the EU expanded its membership or its powers in the years ahead.” This is clearly arse about face – leaving means we have no choice. Remaining gives us a power of veto over all the most important areas, including new membership.

6% said their main reason was that “when it comes to trade and the economy, the UK would benefit more from being outside the EU than from being part of it.” This goes against the consensus view amongst economists.

Does anyone think Donald Trump is going to give the UK a favourable trade deal in the light of his recent imposition of 220% duty imposed on Bombardier aircraft?

If any farm subsidies are continued after Brexit we can expect something similar there, and anyway do we really think our farmers can compete on a level playing field with the Americans, or even New Zealand?

The reality is that the groups who were most likely to support Brexit – the unemployed, older people especially pensioners, and those less well educated, are those who stand to suffer most from any economic downturn.

Why