30/10/2016 Brexit:AllyouneedtoknowabouttheUKleavingtheEUBBCNews

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Brexit:AllyouneedtoknowabouttheUKleavingtheEU
ByBrianWheeler&AlexHunt
BBCNews

2October2016 Brexit

GETTYIMAGES

Thisarticleisdesignedtobeaneasytounderstandguideonwhathappensnowthat
theUKhasvotedtoleavetheEuropeanUnion.

WhatdoesBrexitmean?

ItisawordthathasbecomeusedasashorthandwayofsayingtheUKleavingtheEU
mergingthewordsBritainandexittogetBrexit,inasamewayasapossibleGreekexitfrom
theeurowasdubbedGrexitinthepast.

WhyisBritainleavingtheEuropeanUnion?

Areferendumavoteinwhicheveryone(ornearlyeveryone)ofvotingagecantakepart
washeldonThursday23June,todecidewhethertheUKshouldleaveorremaininthe
EuropeanUnion.Leavewonby52%to48%.Thereferendumturnoutwas71.8%,withmore
than30millionpeoplevoting.

Findtheresultinyourarea

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Enterapostcode,councilnameorNIconstituency

WhatwasthebreakdownacrosstheUK?

EnglandvotedstronglyforBrexit,by53.4%to46.6%,asdidWales,withLeavegetting52.5%
ofthevoteandRemain47.5%.ScotlandandNorthernIrelandbothbackedstayingintheEU.
ScotlandbackedRemainby62%to38%,while55.8%inNorthernIrelandvotedRemainand
44.2%Leave.Seetheresultsinmoredetail.

Whathashappenedsincethereferendum?

BritainhasgotanewPrimeMinisterTheresaMay.Theformerhomesecretarytookover
fromDavidCameron,whoresignedonthedayafterlosingthereferendum.

LikeMrCameron,MrsMaywasagainstBritainleavingtheEUbutshesaysshewillrespect
thewillofthepeople.Shehassaid"BrexitmeansBrexit"butthereisstillalotofdebateabout
whatthatwillmeaninpracticeespeciallyonthetwokeyissuesofhowBritishfirmsdo
businessintheEuropeanUnionandwhatcurbsarebroughtinontherightsofEuropean
UnionnationalstoliveandworkintheUK.

ForadaybydaydigestofalltheAugustdevelopmentscheckoutourSummerBrexit
Watch.

Whatabouttheeconomy?

TheUKeconomyappearstohaveweatheredtheinitialshockoftheBrexitvote,althoughthe
valueofthepoundremainsneara30yearlow,butopinionissharplydividedoverthelong
termeffectsofleavingtheEU.SomemajorfirmssuchasEasyjetandJohnLewishave
pointedoutthattheslumpinsterlinghasincreasedtheircosts.

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BritainalsolostitstopAAAcreditrating,meaningthecostofgovernmentborrowingwillbe
higher.Butsharepriceshaverecoveredfromadramaticslumpinvalue,withboththeFTSE
100andthebroaderFTSE250index,whichincludesmoreBritishbasedbusinesses,trading
higherthanbeforethereferendum.

TheBankofEnglandishopingitsdecisiontocutinterestratesfrom0.5%to0.25%arecord
lowandthefirstcutsince2009willstaveoffrecessionandstimulateinvestment,withsome
economicindicatorspointingtoadownturn.

HereisadetailedrundownofhowBritain'seconomyisdoing

WhatistheEuropeanUnion?
TheEuropeanUnionoftenknownastheEUisaneconomicandpoliticalpartnership
involving28Europeancountries(clickhereifyouwanttoseethefulllist).Itbeganafter
WorldWarTwotofostereconomiccooperation,withtheideathatcountrieswhichtrade
togetheraremorelikelytoavoidgoingtowarwitheachother.

Ithassincegrowntobecomea"singlemarket"allowinggoodsandpeopletomovearound,
basicallyasifthememberstateswereonecountry.Ithasitsowncurrency,theeuro,whichis
usedby19ofthemembercountries,itsownparliamentanditnowsetsrulesinawiderange
ofareasincludingontheenvironment,transport,consumerrightsandeventhingssuchas
mobilephonecharges.Clickhereforabeginners'guidetohowtheEUworks.

SowhenwillBritainactuallyleaveit?
FortheUKtoleavetheEUithastoinvokeanagreementcalledArticle50oftheLisbon
Treatywhichgivesthetwosidestwoyearstoagreethetermsofthesplit.TheresaMayhas
confirmedthiswillbedonebytheendofMarch2017,meaningtheUKwillbeexpectedto
haveleftbythesummerof2019,dependingontheprecisetimetableagreedduringthe
negotiations.

Oncenegotiationsofficiallybegin,wewillstarttogetaclearideaofwhatkindofdealtheUK
willseekfromtheEU,ontradeandimmigration.

ThegovernmentwillalsoenactaGreatRepealBillwhichwillendtheprimacyofEUlawin
theUK.ItwillincorporateEUlegislationintoUKlaw,afterwhichthegovernmentwilldecide
whichpartstokeep,changeorretain.

