Brexit - All You Need To Know About The UK Leaving The EU - BBC News

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Brexit:AllyouneedtoknowabouttheUKleavingtheEU
ByAlexHunt&BrianWheeler
BBCNews
27March2017 Brexit
Brexit
ThisarticleisdesignedtobeaneasytounderstandguidetotheUK'svotetoleavethe
EuropeanUnion.Itisregularlyupdatedwithnewquestionsanswered.
WhatdoesBrexitmean?
ItisawordthathasbecomeusedasashorthandwayofsayingtheUKleavingtheEU
mergingthewordsBritainandexittogetBrexit,inasamewayasapossibleGreekexitfrom
theeurowasdubbedGrexitinthepast.

WhyisBritainleavingtheEuropeanUnion?
Areferendumavoteinwhicheveryone(ornearlyeveryone)ofvotingagecantakepartwas
heldonThursday23June,2016,todecidewhethertheUKshouldleaveorremaininthe
EuropeanUnion.Leavewonby51.9%to48.1%.Thereferendumturnoutwas71.8%,withmore
than30millionpeoplevoting.
Findtheresultinyourarea
http://www.bbc.com/news/ukpolitics32810887 1/43
Enterapostcode,councilnameorNIconstituency
WhatwasthebreakdownacrosstheUK?
EnglandvotedforBrexit,by53.4%to46.6%.WalesalsovotedforBrexit,withLeavegetting
52.5%ofthevoteandRemain47.5%.ScotlandandNorthernIrelandbothbackedstayinginthe
EU.ScotlandbackedRemainby62%to38%,while55.8%inNorthernIrelandvotedRemain
and44.2%Leave.Seetheresultsinmoredetail.
Whatchangedingovernmentafterthereferendum?
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BritaingotanewPrimeMinisterTheresaMay.Theformerhomesecretarytookoverfrom
DavidCameron,whoannouncedhewasresigningonthedayhelostthereferendum.LikeMr
Cameron,MrsMaywasagainstBritainleavingtheEUbutsheplayedonlyaverylowkeyrolein
thecampaignandwasneverseenasmuchofanenthusiastfortheEU.ShebecamePM
withoutfacingafullConservativeleadershipcontestafterherkeyrivalsfromwhathadbeenthe
Leavesidepulledout.
HowhasthenewPMdonesofar?
It'snotforustogradepoliticians'performance,butopinionpollsgivetheConservativePartya

hugeleadoverthelargestoppositionparty,Labour,andsherecentlybecamethefirstprime
ministertogainanoppositionseatinabyelectionfor35years.TheresaMay'skeymessage
hasbeenthat"BrexitmeansBrexit"andshehassaidsheaimstotriggerthetwoyearprocess
ofleavingtheEUbytheendofMarch.Shesetoutsomedetailsofhernegotiatinghopesinher
keyspeechonBrexit.
Whatabouttheeconomy,sofar?
DavidCameron,hisChancellorGeorgeOsborneandmanyotherseniorfigureswhowantedto
stayintheEUpredictedanimmediateeconomiccrisisiftheUKvotedtoleave.Houseprices
wouldfall,therewouldbearecessionwithabigriseinunemploymentandanemergency
Budgetwouldbeneededtobringinthelargecutsinspendingthatwouldbeneeded.
Thepounddidslumpthedayafterthereferendumandremainsaround15%loweragainstthe
dollarand10%downagainsttheeurobutthepredictionsofimmediatedoomhavenotproved
accuratewiththeUKeconomyestimatedtohavegrown1.8%in2016,secondonlyto
Germany's1.9%amongtheworld'sG7leadingindustrialisednations.
Inflationhasrisento2.3%inFebruaryitshighestrateforthreeandahalfyears,but
unemploymenthascontinuedtofall,tostandatan11yearlowof4.8%.Annualhouseprice
increaseshavefallenfrom9.4%inJunebutwerestillataninflationbusting7.4%inDecember,
accordingtoofficialONSfigures.
WhatistheEuropeanUnion?
TheEuropeanUnionoftenknownastheEUisaneconomicandpoliticalpartnershipinvolving
28Europeancountries(clickhereifyouwanttoseethefulllist).ItbeganafterWorldWar
Twotofostereconomiccooperation,withtheideathatcountrieswhichtradetogetheraremore
likelytoavoidgoingtowarwitheachother.
Ithassincegrowntobecomea"singlemarket"allowinggoodsandpeopletomovearound,
basicallyasifthememberstateswereonecountry.Ithasitsowncurrency,theeuro,whichis
usedby19ofthemembercountries,itsownparliamentanditnowsetsrulesinawiderangeof
areasincludingontheenvironment,transport,consumerrightsandeventhingssuchasmobile
phonecharges.Clickhereforabeginners'guidetohowtheEUworks.
SowhenwillBritainactuallyleaveit?
FortheUKtoleavetheEUithastoinvokeanagreementcalledArticle50oftheLisbonTreaty
whichgivesthetwosidestwoyearstoagreethetermsofthesplit.TheresaMayhassaidshe
intendstotriggerthisprocesson29March,meaningtheUKwillbeexpectedtohaveleftbythe
summerof2019,dependingontheprecisetimetableagreedduringthenegotiations.The
governmentwillalsoenactaGreatRepealBillwhichwillendtheprimacyofEUlawintheUK.
ThisGreatRepealBillisexpectedtoincorporateallEUlegislationintoUKlawinonelump,after
whichthegovernmentwilldecideoveraperiodoftimewhichpartstokeep,changeorremove.
WhatisArticle50?
Article50isaplanforanycountrythatwishestoexittheEU.Itwascreatedaspartofthe
TreatyofLisbonanagreementsigneduptobyallEUstateswhichbecamelawin2009.Before
thattreaty,therewasnoformalmechanismforacountrytoleavetheEU.
It'sprettyshortjustfiveparagraphswhichspelloutthatanyEUmemberstatemaydecide
toquittheEU,thatitmustnotifytheEuropeanCouncilandnegotiateitswithdrawalwiththeEU,
thattherearetwoyearstoreachanagreementunlesseveryoneagreestoextenditandthat
theexitingstatecannottakepartinEUinternaldiscussionsaboutitsdeparture.Youcanread