WhoisgoingtonegotiateBritain'sexitfromtheEU?

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TheresaMayhassetupanewgovernmentdepartment,tobeheadedbyveteran
ConservativeMPandLeavecampaignerDavidDavis,totakeresponsibilityforBrexit.Former
defencesecretary,LiamFox,whoalsocampaignedtoleavetheEU,hasbeengiventhejob
ofinternationaltradesecretaryandBorisJohnson,wholedtheLeavecampaign,isforeign
secretary.

ThesemendubbedtheThreeBrexiteerswillplayacentralroleinnegotiationswiththeEU
andseekoutnewinternationalagreements,althoughitwillbeMrsMay,asprimeminister,
whowillhavethefinalsay.ThegovernmentdidnotdoanyemergencyplanningforBrexit
aheadofthereferendumanditisnowrushingtohireateamofskillednegotiatorsto
managethecomplexbusinessofnegotiatingwithdrawalandensuringBritaingetsthebest
possibledeal.

HowlongwillittakeforBritaintoleavetheEU?
OnceArticle50hasbeentriggered,theUKwillhavetwoyearstonegotiateitswithdrawal.But
noonereallyknowshowtheBrexitprocesswillworkArticle50wasonlycreatedinlate2009
andithasneverbeenused.

FormerForeignSecretaryPhilipHammond,nowChancellor,wantedBritaintoremaininthe
EU,andhehassuggesteditcouldtakeuptosixyearsfortheUKtocompleteexit
negotiations.ThetermsofBritain'sexitwillhavetobeagreedby27nationalparliaments,a
processwhichcouldtakesomeyears,hehasargued.

EUlawstillstandsintheUKuntilitceasesbeingamember.TheUKwillcontinuetoabideby
EUtreatiesandlaws,butnottakepartinanydecisionmaking.

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WhywillBrexittakesolong?
Unpicking43yearsoftreatiesandagreementscoveringthousandsofdifferentsubjectswas
nevergoingtobeastraightforwardtask.Itisfurthercomplicatedbythefactthatithasnever
beendonebeforeandnegotiatorswill,tosomeextent,bemakingitupastheygoalong.

ThepostBrexittradedealislikelytobethemostcomplexpartofthenegotiationbecauseit
needstheunanimousapprovalofmorethan30nationalandregionalparliamentsacross
Europe,someofwhommaywanttoholdreferendums.

ThelikelyfocusofnegotiationsbetweentheUKandEU

Inverysimplifiedterms,thestartingpositionsarethattheEUwillonlyallowtheUKtobepart
oftheEuropeansinglemarket(whichallowstarifffreetrade)ifitcontinuestoallowEU
nationalstheuncheckedrighttoliveandworkintheUK.TheUKsaysitwantscontrols"on
thenumbersofpeoplewhocometoBritainfromEurope".Bothsideswanttradetocontinue
afterBrexitwiththeUKseekingapositiveoutcomeforthosewhowishtotradegoodsand
services"suchasthoseintheCityofLondon.ThechallengefortheUK'sBrexittalkswillbe
todoenoughtotackleimmigrationconcernswhilegettingthebestpossibletrade
arrangementswiththeEu.

SomeBrexiteers,suchasexchancellorLordLawson,saythatastheUKdoesnotwant
freedomofmovementandtheEUsaysthatwithoutitthereisnosinglemarketmembership,
theUKshouldseektoend"uncertainty"bypushingaheadwithBrexitandnot"wastetime"
tryingtonegotiateaspecialdeal.

Whatdo"soft"and"hard"Brexitmean?
ThesetermsareincreasinglybeingusedasdebatefocusesonthetermsoftheUK's
departurefromtheEU.Thereisnostrictdefinitionofeither,buttheyareusedtorefertothe
closenessoftheUK'srelationshipwiththeEUpostBrexit.

Soatoneextreme,"hard"BrexitcouldinvolvetheUKrefusingtocompromiseonissueslike
thefreemovementofpeopleinordertomaintainaccesstotheEUsinglemarket.Attheother
endofthescale,a"soft"BrexitmightfollowasimilarpathtoNorway,whichisamemberof
thesinglemarketandhastoacceptthefreemovementofpeopleasaresult.

ExchancellorGeorgeOsborneandLabourleaderJeremyCorbynareamongthosetohave
warnedagainstpursuinga"hard"option,whilesomeEuroscepticConservativeMPshaveput
forwardtheoppositeview.

WhathappenstoEUcitizenslivingintheUK?

ThegovernmenthasdeclinedtogiveafirmguaranteeaboutthestatusofEUnationals
currentlylivingintheUK,sayingthisisnotpossiblewithoutareciprocalpledgefromotherEU
membersaboutthemillionsofBritishnationalslivingonthecontinent.

EUnationalswitharighttopermanentresidence,whichisgrantedaftertheyhavelivedinthe
UKforfiveyears,willbebeabletostay,thechiefcivilservantattheHomeOfficehassaid.
TherightsofotherEUnationalswouldbesubjecttonegotiationsonBrexitandthe"willof
Parliament,"headded.