moreaboutArticle50here.
WhatabouttheSupremeCourt'sdecisiononArticle50?
Afteracourtbattle,theUK'sSupremeCourtruledinJanuarythatParliamentmustbeconsulted
beforeArticle50isinvoked.ThisiswhyatwolineBrexitbillhasjustmadeitswaythrough
Parliament.MPsapproveditafterLabourMPsweretoldtosupportit.Butitwasamendedinthe
HouseofLordstoincludeacalltoguaranteetherightsofEUcitizensalreadyintheUKandto
ensurea"meaningfulvote"forParliamentbeforeanyBrexitdealwasagreedwiththeEU.MPs
reversedthosechangesandtheunamendedbillbecamelawaftertheLordsbackeddown,with
Labourpeersdroppingtheirbackingforthechanges.MrsMayremainsontracktotriggerArticle
50bytheendofMarch,aspromised.
WhoisgoingtonegotiateBritain'sexitfromtheEU?
GETTYIMAGES
TheresaMaysetupagovernmentdepartment,headedbyveteranConservativeMPandLeave
campaignerDavidDavis,totakeresponsibilityforBrexit.Formerdefencesecretary,LiamFox,
whoalsocampaignedtoleavetheEU,wasgiventhenewjobofinternationaltradesecretary
andBorisJohnson,whowasaleaderoftheofficialLeavecampaign,isforeignsecretary.These
mendubbedtheThreeBrexiteersareeachsettoplayrolesinnegotiationswiththeEUand
seekoutnewinternationalagreements,althoughitwillbeMrsMay,asprimeminister,whowill
havethefinalsay.
HowlongwillittakeforBritaintoleavetheEU?
OnceArticle50hasbeentriggered,theUKwillhavetwoyearstonegotiateitswithdrawal.But
noonereallyknowshowtheBrexitprocesswillworkArticle50wasonlycreatedinlate2009
andithasneverbeenused.FormerForeignSecretaryPhilipHammond,nowChancellor,
wantedBritaintoremainintheEU,andhehassuggesteditcouldtakeuptosixyearsfortheUK
tocompleteexitnegotiations.ThetermsofBritain'sexitwillhavetobeagreedby27national
parliaments,aprocesswhichcouldtakesomeyears,hehasargued.
EUlawstillstandsintheUKuntilitceasesbeingamember.TheUKwillcontinuetoabideby
EUtreatiesandlaws,butnottakepartinanydecisionmaking.
WhywillBrexittakesolong?
Unpicking43yearsoftreatiesandagreementscoveringthousandsofdifferentsubjectswas
nevergoingtobeastraightforwardtask.Itisfurthercomplicatedbythefactthatithasnever
beendonebeforeandnegotiatorswill,tosomeextent,bemakingitupastheygoalong.The
postBrexittradedealislikelytobethemostcomplexpartofthenegotiationbecauseitneeds
theunanimousapprovalofmorethan30nationalandregionalparliamentsacrossEurope,some
ofwhommaywanttoholdreferendums.
ThelikelyfocusofnegotiationsbetweentheUKandEU
FollowingTheresaMay'sBrexitspeechinJanuaryweknowthattheUKisnotintendingtostay
intheEU'ssinglemarket.Althoughtherehasbeenspeculationformonthsabouttheissue,it
wouldhavemeanttheUKstayingundertheauspicesoftheEuropeanCourtofJusticeand
havingtoallowunlimitedEUimmigration,underfreedomofmovementrules.
BothsideswanttradetocontinueafterBrexitwiththeUKseekingapositiveoutcomeforthose
whowishtotradegoodsandservices"suchasthoseintheCityofLondonandwantinga
"comprehensivefreetradedeal"givingtheUK"thegreatestpossibleaccess"tothesingle
market.MrsMaysaysshewantstheUKtoreachanewcustomsuniondealwiththeEU.A
customsunioniswherecountriesagreenottoimposetariffsoneachothers'goodsandhavea
commontariffongoodscominginfromelsewhere.TheUKiscurrentlypartoftheEUcustoms
unionbutthatstopstheUKbeingabletodoitsowntradedealswithothercountries.Reality
Check:Howcouldcustomsunionwork?
Whatdo"soft"and"hard"Brexitmean?
ThesetermshaveincreasinglybeenusedasdebatefocusedonthetermsoftheUK'sdeparture
fromtheEU.Thereisnostrictdefinitionofeither,buttheyareusedtorefertotheclosenessof
theUK'srelationshipwiththeEUpostBrexit.
Soatoneextreme,"hard"BrexitcouldinvolvetheUKrefusingtocompromiseonissueslikethe
freemovementofpeopleinordertomaintainaccesstotheEUsinglemarket.Attheotherendof
thescale,a"soft"BrexitmightfollowasimilarpathtoNorway,whichisamemberofthesingle
marketandhastoacceptthefreemovementofpeopleasaresult.
WhathappensifthereisnodealwiththeEU?

PrimeMinisterTheresaMaysaysleavingtheEUwithnodealwhatsoeverwouldbebetterthan
signingtheUKuptoabadone.Withoutanagreementontrade,theUKwouldhavetooperate
underWorldTradeOrganisationrules,whichcouldmeancustomschecksandtariffs.
SomeargueitwouldmakelittledifferencebecausetheUK'stradingpartnersintheEUwould
notwanttostartatradewar.OtherssayitwillmeangreatercostsforUKbusinessesbuying
andsellinggoodsabroad.
TherearealsoquestionsaboutwhatwouldhappentoBritain'spositionasglobalfinancialcentre,
withoutaccesstothesinglemarket,andthelandborderbetweentheUKandIreland.Thereis
alsoconcernthatBritslivingabroadintheEUcouldloseresidencyrightsandaccesstofree
emergencyhealthcare.Hereisafullexplanationofwhat'nodeal'couldmean
WhathappenstoEUcitizenslivingintheUK?
ThegovernmenthasdeclinedtogiveafirmguaranteeaboutthestatusofEUnationalscurrently
livingintheUK,sayingthisisnotpossiblewithoutareciprocalpledgefromotherEUmembers
aboutthemillionsofBritishnationalslivingonthecontinent.EUnationalswitharightto
permanentresidence,whichisgrantedaftertheyhavelivedintheUKforfiveyears,willbeable
tostay.TherightsofotherEUnationalswouldbesubjecttonegotiationsonBrexitandthe"will
ofParliament",headded.
WhathappenstoUKcitizensworkingintheEU?
AlotdependsonthekindofdealtheUKagreeswiththeEU.Ifthegovernmentoptedtoimpose
workpermitrestrictionsonEUnationals,thenothercountriescouldreciprocate,meaning
Britonswouldhavetoapplyforvisastowork.
WhataboutEUnationalswhowanttoworkintheUK?
Again,itdependsonwhethertheUKgovernmentdecidestointroduceaworkpermitsystemof
thekindthatcurrentlyappliestononEUcitizens,limitingentrytoskilledworkersinprofessions
wherethereareshortages.Citizens'Advicehasremindedpeopletheirrightshavenot
changedyetandaskedanyonetocontactthemiftheythinktheyhavebeendiscriminated
againstfollowingtheLeavevote.
BrexitSecretaryDavidDavishassuggestedEUmigrantswhocometotheUKasBrexitnears
maynotbegiventherighttostay.Hehassaidtheremighthavetobeacutoffpointiftherewas
a"surge"innewarrivals.
Whatdoesthefallinthevalueofthepoundmeanforpricesintheshops?
PeopletravellingoverseasfromtheUKhavefoundtheirpoundsarebuyingfewereurosor
dollarsaftertheBrexitvote.Thedaytodayspendingimpactislikelytobemoresignificant.
Evenifthepoundregainssomeofitsvalue,currencyexpertsexpectittoremainatleast10%
belowwhereitwason23June,inthelongterm.
Thismeansimportedgoodswillconsequentlygetmoreexpensivesomepricerisesforfood,
clothingandhomewaregoodshavealreadybeenseenandtheissuewasmostnotably
illustratedbythedisputebetweenTescoandMarmite'smakersaboutwhetherpriceswouldbe
putupornotinthestores.
ThelatestUKinflationfigures,forJanuary,showedtheCPIinflationraterisingto1.8%,its
highestlevelfortwoandahalfyears,withsignsofmorecostpressuressettofeedthroughin
themonthstocome.
Willimmigrationbecut?