WhathappenstoUKcitizensworkingintheEU?

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AlotdependsonthekindofdealtheUKagreeswiththeEU.Ifitremainswithinthesingle
market,itwouldalmostcertainlyretainfreemovementrights,allowingUKcitizenstoworkin
theEUandviceversa.Ifthegovernmentoptedtoimposeworkpermitrestrictions,thenother
countriescouldreciprocate,meaningBritonswouldhavetoapplyforvisastowork.

WhataboutEUnationalswhowanttoworkintheUK?

Again,itdependsonwhethertheUKgovernmentdecidestointroduceaworkpermitsystem
ofthekindthatcurrentlyappliestononEUcitizens,limitingentrytoskilledworkersin
professionswherethereareshortages.

Citizens'Advicehasremindedpeopletheirrightshavenotchangedyetandaskedanyone
tocontactthemiftheythinktheyhavebeendiscriminatedagainstfollowingtheLeavevote.

BrexitSecretaryDavidDavishassuggestedEUmigrantswhocometotheUKasBrexitnears
maynotbegiventherighttostay.Hehassaidtheremighthavetobeacutoffpointifthere
wasa"surge"innewarrivals.

Whatdoesthefallinthevalueofthepoundmeanforpricesintheshops?

SummerholidaymakerstravellingoverseasfromtheUKarefindingthattheirpoundsare
buyingfewereurosordollarsaftertheBrexitvote.

Thedaytodayspendingimpactislikelytobemoresignificant.Evenifthepoundregains
someofitsvalue,currencyexpertsexpectittoremainatleast10%belowwhereitwason23
June,inthelongterm.

Iftheyarecorrect,importedgoodswillconsequentlygetmoreexpensivethatmeansfood,
clothingandhomewarearealllikelytogetpricier.

Thesepricerisesmightnotkickinimmediately.Forexample,allthebigretailerswouldhave
factoredinthecurrencyriskwhenorganisingtheirfinances.Ineffecttheyhaveinsured
themselvesagainstafallinthepound,butthiswillstarttounwindnextyearleadingtoprice
increasesintheshops.

Sellersofluxuryitems,suchashighendcars,havemuchbiggerprofitmargins,somaybe
abletoabsorbtheextracostswithoutpassingtheseontocustomers.

Willimmigrationbecut?

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PA

PrimeMinisterTheresaMayhassaidoneofthemainmessagesshehastakenfromthe
LeavevoteisthattheBritishpeoplewanttoseeareductioninimmigration.

ShehassaidthiswillbeafocusofBrexitnegotiations.ThekeyissueiswhetherotherEU
nationswillgranttheUKaccesstothesinglemarket,ifthatiswhatitwants,whileatthesame
timebeingallowedtorestricttherightsofEUcitizenstoliveandworkintheUK.

MrsMayhassaidsheremainscommittedtogettingnetmigrationthedifferencebetweenthe
numbersenteringandleavingthecountrydowntoa"sustainable"level,whichshedefines
asbeingbelow100,000ayear.Itiscurrentlyrunningat330,000ayear,ofwhich184,000are
EUcitizens,and188,000arefromoutsidetheEUthefiguresincludea39,000outflowofUK
citizens.

Couldtherebeasecondreferendum?

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Itseemshighlyunlikely.BoththeConservativesandtheLabourPartyhaveruledoutanother
referendum,arguingthatitwouldbeanundemocraticbreachoftrustwiththeBritishpeople
whoclearlyvotedtoLeave.TheLiberalDemocratshavevowedtohaltBrexitandkeepBritain
intheEUiftheywinthenextgeneralelection.

Somecommentators,includingformerHouseofCommonsclerkLordLisvane,haveargued
thatafurtherreferendumwouldbeneededtoratifywhateverdealtheUKhammersoutwith
theEU,buttherearefewsignspoliticalleadersviewthisasaviableoption.

WillIneedavisatotraveltotheEU?
WhiletherecouldbelimitationsonBritishnationals'abilitytoliveandworkinEUcountries,it
seemsunlikelytheywouldwanttodetertourists.Therearemanycountriesoutsidethe
EuropeanEconomicArea,whichincludesthe28EUnationsplusIceland,Lichtensteinand
Norway,thatBritishcitizenscanvisitforupto90dayswithoutneedingavisaanditis
possiblethatsucharrangementscouldbenegotiatedwithEuropeancountries.

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WillIstillbeabletousemypassport?
Yes.ItisaBritishdocumentthereisnosuchthingasanEUpassport,soyourpassportwill
staythesame.Intheory,thegovernmentcould,ifitwanted,decidetochangethecolour,
whichiscurrentlystandardisedforEUcountries,saystheBBC'sEuropecorrespondent,
ChrisMorris.

Somesaywecouldstillremaininthesinglemarketbutwhatisasingle
market?

ThesinglemarketisseenbyitsadvocatesastheEU'sbiggestachievementandoneofthe
mainreasonsitwassetupinthefirstplace.