PA
PrimeMinisterTheresaMayhassaidoneofthemainmessagesshehastakenfromtheLeave
voteisthattheBritishpeoplewanttoseeareductioninimmigration.Shehassaidthiswillbea
focusofBrexitnegotiationsassheremainscommittedtogettingnetmigrationthedifference
betweenthenumbersenteringandleavingthecountrydowntoa"sustainable"level,whichshe
definesasbeingbelow100,000ayear.
IntheyeartoSeptembernetmigrationwas273,000ayear,ofwhich165,000wereEUcitizens,
and164,000werefromoutsidetheEUthefiguresincludea56,000outflowofUKcitizens.That
netmigrationfigureis49,000lowerthantheyearbefore.
Couldtherebeasecondreferendum?
Itseemshighlyunlikely.BoththeConservativesandtheLabourPartyhaveruledoutanother
referendum,arguingthatitwouldbeanundemocraticbreachoftrustwiththeBritishpeoplewho
clearlyvotedtoLeave.TheLiberalDemocratswhohavejustahandfulofMPshavevowedto
haltBrexitandkeepBritainintheEUiftheyweretowinthenextgeneralelection.
Somecommentators,includingformerHouseofCommonsclerkLordLisvane,havearguedthat
afurtherreferendumwouldbeneededtoratifywhateverdealtheUKhammersoutwiththeEU,
buttherearefewsignspoliticalleadersviewthisasaviableoption.
WillMPsgetavoteontheBrexitdeal?
Yes.TheresaMayhasappearedkeentoavoidavoteonhernegotiatingstance,toavoidhaving
togiveawayherpriorities,butshehassaidtherewillbeaCommonsandLordsvotetoapprove
whateverdealtheUKandtherestoftheEUagreeattheendofthetwoyearprocess.Itisworth
mentioningthatanydealalsohastobeagreedbytheEuropeanParliamentwithBritishMEPs
gettingachancetovoteonitthere.
WillIneedavisatotraveltotheEU?
WhiletherecouldbelimitationsonBritishnationals'abilitytoliveandworkinEUcountries,it
seemsunlikelytheywouldwanttodetertourists.Therearemanycountriesoutsidethe
EuropeanEconomicArea,whichincludesthe28EUnationsplusIceland,Lichtensteinand
Norway,thatBritishcitizenscanvisitforupto90dayswithoutneedingavisaanditispossible
thatsucharrangementscouldbenegotiatedwithEuropeancountries.
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WillIstillbeabletousemypassport?
Yes.ItisaBritishdocumentthereisnosuchthingasanEUpassport,soyourpassportwill
staythesame.Intheory,thegovernmentcould,ifitwanted,decidetochangethecolour,which
iscurrentlystandardisedforEUcountries,saystheBBC'sEuropecorrespondent,Chris
Morris.

Somesaywecouldstillremaininthesinglemarketbutwhatisasingle
market?
ThesinglemarketisseenbyitsadvocatesastheEU'sbiggestachievementandoneofthe
mainreasonsitwassetupinthefirstplace.
BritainwasamemberofafreetradeareainEuropebeforeitjoinedwhatwasthenknownasthe
commonmarket.Inafreetradeareacountriescantradewitheachotherwithoutpayingtariffs
butitisnotasinglemarketbecausethememberstatesdonothavetomergetheireconomies
together.
TheEuropeanUnionsinglemarket,whichwascompletedin1992,allowsthefreemovementof
goods,services,moneyandpeoplewithintheEuropeanUnion,asifitwasasinglecountry.
Itispossibletosetupabusinessortakeajobanywherewithinit.Theideawastoboosttrade,
createjobsandlowerprices.Butitrequirescommonlawmakingtoensureproductsaremade
tothesametechnicalstandardsandimposesotherrulestoensurea"levelplayingfield".
Criticssayitgeneratestoomanypettyregulationsandrobsmembersofcontrolovertheirown
affairs.Massmigrationfrompoorertorichercountrieshasalsoraisedquestionsaboutthefree
movementrule.Readmore:AfreetradeareavEUsinglemarket
HasanyothermemberstateeverlefttheEU?
NonationstatehaseverlefttheEU.ButGreenland,oneofDenmark'soverseasterritories,held
areferendumin1982,aftergainingagreaterdegreeofselfgovernment,andvotedby52%to
48%toleave,whichitdulydidafteraperiodofnegotiation.TheBBC'sCarolynQuinnvisited
Greenlandtofindouthowtheydidit.
WhatdoesthismeanforScotland?
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Scotland'sFirstMinisterNicolaSturgeonsaidinthewakeoftheLeaveresultthatitwas
"democraticallyunacceptable"thatScotlandfacedbeingtakenoutoftheEUwhenitvotedto
Remain.ShesaidMrsMay'sdecisiontoruleouttheUKstayinginthesinglemarketmeant

Scotlandshouldhaveachoicebetweena"hardBrexit"andbecominganindependentcountry,
possiblyintheEU.MsSturgeonhasofficiallyaskedforpermissionforasecondreferendumto
beheld,sayingthatshewantedthevotetobeheldbetweentheautumnof2018andspring
2019.
WhatdoesitmeanforNorthernIreland?
BeforehisresignationDeputyFirstMinisterMartinMcGuinnesssaidtheimpactinNorthern
Irelandwouldbe"veryprofound"andthatthewholeislandofIrelandshouldnowbeabletovote
onreunification.But,speakingwhileshewasstillNorthernIrelandSecretary,TheresaVilliers
ruledoutthecallfromSinnFinforaborderpoll,sayingthecircumstancesinwhichonewould
becalleddidnotexist.ThelandborderislikelytobeakeypartoftheBrexittalks.TheresaMay
saidapriorityforherwouldbenegotiatingadealwiththeEUwhichallowedacommontravel
areabetweentheUKandtheRepublicofIreland.
Howwillpensions,savings,investmentsandmortgagesbeaffected?
Duringthereferendumcampaign,DavidCameronsaidthesocalled"triplelock"forstate
pensionswouldbethreatenedbyaUKexit.Thisistheagreementbywhichpensionsincrease
byatleastthelevelofearnings,inflationor2.5%everyyearwhicheveristhehighest.Buthis
successorTheresaMayhassaidshewillkeepitinplace,atleastforthecurrentParliament,
whichisduetolastuntil2020.
Sofartherehasbeenacutininterestrates,whichhashelpedkeepmortgageandother
borrowingrateslow.ThereareyettobesignsthatrisinginflationhaveworriedtheBankof
Englandenoughtoconsiderraisinginterestrates.Butifthathappeneditwouldmakemortgages
andloansmoreexpensivetorepaybutwouldbegoodnewsforsavers.
WilldutyfreesalesonEuropejourneysreturn?
THINKSTOCK
Journalistsandwritersonsocialmediahavegreetedthereintroductionofdutyfreesalesasan
"upside"or"silverlining"ofBrexit.AswithmostBrexitconsequences,whetherthiswillhappen
dependsonhownegotiationswiththeEUplayoutwhetherthe"customsunion"agreement
betweenBritainandtheEUisendedorcontinued.
WillEHICcardsstillbevalid?