BritainwasamemberofafreetradeareainEuropebeforeitjoinedwhatwasthenknownas
thecommonmarket.Inafreetradeareacountriescantradewitheachotherwithoutpaying
tariffsbutitisnotasinglemarketbecausethememberstatesdonothavetomergetheir
economiestogether.

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TheEuropeanUnionsinglemarket,whichwascompletedin1992,allowsthefreemovement
ofgoods,services,moneyandpeoplewithintheEuropeanUnion,asifitwasasinglecountry.

Itispossibletosetupabusinessortakeajobanywherewithinit.Theideawastoboost
trade,createjobsandlowerprices.Butitrequirescommonlawmakingtoensureproducts
aremadetothesametechnicalstandardsandimposesotherrulestoensurea"levelplaying
field".

Criticssayitgeneratestoomanypettyregulationsandrobsmembersofcontrolovertheir
ownaffairs.Massmigrationfrompoorertorichercountrieshasalsoraisedquestionsabout
thefreemovementrule.Readmore:AfreetradeareavEUsinglemarket

HasanyothermemberstateeverlefttheEU?

NonationstatehaseverlefttheEU.ButGreenland,oneofDenmark'soverseasterritories,
heldareferendumin1982,aftergainingagreaterdegreeofselfgovernment,andvotedby
52%to48%toleave,whichitdulydidafteraperiodofnegotiation.TheBBC'sCarolynQuinn
visitedGreenlandattheendoflastyeartofindouthowtheydidit.

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WhatdoesthismeanforScotland?
Scotland'sFirstMinisterNicolaSturgeonsaidinthewakeoftheLeaveresultthatitis
"democraticallyunacceptable"thatScotlandfacesbeingtakenoutoftheEUwhenitvotedto
Remain.Asecondindependencereferendumforthecountryisnow"highlylikely",shehas
said.

WhatdoesitmeanforNorthernIreland?
DeputyFirstMinisterMartinMcGuinnesssaidtheimpactinNorthernIrelandwouldbe"very
profound"andthatthewholeislandofIrelandshouldnowbeabletovoteonreunification.
But,speakingwhileshewasstillNorthernIrelandSecretary,TheresaVilliersruledoutthecall
fromSinnFinforaborderpoll,sayingthecircumstancesinwhichonewouldbecalleddid
notexist.

Howwillpensions,savings,investmentsandmortgagesbeaffected?

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Duringthereferendumcampaign,DavidCameronsaidthesocalled"triplelock"forstate
pensionswouldbethreatenedbyaUKexit.Thisistheagreementbywhichpensions
increasebyatleastthelevelofearnings,inflationor2.5%everyyearwhicheveristhe
highest.

Ifeconomicperformancedeteriorates,theBankofEnglandcoulddecideonafurther
programmeofquantitativeeasing,asanalternativetocuttinginterestrates,whichwould
lowerbondyieldsandwiththemannuityrates.Soanyonetakingoutapensionannuitycould
getlessincomefortheirmoney.Thoughit'sworthpointingoutthatannuityrateshavebeen
fallingsincebeforethevoteanyway.

TheBankofEnglandmayconsiderraisinginterestratestocombatextrapressureoninflation.
Thatwouldmakemortgagesandloansmoreexpensivetorepaybutwouldbegoodnewsfor
savers.Howeveritisstilltoosoontosaywhetherornotthesewarningswillproveaccurate.

WilldutyfreesalesonEuropejourneysreturn?

THINKSTOCK

Journalistsandwritersonsocialmediahavegreetedthereintroductionofdutyfreesalesas
an"upside"or"silverlining"ofBrexit.AswithmostBrexitconsequences,whetherthiswill
happendependsonhownegotiationswiththeEUplayoutwhetherthe"customsunion"
agreementbetweenBritainandtheEUisendedorcontinued.

EurotunnelbossJacquesGounonsaidlastNovemberthereintroductionofdutyfreewouldbe
"anincredibleboostformybusiness"buthelatersaidthatremarkhadbeen"lighthearted".
ErikJuulMortensen,presidentoftheTaxFreeWorldAssociation(TFWA)saidafterthe
referendumvote"itisnotpossibletopredicthowBrexitwillaffectthedutyfreeandtravel
retailindustry,anditiswisernottomakeassumptionsaboutexactlywhattheimpactwillbe."

WillEHICcardsstillbevalid?

Theyareatthemomentbutnooneknowsthelongertermprospectsfordefinite.TheEHIC
cardwhichentitlestravellerstostateprovidedmedicalhelpforanyconditionorinjurythat
requiresurgenttreatment,inanyothercountrywithintheEU,aswellasseveralnonEU
countriesisnotanEUinitiative.Itwasnegotiatedbetweencountrieswithinagroupknown
astheEuropeanEconomicArea,oftensimplyreferredtoasthesinglemarket(plus
Switzerland,whichconfusinglyisnotamemberoftheEEA,buthasagreedaccesstothe
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singlemarket).Therefore,thefutureofBritons'EHICcovercoulddependonwhethertheUK
decidedtosevertieswiththeEEA.