Theyareatthemomentbutnooneknowsthelongertermprospectsfordefinite.TheEHICcard
whichentitlestravellerstostateprovidedmedicalhelpforanyconditionorinjurythatrequires
urgenttreatment,inanyothercountrywithintheEU,aswellasseveralnonEUcountriesisnot
anEUinitiative.ItwasnegotiatedbetweencountrieswithinagroupknownastheEuropean
EconomicArea,oftensimplyreferredtoasthesinglemarket(plusSwitzerland,which
confusinglyisnotamemberoftheEEA,buthasagreedaccesstothesinglemarket).Therefore,
thefutureofBritons'EHICcovercoulddependonwhethertheUKdecidedtosevertieswiththe
EEA.
Willcarsneednewnumberplates?
Probablynot,saysBBCEuropecorrespondentChrisMorris,becausethere'snoEUwide
lawonvehicleregistrationorcarnumberplaces,andtheEUflagsymbolisavoluntaryidentifier
andnotcompulsory.TheDVLAsaystherehasbeennodiscussionaboutwhatwouldhappento
plateswiththeflagiftheUKvotedtoleave.
CouldMPsblockanEUexit?
CouldthenecessarylegislationpasstheCommons,giventhatalotofMPsallSNPandLib
Dems,nearlyallLabourandmanyConservativeswereinfavourofstaying?Thereferendum
resultisnotlegallybindingParliamentstillhastopassthelawsthatwillgetBritainoutofthe28
nationbloc,startingwiththerepealofthe1972EuropeanCommunitiesAct.
ThewithdrawalagreementalsohastoberatifiedbyParliamenttheHouseofLordsand/orthe
Commonscouldvoteagainstratification,accordingtoaHouseofCommonslibraryreport.
Inpractice,ConservativeMPswhovotedtoremainintheEUwouldbewhippedtovotewiththe
government.Anywhodefiedthewhipwouldhavetofacethewrathofvotersatthenextgeneral
election.
Onescenariothatcouldseethereferendumresultoverturned,isifMPsforcedageneral
electionandapartycampaignedonapromisetokeepBritainintheEU,gotelectedandthen
claimedthattheelectionmandatetoppedthereferendumone.TwothirdsofMPswouldhaveto
voteforageneralelectiontobeheldbeforethenextscheduledonein2020.
WillleavingtheEUmeanwedon'thavetoabidebytheEuropeanCourtof
HumanRights?
TheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights(ECHR)inStrasbourgisnotaEuropeanUnioninstitution.
ItwassetupbytheCouncilofEurope,whichhas47membersincludingRussiaandUkraine.
SoquittingtheEUwillnotexempttheUKfromitsdecisions.
However,theUKgovernmentiscommittedtorepealingtheHumanRightsActwhichrequires
UKcourtstotreattheECHRassettinglegalprecedentsfortheUK,infavourofaBritishBillof
Rights.Aspartofthat,theUKgovernmentisexpectedtoannouncemeasuresthatwillboostthe
powersofcourtsinEnglandandWalestooverrulejudgementshandeddownbytheECHR.
JusticeSecretaryLizTrusssaidinFebruarythatsuchabillwasnowbeingdelayeduntilafter
Brexithappens.
However,theEUhasitsownEuropeanCourtofJustice,whosedecisionsarebindingonEU
institutionsandmemberstates.ItsrulingshavesometimescausedcontroversyinBritainand
supportersofaBrexithavecalledforimmediatelegislationtocurbitspowers.
WilltheUKbeabletorejointheEUinthefuture?

BBCEuropeeditorKatyaAdlersaystheUKwouldhavetostartfromscratchwithnorebate,
andenteraccessiontalkswiththeEU.EverymemberstatewouldhavetoagreetotheUKre
joining.ButshesayswithelectionsloomingelsewhereinEurope,otherleadersmightnotbe
generoustowardsanyUKdemands.Newmembersarerequiredtoadopttheeuroastheir
currency,oncetheymeettherelevantcriteria,althoughtheUKcouldtrytonegotiateanoptout.
WhowantedtheUKtoleavetheEU?
TheUKIndependenceParty,whichreceivednearlyfourmillionvotes13%ofthosecastin
May'sgeneralelection,hascampaignedformanyyearsforBritain'sexitfromtheEU.They
werejoinedintheircallduringthereferendumcampaignbyabouthalftheConservativeParty's
MPs,includingBorisJohnsonandfivemembersofthethenCabinet.AhandfulofLabourMPs
andNorthernIrelandpartytheDUPwerealsoinfavourofleaving.
WhatweretheirreasonsforwantingtheUKtoleave?
TheysaidBritainwasbeingheldbackbytheEU,whichtheysaidimposedtoomanyruleson
businessandchargedbillionsofpoundsayearinmembershipfeesforlittleinreturn.Theyalso
citedsovereigntyanddemocracy,andtheywantedBritaintotakebackfullcontrolofitsborders
andreducethenumberofpeoplecomingheretoliveand/orwork.
OneofthemainprinciplesofEUmembershipis"freemovement",whichmeansyoudon'tneed
togetavisatogoandliveinanotherEUcountry.TheLeavecampaignalsoobjectedtotheidea
of"evercloserunion"betweenEUmemberstatesandwhattheyseeasmovestowardsthe
creationofa"UnitedStatesofEurope".
WhowantedtheUKtostayintheEU?
ThenPrimeMinisterDavidCameronwastheleadingvoiceintheRemaincampaign,after
reachinganagreementwithotherEuropeanUnionleadersthatwouldhavechangedthetermsof
Britain'smembershiphadthecountryvotedtostayin.
HesaidthedealwouldgiveBritain"special"statusandhelpsortoutsomeofthethingsBritish
peoplesaidtheydidn'tlikeabouttheEU,likehighlevelsofimmigrationbutcriticssaidthedeal
wouldmakelittledifference.
SixteenmembersofMrCameron'sCabinet,includingthewomanwhowouldreplacehimasPM,
TheresaMay,alsobackedstayingin.TheConservativePartywassplitontheissueand
officiallyremainedneutralinthecampaign.TheLabourParty,ScottishNationalParty,Plaid
Cymru,theGreenPartyandtheLiberalDemocratswereallinfavourofstayingin.
USpresidentBarackObamaalsowantedBritaintoremainintheEU,asdidotherEUnations
suchasFranceandGermany.
WhatweretheirreasonsforwantingtheUKtostay?
ThosecampaigningforBritaintostayintheEUsaiditgotabigboostfrommembershipit
makessellingthingstootherEUcountrieseasierand,theyargued,theflowofimmigrants,most
ofwhomareyoungandkeentowork,fuelseconomicgrowthandhelpspayforpublicservices.
TheyalsosaidBritain'sstatusintheworldwouldbedamagedbyleavingandthatwearemore
secureaspartofthe28nationclub,ratherthangoingitalone.
Whataboutbusinesses?
BigbusinesswithafewexceptionstendedtobeinfavourofBritainstayingintheEU
becauseitmakesiteasierforthemtomovemoney,peopleandproductsaroundtheworld.

GiventhecrucialroleofLondonasafinancialcentre,there'sinterestinhowmanyjobsmaybe
losttootherhubsintheEU.FourofthebiggestUSbankshavecommittedtohelpingmaintain
theCity'sposition.ButHSBCwillmoveupto1,000jobstoParis,theBBCunderstands.
SomeUKexporterssaythey'vehadincreasedordersorenquiriesbecauseofthefallinthe
valueofthepound.PestcontrolfirmRentokilInitialsaysitcouldmake15mextrathisyear
thankstoaweakercurrency.
Othersarelessoptimistic.HilaryJones,adirectoratUKcosmeticsfirmLushsaidthecompany
was"terrified"abouttheeconomicimpact.Sheaddedthatwhilethefirm'sDorsetfactorywould
continuetoproducegoodsfortheUKmarket,productsfortheEuropeanmarketmaybemade
atitsnewplantinGermany.
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Wholedtherivalsidesinthecampaign?
BritainStrongerinEuropethemaincrosspartygroupcampaigningforBritaintoremain
intheEUwasheadedbyformerMarksandSpencerchairmanLordRose.Itwasbackedby
keyfiguresfromtheConservativeParty,includingPrimeMinisterDavidCameronand
ChancellorGeorgeOsborne,mostLabourMPs,includingpartyleaderJeremyCorbynand
AlanJohnson,whorantheLabourInforBritaincampaign,theLibDems,PlaidCymru,the
AlliancepartyandtheSDLPinNorthernIreland,andtheGreenParty.Whofundedthe
campaign:BritainStrongerinEuroperaised6.88m,boostedbytwodonationstotalling
2.3mfromthesupermarketmagnateandLabourpeerLordSainsbury.Otherprominent
RemaindonorsincludedhedgefundmanagerDavidHarding(750,000),businessmanand
TravelexfounderLloydDorfman(500,000)andtheTowerLimitedPartnership(500,000).
ReadaWho'sWhoguide.Whoelsecampaignedtoremain:TheSNPranitsownremain
campaigninScotlandasitdidnotwanttoshareaplatformwiththeConservatives.Several
smallergroupsalsoregisteredtocampaign.
VoteLeaveAcrosspartycampaignthathasthebackingofseniorConservativessuchas
MichaelGoveandBorisJohnsonplusahandfulofLabourMPs,includingGiselaStuartand
GrahamStringer,andUKIP'sDouglasCarswellandSuzanneEvans,andtheDUPin
NorthernIreland.FormerTorychancellorLordLawsonandSDPfounderLordOwenwere
alsoinvolved.IthadastringofaffiliatedgroupssuchasFarmersforBritain,Muslimsfor

BritainandOutandProud,agayantiEUgroup,aimedatbuildingsupportindifferent
communities.Whofundedthecampaign:VoteLeaveraised2.78m.Itslargestsupporter
wasbusinessmanPatrickBarbour,whogave500,000.FormerConservativeParty
treasurerPeterCruddasgavea350,000donationandconstructionmogulTerenceAdams
handedover300,000.ReadaWho'sWhoguide.Whoelsecampaignedtoleave:UKIP
leaderNigelFarageisnotpartofVoteLeave.Hispartyranitsowncampaign.TheTrade
UnionandSocialistCoalitionisalsorunningitsownoutcampaign.Severalsmallergroups
alsoregisteredtocampaign.
WilltheEUstilluseEnglish?
Yes,saysBBCEuropeeditorKatyaAdler.Therewillstillbe27otherEUstatesinthebloc,and
otherswantingtojoininthefuture,andthecommonlanguagetendstobeEnglish"muchto
France'schagrin",shesays.
WillBrexitharmproductsafety?
Probablynot,istheanswer.ItwoulddependonwhetherornottheUKdecidedtogetridof
currentsafetystandards.EvenifthathappenedanycompanywantingtoexporttotheEUwould
havetocomplywithitssafetyrules,andit'shardtoimagineacompanywouldwanttoproduce
twobatchesofthesameproducts.
Hereareaselectionofquestionssentinyoucanaskyoursviatheformattheendofthispage
WhichMPswereforstayingandwhichforleaving?
ThegoodnewsforEdward,fromCambridge,whoaskedthisquestion,iswehavebeenworking
onexactlysuchalist.Clickhereforthelatestversion.
HowmuchdoestheUKcontributetotheEUandhowmuchdowegetin
return?
InanswertothisqueryfromNancyfromHornchurchtheUKisoneof10memberstateswho
paymoreintotheEUbudgetthantheygetout,onlyFranceandGermanycontributemore.In
2014/15,Polandwasthelargestbeneficiary,followedbyHungaryandGreece.
THINKSTOCK

TheUKalsogetsanannualrebatethatwasnegotiatedbyMargaretThatcherandmoneyback,
intheformofregionaldevelopmentgrantsandpaymentstofarmers,whichaddedupto4.6bn
in2014/15.AccordingtothelatestTreasuryfigures,theUK'snetcontributionfor2014/15was
8.8bnnearlydoublewhatitwasin2009/10.
TheNationalAuditOffice,usingadifferentformulawhichtakesintoaccountEUmoneypaid
directlytoprivatesectorcompaniesanduniversitiestofundresearch,andmeasuredoverthe
EU'sfinancialyear,showstheUK'snetcontributionfor2014was5.7bn.Readmorenumber
crunchingfromRealityCheck.
IfIretiretoSpainoranotherEUcountrywillmyhealthcarecostsstillbe
covered?
David,fromEastSussex,isworriedaboutwhatwillhappentohisretirementplans.Thisisone
ofthoseissueswhereitisnotpossibletosaydefinitivelywhatwouldhappen.Atthemoment,
thelargeBritishexpatcommunityinSpaingetsfreeaccesstoSpanishGPsandtheirhospital
treatmentispaidforbytheNHS.AftertheybecomepermanentresidentsSpainpaysfortheir
hospitaltreatment.
InsomeotherEUcountriessuchasFranceexpatsofworkingageareexpectedtopaythe
samehealthcarecostsaslocalsbutoncetheyreachretirementagetheirmedicalbillsarepaid
bytheNHS.
IfBritainremainsinthesinglemarket,ortheEuropeanEconomicAreaasitisknown,itmightbe
abletocontinuewiththisarrangement,accordingtoaHouseofCommonslibraryresearch
note.IfBritainhastonegotiatetradedealswithindividualmemberstates,itmayopttocontinue
payingforexpats'healthcarethroughtheNHSordecidethattheywouldhavetocovertheirown
costsiftheycontinuetoliveabroad,ifthecountrywheretheylivedeclinestodoso.
Whatwillhappentoprotectedspecies?
Dee,fromLaunceston,wantedtoknowwhatwouldhappentoEUlawscoveringprotected
speciessuchasbatsintheeventofBritainleavingtheEU.Theansweristhattheywould
remaininplace,initiallyatleast.AftertheLeavevote,thegovernmentwillprobablyreviewall
EUderivedlawsinthetwoyearsleadinguptotheofficialexitdatetoseewhichonestokeepor
scrap.
ThestatusofSpecialAreasofConservationandSpecialProtectionAreas,whichare
designatedbytheEU,wouldbereviewedtoseewhatalternativeprotectionscouldbeapplied.
ThesameprocesswouldapplytoEuropeanProtectedSpecieslegislation,whichrelatetobats
andtheirhabitats.
ThegovernmentwouldwanttoavoidalegislativevacuumcausedbytherepealofEUlaws
beforenewUKlawsareinplaceitwouldalsocontinuetoabidebyotherinternational
agreementscoveringenvironmentalprotection.
HowmuchmoneywilltheUKsavethroughchangestomigrantchildbenefits
andwelfarepayments?
Martin,fromPoole,inDorset,wantedtoknowwhattaxpayerswouldhavegotbackfromthe
benefitcurbsnegotiatedbyDavidCameroninBrussels.Wedon'texactlyknowbecausethe
detailswereneverworkedout.HMRevenueandCustomssuggestedabout20,000EU
nationalsreceivechildbenefitpaymentsinrespectof34,000childrenintheircountryoforiginat
anestimatedcostofabout30m.
ButthetotalsavingwouldhavebeensignificantlylessthanthatbecauseMrCamerondidnot