Willcarsneednewnumberplates?
Probablynot,saysBBCEuropecorrespondentChrisMorris,becausethere'snoEUwide
lawonvehicleregistrationorcarnumberplaces,andtheEUflagsymbolisavoluntary
identifierandnotcompulsory.TheDVLAsaystherehasbeennodiscussionaboutwhatwould
happentoplateswiththeflagiftheUKvotedtoleave.

CouldMPsblockanEUexit?
CouldthenecessarylegislationpasstheCommons,giventhatalotofMPsallSNPandLib
Dems,nearlyallLabourandmanyConservativeswereinfavourofstaying?Thereferendum
resultisnotlegallybindingParliamentstillhastopassthelawsthatwillgetBritainoutofthe
28nationbloc,startingwiththerepealofthe1972EuropeanCommunitiesAct.

ThewithdrawalagreementalsohastoberatifiedbyParliamenttheHouseofLordsand/or
theCommonscouldvoteagainstratification,accordingtoaHouseofCommonslibrary
report.Inpractice,ConservativeMPswhovotedtoremainintheEUwouldbewhippedto
votewiththegovernment.Anywhodefiedthewhipwouldhavetofacethewrathofvotersat
thenextgeneralelection.

Onescenariothatcouldseethereferendumresultoverturned,isifMPsforcedageneral
electionandapartycampaignedonapromisetokeepBritainintheEU,gotelectedandthen
claimedthattheelectionmandatetoppedthereferendumone.TwothirdsofMPswouldhave
tovoteforageneralelectiontobeheldbeforethenextscheduledonein2020.

WillleavingtheEUmeanwedon'thavetoabidebytheEuropeanCourtof
HumanRights?

TheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights(ECHR)inStrasbourgisnotaEuropeanUnion
institution.

ItwassetupbytheCouncilofEurope,whichhas47membersincludingRussiaandUkraine.
SoquittingtheEUwillnotexempttheUKfromitsdecisions.

However,theUKgovernmentiscommittedtorepealingtheHumanRightsActwhichrequires
UKcourtstotreattheECHRassettinglegalprecedentsfortheUK,infavourofaBritishBill
ofRights.

Aspartofthat,theUKgovernmentisexpectedtoannouncemeasuresthatwillboostthe
powersofcourtsinEnglandandWalestooverrulejudgementshandeddownbytheECHR.

However,theEUhasitsownEuropeanCourtofJustice,whosedecisionsarebindingonEU
institutionsandmemberstates.

ItsrulingshavesometimescausedcontroversyinBritainandsupportersofaBrexithave
calledforimmediatelegislationtocurbitspowers.

WilltheUKbeabletorejointheEUinthefuture?

BBCEuropeeditorKatyaAdlersaystheUKwouldhavetostartfromscratchwithnorebate,
andenteraccessiontalkswiththeEU.EverymemberstatewouldhavetoagreetotheUKre
joining.ButshesayswithelectionsloomingelsewhereinEurope,otherleadersmightnotbe
generoustowardsanyUKdemands.Newmembersarerequiredtoadopttheeuroastheir

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currency,oncetheymeettherelevantcriteria,althoughtheUKcouldtrytonegotiateanopt
out.

WhowantedtheUKtoleavetheEU?

TheUKIndependenceParty,whichreceivednearlyfourmillionvotes13%ofthosecastin
May'sgeneralelection,hascampaignedformanyyearsforBritain'sexitfromtheEU.They
werejoinedintheircallduringthereferendumcampaignbyabouthalftheConservative
Party'sMPs,includingBorisJohnsonandfivemembersofthethenCabinet.Ahandfulof
LabourMPsandNorthernIrelandpartytheDUPwerealsoinfavourofleaving.

WhatweretheirreasonsforwantingtheUKtoleave?
TheysaidBritainwasbeingheldbackbytheEU,whichtheysaidimposedtoomanyruleson
businessandchargedbillionsofpoundsayearinmembershipfeesforlittleinreturn.They
alsocitedsovereigntyanddemocracy,andtheywantedBritaintotakebackfullcontrolofits
bordersandreducethenumberofpeoplecomingheretoliveand/orwork.

OneofthemainprinciplesofEUmembershipis"freemovement",whichmeansyoudon't
needtogetavisatogoandliveinanotherEUcountry.TheLeavecampaignalsoobjectedto
theideaof"evercloserunion"betweenEUmemberstatesandwhattheyseeasmoves
towardsthecreationofa"UnitedStatesofEurope".

WhowantedtheUKtostayintheEU?

ThenPrimeMinisterDavidCameronwastheleadingvoiceintheRemaincampaign,after
reachinganagreementwithotherEuropeanUnionleadersthatwouldhavechangedthe
termsofBritain'smembershiphadthecountryvotedtostayin.

HesaidthedealwouldgiveBritain"special"statusandhelpsortoutsomeofthethings
Britishpeoplesaidtheydidn'tlikeabouttheEU,likehighlevelsofimmigrationbutcritics
saidthedealwouldmakelittledifference.