gettheblanketbanhewanted.Instead,paymentswouldhavebeenlinkedtothecostoflivingin
thecountrieswherethechildrenlive.DavidCameronsaidasmanyas40%ofEUmigrant
familieswhocometoBritaincouldloseanaverageof6,000ayearofinworkbenefitswhenhis
"emergencybrake"wasapplied.TheDWPestimatedbetween128,700and155,100people
wouldbeaffected.Butthecutswouldhavebeenphasedin.Newarrivalswouldnothavegottax
creditsandotherinworkbenefitsstraightawaybutwouldhavegraduallygainedaccesstothem
overafouryearperiodataratethathadnotbeendecided.Theplanwillneverbeimplemented
now.
WillwebebarredfromtheEurovisionSongContest?
AP
SophiefromPeterborough,whoasksthequestion,neednotworry.WehaveconsultedAlasdair
Rendall,presidentoftheUKEurovisionfanclub,whosays:"Allparticipatingcountriesmustbea
memberoftheEuropeanBroadcastingUnion.TheEBUwhichistotallyindependentoftheEU
includescountriesbothinsideandoutsideoftheEU,andalsoincludescountriessuchas
IsraelthatareoutsideofEurope.IndeedtheUKstartedparticipatingintheEurovisionSong
Contestin1957,16yearsbeforejoiningthethenEEC."
HasBrexitmadehousepricesfall?
PA
Sofar,theanswerisno.Buttherehasbeenanecdotalevidenceofhousepricesfallingatthetop
ofthemarketinCentralLondonandtheannualincreaseinthepriceofpropertyhasfallenfrom
9.4%atthetimeofthereferendumto7.2%inDecember.
Whatisthe'redtape'thatopponentsoftheEUcomplainabout?
Ged,fromLiverpool,suspects"redtape"isaeuphemismforemploymentrightsand
environmentalprotection.AccordingtotheOpenEuropethinktank,fourofthetopfivemost
costlyEUregulationsareeitheremploymentorenvironmentrelated.TheUKrenewableenergy
strategy,whichthethinktanksayscosts4.7bnayear,topsthelist.Theworkingtimedirective
(4.2bnayear)whichlimitstheworkingweekto48hoursandthetemporaryagencyworkers
directive(2.1bnayear),givingtemporarystaffmanyofthesamerightsaspermanentones
arealsoonthelist.
ThereisnothingtostopafutureUKgovernmentreproducingtheseregulationsinBritishlaw
followingthedecisiontoleavetheEU.Andthecostsofsocalled"redtape"willnotnecessarily
disappearovernightifBritainoptedtofollowthe"Norwaymodel"andremainedintheEuropean
EconomicAreamostoftheEUderivedlawswouldremaininplace.
WillBritainbepartytotheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnership?
Ste,inBolton,askedaboutthis.TheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnershiporTTIP
currentlyundernegotiationbetweentheEUandUnitedStateswouldcreatethebiggestfree
tradeareatheworldhaseverseen.
CheerleadersforTTIP,includingformerPMDavidCameron,believeditcouldmakeAmerican
importscheaperandboostBritishexportstotheUStothetuneof10bnayear.
Butmanyontheleft,includingLabourleaderJeremyCorbyn,fearitwillshiftmorepowerto
multinationalcorporations,underminepublicservices,wreckfoodstandardsandthreatenbasic
rights.
NewUSPresidentDonaldTrumpisnotafanoftheTTIPagreement,whichmeansitisnow
seenasunlikelytobeagreedbutwhateverhappens,whentheUKquitstheEUitwillnotbe
partofTTIPandwillhavetonegotiateitsowntradedealwiththeUS.
WhatimpactwillleavingtheEUhaveontheNHS?
Paddy,fromWidnes,wantedtoknowhowleavingtheEUwillaffectthenumberofdoctorswe
haveandimpacttheNHS.
ThisbecameanissueinthereferendumdebateaftertheLeavecampaignclaimedthemoney
BritainsendstotheEU,whichitclaimedwas350maweek,couldbespentontheNHS
instead.TheBBC'sRealityCheckteamlookedintothisclaim.
BeforethevoteHealthSecretaryJeremyHuntwarnedthatleavingtheEUwouldleadtobudget
cutsandanexodusofoverseasdoctorsandnurses.TheLeavecampaigndismissedhis
interventionas"scaremongering"andinsistedthatEUmembershipfeescouldbespenton
domesticservicesliketheNHS.
SincethereferendumspendingontheNHShascontinuedatthesamelevelasplanned.EU
citizensworkingfortheNHSareexpectedtogettherighttostayintheUK,althoughdetailson

EUcitizensintheUKandUKcitizenselsewhereintheEUareyettobefinalised(seeearlier
answer).
SallyMillerboughtahouseinSpainnineyearsagoandplanstoretiretherein
thenextfiveyears.SheaskshowBrexitwillaffectthis.
GETTYIMAGES
TheBBC'sKevinConnollysays:
TheissueoffreemovementtherightsofEUcitizenstoliveandworkintheUKwasahuge
issueintheBrexitreferendumofcourse,andwillbeabigpartoftheexitnegotiations.
We'veheardquiteabitfromtheBritishsidealreadywiththegovernmentsayingthatsecuring
thestatusandrightsofEUnationalsintheUKandUKnationalsintheEUisoneofthe
government'searliestpriorities,andspecificallythatitislookingforareciprocaldeal.
Soyoumightfeelthemoodmusicisencouragingbutallwecansayforsureisthat,whilethere
arenoguaranteesyet,itwillbeabigpartoftheBrexitnegotiationstocome.
JonathanEatonisaBritonlivingintheNetherlandswithhiswife,whois
Dutch.Heaskswhatrightstobenefitsandhousinghewillhaveifhehasto
returntotheUK.
GETTYIMAGES
BBCassistantpoliticaleditorNormanSmithsays:
Theshortansweristhereisnoeasyaccesstobenefits.Asitstandsatthemoment,Brexit
aside,youwillhavetopasswhat'sknownasahabitualresidencetestwhichwasintroducedin
1994andappliestoBritishcitizensjustasEUcitizens.
Theruleshavebeentightenedupwhichmeansforsomebenefits,ifyouhavebeenoutofthe
countryyoucan'teventhinkaboutapplyingforthetestforseveralmonths.Forexample,whenit
comestojobseeker'sallowance,youcannoteventakethetesttoapplyforthosebenefitsfor
threemonths.AndthatwasdonetostopEUcitizenscominghereandjustgettingonbenefits
straightaway.
Afterthreemonths,youcantakethetestwhichlooksatyourEnglishlanguageskills,whatsort
ofeffortsyoumadetofindworkbeforecomingtotheUK.Italsoconsidershowstrongatieyou
havetotheUK,whetheryouhavepropertyorfamilyhereandwhatyourintentionsareinterms
ofstayingandworking,orreturning.
Butonceyouhavetakenthetest,ifyoupassitthenyoushouldbeeligibletoapplyforarangeof
benefits,aslongasyoumeettheusualrequirementsintermsofincomeandshowingyouare
lookingforwork.ThatislikelytocontinuewhenwemovefullyontoUniversalCredit.
TheonesortofunknowninthewholesystemiswhathappenswithBrexitnegotiations,interms
ofguaranteeingtherightsofBritishnationalsabroad.
Andwesimplydon'tknowwhatthatwillinvolveandwhetherinanywaythatmightimpacton
howsoonyoucanapplyforbenefitswhenyoucomebacktoBritain.
WillaSpanishcitizenmarriedtoanEnglishmanbeabletostayhereoncethe
UKleavestheEU,askSarahRodriguez.
NormanSmithsays:
Now,beforeeveryonestartspressingthepanicbutton,forthenexttwoyearswhilewearestill
intheEU,EUcitizenshaveanabsoluterighttostayandremainhere,noquestionsasked.Itis
alsotruethatthegovernmenthasmadeabsolutelycleartheywanttoguaranteethoserightsto
existingEUcitizenswhoarehereandmarriedtoBritsafterweleavetheEU.Thatistheirclear
intention.
Thereasontheyhavenotbeenabletodothat,theysay,isthatthey'venotyetbeenabletofirm
upthepositionofBritsinthesamepositioninotherpartsoftheEU.Soit'sclearlythe
government'sambitiontoensureeverythingstaysthesame.Ifitdoesn't,thenIguessyou'llbe
inthesamepositionasothernonEUspousesofBritishcitizens.Andthatwouldmeanthatyour
Britishspousewouldhavetobeabletoshowthatyouhadaminimumincomeofbetween
18,600and27,200ifyouweretobeallowedtostay.
Ontheplusside,IthinktherewillbeclarityonthisprettyquicklybecauseitisclearMrsMay
wantsthissortedoutrightatthestartofthenegotiations.IthinkmanyotherEUcountriesthink
thesame,thatit'sunacceptabletohavethislevelofuncertainty,soitwillbedecidedvery,very
quickly.Andevenifit'snot,thegovernmentisgoingtohavetointroduceanimmigrationbillto
announceournewimmigrationcriteriaaheadofBrexit.
SoitwillbeinMPs'handstodecidewhetherEUspouseshavetherighttoremain.ButIthink
wewillgetclaritysoonerratherthanlater.
WhatwillhappentotheEuropeanHealthInsuranceCardwhenBritainleaves
theEU,asksTerryHunt.
THINKSTOCK
NormanSmithsays:
Atthemoment,wecanbesurethatifwefeelalittlebitpeakyinanotherpartoftheEUthen
we'reprettymuchOKbecausewecangetthesamesortofhealthcareascitizensalreadyin