SixteenmembersofMrCameron'sCabinet,includingthewomanwhowouldreplacehimas
PM,TheresaMay,alsobackedstayingin.TheConservativePartywassplitontheissueand
officiallyremainedneutralinthecampaign.TheLabourParty,ScottishNationalParty,Plaid
Cymru,theGreenPartyandtheLiberalDemocratswereallinfavourofstayingin.

USpresidentBarackObamaalsowantedBritaintoremainintheEU,asdidotherEUnations
suchasFranceandGermany.

WhatweretheirreasonsforwantingtheUKtostay?

ThosecampaigningforBritaintostayintheEUsaiditgetsabigboostfrommembershipit
makessellingthingstootherEUcountrieseasierand,theyargued,theflowofimmigrants,
mostofwhomareyoungandkeentowork,fuelseconomicgrowthandhelpspayforpublic
services.

TheyalsosaidBritain'sstatusintheworldwouldbedamagedbyleavingandthatweare
moresecureaspartofthe28nationclub,ratherthangoingitalone.

Whataboutbusinesses?
BigbusinesswithafewexceptionstendedtobeinfavourofBritainstayingintheEU
becauseitmakesiteasierforthemtomovemoney,peopleandproductsaroundtheworld.

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GiventhecrucialroleofLondonasafinancialcentre,there'sinterestinhowmanyjobsmay
belosttootherhubsintheEU.FourofthebiggestUSbankshavecommittedtohelping
maintaintheCity'sposition.ButHSBCwillmoveupto1,000jobstoParis,theBBC
understands.

SomeUKexporterssaythey'vehadincreasedordersorenquiriesbecauseofthefallinthe
valueofthepound.PestcontrolfirmRentokilInitialsaysitcouldmake15mextrathisyear
thankstoaweakercurrency.

Othersarelessoptimistic.HilaryJones,adirectoratUKcosmeticsfirmLushsaidthe
companywas"terrified"abouttheeconomicimpact.Sheaddedthatwhilethefirm'sDorset
factorywouldcontinuetoproducegoodsfortheUKmarket,productsfortheEuropeanmarket
maybemadeatitsnewplantinGermany.

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Wholedtherivalsidesinthecampaign?

BritainStrongerinEuropethemaincrosspartygroupcampaigningforBritainto
remainintheEUwasheadedbyformerMarksandSpencerchairmanLordRose.Itwas
backedbykeyfiguresfromtheConservativeParty,includingPrimeMinisterDavid
CameronandChancellorGeorgeOsborne,mostLabourMPs,includingpartyleader
JeremyCorbynandAlanJohnson,whorantheLabourInforBritaincampaign,theLib

Dems,PlaidCymru,theAlliancepartyandtheSDLPinNorthernIreland,andtheGreen
Party.Whofundedthecampaign:BritainStrongerinEuroperaised6.88m,boostedby
twodonationstotalling2.3mfromthesupermarketmagnateandLabourpeerLord
Sainsbury.OtherprominentRemaindonorsincludedhedgefundmanagerDavidHarding
(750,000),businessmanandTravelexfounderLloydDorfman(500,000)andtheTower
LimitedPartnership(500,000).ReadaWho'sWhoguide.Whoelsecampaignedto
remain:TheSNPranitsownremaincampaigninScotlandasitdidnotwanttosharea
platformwiththeConservatives.Severalsmallergroupsalsoregisteredtocampaign.

VoteLeaveAcrosspartycampaignthathasthebackingofseniorConservativessuch
asMichaelGoveandBorisJohnsonplusahandfulofLabourMPs,includingGiselaStuart
andGrahamStringer,andUKIP'sDouglasCarswellandSuzanneEvans,andtheDUPin
NorthernIreland.FormerTorychancellorLordLawsonandSDPfounderLordOwenwere
alsoinvolved.IthadastringofaffiliatedgroupssuchasFarmersforBritain,Muslimsfor
BritainandOutandProud,agayantiEUgroup,aimedatbuildingsupportindifferent
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communities.Whofundedthecampaign:VoteLeaveraised2.78m.Itslargest
supporterwasbusinessmanPatrickBarbour,whogave500,000.FormerConservative
PartytreasurerPeterCruddasgavea350,000donationandconstructionmogulTerence
Adamshandedover300,000.ReadaWho'sWhoguide.Whoelsecampaignedto
leave:UKIPleaderNigelFarageisnotpartofVoteLeave.Hispartyranitsown
campaign.TheTradeUnionandSocialistCoalitionisalsorunningitsownoutcampaign.
Severalsmallergroupsalsoregisteredtocampaign.

WilltheEUstilluseEnglish?

Yes,saysBBCEuropeeditorKatyaAdler.Therewillstillbe27otherEUstatesinthebloc,
andotherswantingtojoininthefuture,andthecommonlanguagetendstobeEnglish
"muchtoFrance'schagrin",shesays.

WillaBrexitharmproductsafety?

Probablynot,istheanswer.ItwoulddependonwhetherornottheUKdecidedtogetridof
currentsafetystandards.EvenifthathappenedanycompanywantingtoexporttotheEU
wouldhavetocomplywithitssafetyrules,andit'shardtoimagineacompanywouldwantto
producetwobatchesofthesameproducts.

Thanksforsendinginyourquestions.Hereareaselectionofthem,andouranswers:

WhichMPswereforstayingandwhichforleaving?

ThegoodnewsforEdward,fromCambridge,whoaskedthisquestion,iswehavebeen
workingonexactlysuchalist.Clickhereforthelatestversion.

HowmuchdoestheUKcontributetotheEUandhowmuchdowegetin
return?
InanswertothisqueryfromNancyfromHornchurchtheUKisoneof10memberstateswho
paymoreintotheEUbudgetthantheygetout,onlyFranceandGermanycontributemore.In
2014/15,Polandwasthelargestbeneficiary,followedbyHungaryandGreece.

THINKSTOCK

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TheUKalsogetsanannualrebatethatwasnegotiatedbyMargaretThatcherandmoney
back,intheformofregionaldevelopmentgrantsandpaymentstofarmers,whichaddedupto
4.6bnin2014/15.AccordingtothelatestTreasuryfigures,theUK'snetcontributionfor
2014/15was8.8bnnearlydoublewhatitwasin2009/10.

TheNationalAuditOffice,usingadifferentformulawhichtakesintoaccountEUmoneypaid
directlytoprivatesectorcompaniesanduniversitiestofundresearch,andmeasuredoverthe
EU'sfinancialyear,showstheUK'snetcontributionfor2014was5.7bn.Readmore
numbercrunchingfromRealityCheck.

IfIretiretoSpainoranotherEUcountrywillmyhealthcarecostsstillbe
covered?

David,fromEastSussex,isworriedaboutwhatwillhappentohisretirementplans.Thisis
oneofthoseissueswhereitisnotpossibletosaydefinitivelywhatwouldhappen.Atthe
moment,thelargeBritishexpatcommunityinSpaingetsfreeaccesstoSpanishGPsand
theirhospitaltreatmentispaidforbytheNHS.AftertheybecomepermanentresidentsSpain
paysfortheirhospitaltreatment.SimilararrangementsareinplacewithotherEUcountries.

IfBritainremainsinthesinglemarket,ortheEuropeanEconomicAreaasitisknown,itmight
beabletocontinuewiththisarrangement,accordingtoaHouseofCommonslibrary
researchnote.IfBritainhastonegotiatetradedealswithindividualmemberstates,itmay
opttocontinuepayingforexpats'healthcarethroughtheNHSordecidethattheywouldhave
tocovertheirowncostsiftheycontinuetoliveabroad,ifthecountrywheretheylivedeclines
todoso.

Whatwillhappentoprotectedspecies?

Dee,fromLaunceston,wantedtoknowwhatwouldhappentoEUlawscoveringprotected
speciessuchasbatsintheeventofBritainleavingtheEU.Theansweristhattheywould
remaininplace,initiallyatleast.AftertheLeavevote,thegovernmentwillprobablyreviewall
EUderivedlawsinthetwoyearsleadinguptotheofficialexitdatetoseewhichonestokeep
orscrap.

ThestatusofSpecialAreasofConservationandSpecialProtectionAreas,whichare
designatedbytheEU,wouldbereviewedtoseewhatalternativeprotectionscouldbe
applied.ThesameprocesswouldapplytoEuropeanProtectedSpecieslegislation,which
relatetobatsandtheirhabitats.

ThegovernmentwouldwanttoavoidalegislativevacuumcausedbytherepealofEUlaws
beforenewUKlawsareinplaceitwouldalsocontinuetoabidebyotherinternational

agreementscoveringenvironmentalprotection.

HowmuchmoneywilltheUKsavethroughchangestomigrantchildbenefits
andwelfarepayments?
Martin,fromPoole,inDorset,wantedtoknowwhattaxpayerswouldhavegotbackfromthe
benefitcurbsnegotiatedbyDavidCameroninBrussels.Wedon'texactlyknowbecausethe
detailswereneverworkedout.HMRevenueandCustomssuggestedabout20,000EU
nationalsreceivechildbenefitpaymentsinrespectof34,000childrenintheircountryoforigin
atanestimatedcostofabout30m.

ButthetotalsavingwouldhavebeensignificantlylessthanthatbecauseMrCamerondidnot
gettheblanketbanhewanted.Instead,paymentswouldhavebeenlinkedtothecostofliving
inthecountrieswherethechildrenlive.DavidCameronsaidasmanyas40%ofEUmigrant
familieswhocometoBritaincouldloseanaverageof6,000ayearofinworkbenefitswhen
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his"emergencybrake"wasapplied.TheDWPestimatedbetween128,700and155,100
peoplewouldbeaffected.Butthecutswouldhavebeenphasedin.Newarrivalswouldnot
havegottaxcreditsandotherinworkbenefitsstraightawaybutwouldhavegraduallygained
accesstothemoverafouryearperiodataratethathadnotbeendecided.Theplanwill
neverbeimplementednow.