thatcountry.
Thatappliestoprescriptions,GPvisitsandhospitalsstays.Whathappenswhenweleavethe
EUis,likesomuchofBrexitland,unknown.However,whatwedoknowisthatthegovernment
wouldratherlikethecurrentsystemtocontinue.
Howdoweknowthat?WeknowthatbecausetheHealthSecretaryJeremyHunthassaidas
much.Inarecenthealthselectcommitteemeeting,hewasaskedaboutthisandwhetherthe
currentcardschemewouldbescrappedandhisanswerwas:"Ihopenot."Sotheclearhopeof
governmentisthatwecanprettymuchcontinuewiththecurrentarrangements.
If,however,thatwerenotpossible,wecouldstillhavedealswithindividualcountriesabout
reciprocalhealthrights,becausewealreadyhavethatwithanumberofcountriessuchas
Australia,Israel,andRussia.Buttherearenoguaranteeswewillbeabletoarriveatthese
reciprocaldeals.
Somyguessisthatitwillbeineveryone'sinterestjusttocarryonwiththecurrentcoverage.
Butfailingthat,myadvicewouldbetokeeptakingthevitamins,packsomeLemsipandstay
awayfromdraughtywindowswhenyou'retravellingabroad.
WillIhavetobuyanewpassportanddrivinglicence,andwillmyrightstouse
themfreelyacrossEuropebetakenawayfrommeafterBrexit,asksFrancis
Lee.
GETTYIMAGES
KevinConnollysays:
AtthemomentUKpassportscarrythewordsEuropeanUnionandBritishdrivinglicenceshave
thebluesquarewithyellowflagsoftheEU.ThatwillpresumablychangeafterBrexitbutit
seemslikelythatthechangewillbephasedinsothatyou'llsimplygetdocumentswiththenew
designwhentheoldonesexpire.That'swhathappened,Iseemtoremember,whentheUK
joinedtheEU.Anythingelsewouldbeexpensiveandriskfloodingthesystem,afterall.
Therighttousethemfreelyisaninterestingquestion.Whenwetalkaboutrestrictionson
freedomofmovementwegenerallymeanthefreedomtoliveandworkinanothercountry.If
BritainposesrestrictionsontheEUinthatrespectthenitcanexpectsomekindofresponse.
ButintermsoftourismthereareplentyofnonEUcountrieswhosecitizenscanvisittheUKfor

upto90dayswithoutavisa.And,aspartoftheBrexitnegotiations,you'dexpectsimilar
arrangementstobediscussedfortheUK.
Bothsidesneedeachothers'touristsand,afterall,ifyoucandriveacarintheUnitedStateson
aUKlicencethenitdoesn'tseemfancifultoassumethatyou'llbeabletodothesameinEurope
infuture.
ItisveryclearthatthePMandthegovernmentwanttoleavethetyrannyof
theEuropeanCourtofJustice.WhyhasleavingtheEuropeanCourtof
HumanRights(anorganisationfarmorehatedthantheECJ)beenignored,
asksBarryFryer.
GETTYIMAGES
KevinConnollysays:
Twodifferentcourtshereofcourse,sotwodifferentbitsofpolitics.Crucially,theEuropeanCourt
ofHumanRightsisnotanEUinstitutionandthat'swhydiscussionsaboutleavingithavenot
formedakeypartoftheBrexitdebate.
TheEuropeanCourtofJusticetheECJisoneoftheprimaryinstitutionsoftheEuropean
UnionandadministersEUlaw.So,whileitmighthavearoleinsupervisingafuturetradedeal,
partofthegoalofBrexitwastoremovetheUKfromtheECJ'sjurisdiction.
TheEuropeanCourtofHumanRightswhich,asBarrypointsout,canbeevenmore
controversial,isabodysetupnotbytheEUbutbymemberstatesoftheCouncilofEurope,a
separateinstitutionwhichcontainscountriesthataren'tEUmembers.
It'sthiscourtwhichhasproducedrulingswhichhavebeencontroversialintheUK,including
blockingtheextraditionofAbuQatadaandestablishingtherightofservingprisonerstovotein
electionsandleavingtheEUwon'tchangeanythinghere.
The2015ConservativemanifestotalkedaboutcurtailingtheECHR'srolebutnotaboutleavingit
altogether.Leavingthecourtwouldbeanotherbigdecisionandthegovernmentmightwell
decidethatit'sgotenoughonitsplateatthemoment.
AdrianWallisrunsasmallelectronicscompanyandwantstoknowabout

exporttariffsafterBrexit,andwhatthey'dmeanforhisbusiness.
KevinConnollysays:
AslongasBritainhasbeenintheEUwehaven'treallytalkedmuchabouttariffs.That's
becausealltradewithintheEuropeanEconomicAreaistarifffree.OntopofthattheEUhas
tradeagreementswith52othercountriesaswell.
AfterBrexit,Britainisgoingtohavetonegotiatenewdealsallonitsown.That'sbothaproblem
andanopportunity.
Forexampleyoucanusetariffsagainstforeignimportstoprotectbusinessesyoucareabout,
astheEUdoeswithagriculturalproduce,butyoudothenruntheriskofretaliationfromyour
tradingpartners.
ThekeybodyinallofthisistheWorldTradeOrganisationandatthemomenttheUKisonlya
memberviaitsmembershipoftheEU.
THINKSTOCK
OnebitofgoodnewsisthattheUKwillautomaticallybecomeamemberinitsownrightassoon
asitleavestheEU.
ThatmattersbecauseintheperiodwhentheUKisnegotiatinganewtradedealwiththeEU,and
thatcouldtakeyears,tradewouldbeconductedunderWTOrules.
Atthemoment,fornonfooditems,thatimpliesanaveragetariffofabout2.3%
ButsupposetheEUweretoimposea10%tariffonUKcarimports,forexample.Well,thenthe
UKcouldimposethesametariffonGermanandFrenchcars.
Intheory,aneconomistwouldsaythatcreatesasituationwhereeveryonehasanincentiveto
sortoutabetterdealfortheirconsumers.
Thesnagisthatthesethingstakeyears,ifnotdecades.Theytendtobedoneonacountryby
countryandsectorbysectorbasis.
SoifAdrianiswaitingtofindouttheimplicationsforhisbusiness,thenI'mafraidhe'sgoingto
havetobepatient.