WillwebebarredfromtheEurovisionSongContest?

AP

SophiefromPeterborough,whoasksthequestion,neednotworry.Wehaveconsulted
AlasdairRendall,presidentoftheUKEurovisionfanclub,whosays:"Allparticipating
countriesmustbeamemberoftheEuropeanBroadcastingUnion.TheEBUwhichistotally
independentoftheEUincludescountriesbothinsideandoutsideoftheEU,andalso
includescountriessuchasIsraelthatareoutsideofEurope.IndeedtheUKstarted
participatingintheEurovisionSongContestin1957,16yearsbeforejoiningthethenEEC."

HasBrexitmadehousepricesfall?

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PA

AswithmostelementsoftheUKeconomy,notenoughsoliddatahasbeenpublishedyetto
accuratelyconcludetheBrexiteffectonhouseprices.Industryfigureshavepointedto
"uncertainty"amongbuyersandsellersthatcouldpotentiallychangethehousingmarket.

Sofar,themostsignificantresearchhascomefromtherespectedRoyalInstitutionof
CharteredSurveyors,whichhaspublishedtheconclusionsofasurveyofitsmembers.This
primarilyrecordssentimentamongsurveyors.

ItfoundthathousepricesareexpectedtofallacrosstheUKinthethreemonthsafterthe
referendumvote.However,thedipinpricesisonlyexpectedtopersistoverthe12months
fromJuneinLondonandEastAnglia,surveyorspredict.

HousepriceswerealreadyslowingincentralLondon,owingtothefalloutfromchangesto
stampdutyrulesinApril.

SeparatefiguresfrompropertyportalRightmovesuggestedtheaverageaskingpriceof
housescomingontothemarketinEnglandandWalesfellby0.9%,or2,647,inJuly
comparedwithJune.Itsaidthatagentshadreportedveryfewsaleshadfallenthroughasa
resultofthevote.

Manypotentialfirsttimebuyerswouldwelcomeafallinhouseprices,withownershipamong

theyoungfallingowingtoaffordabilityconcerns.Investorsinproperty,orthosewhohavepaid
offamortgageandhopetoleavehomesasinheritancewouldbeunhappywithalongterm
reductioninvalue.

Whatisthe'redtape'thatopponentsoftheEUcomplainabout?
Ged,fromLiverpool,suspects"redtape"isaeuphemismforemploymentrightsand
environmentalprotection.AccordingtotheOpenEuropethinktank,fourofthetopfive
mostcostlyEUregulationsareeitheremploymentorenvironmentrelated.TheUKrenewable
energystrategy,whichthethinktanksayscosts4.7bnayear,topsthelist.Theworkingtime
directive(4.2bnayear)whichlimitstheworkingweekto48hoursandthetemporary
agencyworkersdirective(2.1bnayear),givingtemporarystaffmanyofthesamerightsas
permanentonesarealsoonthelist.

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ThereisnothingtostopafutureUKgovernmentreproducingtheseregulationsinBritishlaw
followingthedecisiontoleavetheEU.Andthecostsofsocalled"redtape"willnot
necessarilydisappearovernightifBritainoptedtofollowthe"Norwaymodel"andremained
intheEuropeanEconomicAreamostoftheEUderivedlawswouldremaininplace.

WillBritainbepartytotheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnership?

Ste,inBolton,askedaboutthis.TheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnershipor
TTIPcurrentlyundernegotiationbetweentheEUandUnitedStateswillcreatethebiggest
freetradeareatheworldhaseverseen.

CheerleadersforTTIP,includingformerPMDavidCameron,believeitcouldmakeAmerican
importscheaperandboostBritishexportstotheUStothetuneof10bnayear.

Butmanyontheleft,includingLabourleaderJeremyCorbyn,fearitwillshiftmorepowerto
multinationalcorporations,underminepublicservices,wreckfoodstandardsandthreaten
basicrights.

QuittingtheEUmeanstheUKwillnotbepartofTTIP.Itwillhavenegotiateitsowntradedeal
withtheUS.

WhatimpactwillleavingtheEUhaveontheNHS?

Paddy,fromWidnes,wantedtoknowhowleavingtheEUwillaffectthenumberofdoctorswe
haveandimpacttheNHS.

ThisbecameanissueinthereferendumdebateaftertheLeavecampaignclaimedthemoney
BritainsendstotheEU,whichitclaimsis350maweek,couldbespentontheNHSinstead.
TheBBC'sRealityCheckteamlookedintothisclaim.

HealthSecretaryJeremyHuntwarnedthatleavingtheEUwouldleadtobudgetcutsandan
exodusofoverseasdoctorsandnurses.TheLeavecampaigndismissedhisinterventionas
"scaremongering"andinsistedthatEUmembershipfeescouldbespentondomesticservices
liketheNHS.

FormerLabourhealthsecretaryLordOwenhassaidthatbecauseofTTIP(seeanswer
above)theonlywaytoprotecttheNHSfromfurtherprivatisationwastogetoutoftheEU.

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