Maybevery,verypatient.
WhatimpactwillleavingtheEuropeanUnionhaveontheUK'slongterm
politicalinfluenceinEurope,asksPeterHoare.
NormanSmithsays:
TherearebasicallytwoviewsonwhatwillhappenintermsofcloutwhenoutsidetheEU.
ViewoneisthattheUKprojectspowerandinfluenceintheworld,workingthroughorganisations
suchastheEUandthatonourownit'llbeamuchdiminishedforce.
Viewtwoisthatunencumberedbytheother27members,theUKcangetonwiththingsand
startadoptingamuchmoreindependent,selfconfident,assertiveroleontheworldstage.
Mytakeisthatnotmuchisprobablygoingtochange.
IsaythatbecausetheUK'llstillbeamemberofsignificantorganisationssuchastheUNand
Nato,andwillstillbecooperatingwithEUpartners.Forexample,therewillstillbeclosetieson
defencewiththeFrench.
TheUKwillstillbethesameoldBritain,willstillhavesignificantmilitaryforce,willstillbea
wealthycountryandwillstillbeanuclearpower,soIdon'tthinkpeoplewillsuddenlythinkthe
UK'sanentirelydifferentcountry.
AreothercountrieslikelytoleavetheEUandifsocouldwestartanewfree
tradearea,asksDavidJohn.
KevinConnollysays:
Funnilyenough,IwasdiscussingthisquestionjusttheotherdaywithaFrenchpolitician,a
conservativeandarealEurophile,andhesaidhethoughtiftherewasafreevoteinFrance
tomorrow,astherightwingNationalFrontwouldlike,thattheFrenchwouldvotetoleave.
ButgenerallyspeakingIcan'tseemuchprospectofatidalwaveofinsurrectionist,exitism
sweepingthecontinent.WhenacountrylikeIrelandhasaspatwiththeEUabouttax,for
example,itdoesannoyIrishpoliticians,butmostmainstreamleadersintheEuropehavegrown
upwiththeideathattheEUhasbroughtpeaceandprosperityfordecades.
GETTYIMAGES
LotsofthemseeplentythatirritatesthemabouttheEuropeanUnion,buttheymainlyarguethat
thebenefitshugelyoutweightheirritations.Andincountrieswhereyoudofindeuroscepticism,
suchasPolandandHungary,thereisalsoahealthyawarenessthattherearehugefinancial
benefitstomembership.
Asforthefuture,wewillsee.IftheUKweretogetafantasticBrexitdealthenmaybeothers
wouldbetemptedtogo.
Butthetruthis,lotsofEuropeanpoliticianswanttheEUtobetoughwithBritainpreciselytostop
othercountriesfromfollowingitthroughthedoor.
AstoBritainformingitsownfreetradearea,Ithinkitseemsanawfullylongshotandonbalance
itisunlikely,notleastbecausetherearenotthatmanyfreecountriesaroundavailabletorecruit
intoanotherfreetradearea.
BritaincouldperhapsjointheFreeTradeAssociationalongwithNorway,Lichtensteinand
Switzerland.Butofcourseitwouldbejoiningunderexistingrules,sothelikeliestfuturefora
postBrexitUK,Ithink,isafuturewhereittriestodothebestdealpossiblewiththeEUandthen
looksaroundforotherfreetradedeals.
ButthatwouldfallshortofcreatingafreetradeareabasedontheUKitself.
WhatwillhappentothebordersinGibraltarandNorthernIreland,asksNigel
May.
KevinConnollysays:
IthinkthequestionofwhatisgoingtohappentodifficultbordersafterBrexitisoneofthemost
difficultofthelot.
Since1985whenSpainjoinedtheEU,ithasbasicallybeenpreventedfromclosingtheborder
withGibraltarasawayofapplyingpressuretotheBritishterritory.
Infact,12,000SpanishpeoplecrossintotheterritorytoworkeverydayandtheareaofSpain
aroundGibraltarisaprettydepressedareasotheyareimportantjobs.
Ontheotherhand,theSpanishhavetalkedopenlyaboutthisbeinganopportunitytoget
Gibraltarback.JoseManuelGarciaMargallo,itsministerofforeignaffairs,saidinSeptember
theUK'svotetoleavetheEUwas"auniquehistoricalopportunityinmorethanthreehundred
yearstogetGibraltarback".
Butataminimum,asthingsstand,itlookstomeasthoughtheycouldcertainlyreimpose
bordercontrolsiftheychoseto.
GETTYIMAGES
ThesituationwithIreland'sborderismorecomplex.
ForthoseofusforwhomNorthernIrelandishome,thetotaldisappearanceofmilitarycheck
pointsontheborderisoneofthemosttangibledailyremindersoftheendofthetroublesandno
onewantsaborderlikethatback.
But,whenthedaycomeswhenIrelandisintheEUandtheUKisnot,thentheIrishborderof
courseisalsogoingtobetheUK'slandborderwiththeEuropeanUnion.
Theprimeministerhassaidwedon'tseeareturntothebordersofthepast,buttherealityisthat
ifBritainleavesthecommoncustomsarea,thenpresumablysomesortofchecksaregoingto
benecessaryonthatborder.
AndiftheUKwantstostopPolishorRomanianmigrantworkersusingDublinairportasaback
doorintotheUK,thenitisgoingtohavetodosomethingaboutthattoo.
Ofcourse,whatitwillallmeanfortownsandvillageslikeBelleekandBelcooinCounty
Fermanagh,whichmoreorlessstraddletheborder,ishardtoimagine.
HowmuchhasBrexitcostsofarandhowmuchwillitcostbytheend,asks
SimonJohnston.
NormanSmithsays:
Ithinkthetruthis,noonetrulyknowswhatthecostswillbeofleavingtheEU.
ThatisinpartbecauseitisattheverycentreofthewholerowoverBrexit,soifyoutalkto

Brexiteersthentheyassumewewillbe"quidsin"byleavingtheEU,ifyoutalktoRemainers
thentheyassumeitisgoingtobeacatastrophe.
Wesimplydon'tknowbecausewedon'tknowwhatisgoingtohappentotheeconomy,whether
itisgoingtoprosperorwhetheritisgoingtoflounder.
HowwillEUsponsorshipofuniversityresearchbeaffected,asksChristopher
Lindop.
KevinConnollysays:
IthinkthisisareallyinterestingissueandIknowthereisalotoffeararoundthisarea,andthere
hasevenbeensometalkthatEuropeanresearchersatthemomentarebeingputoffapplyingfor
fundingforjointprojectswithBritishpartners.
Atthemoment,EUresearchfundingisorganisedunderaprogrammecalledHorizon2020and
ofcourseBritain,withalongscientifictradition,isabigplayerinallofthat.
DANIELLEALOLIVAS/AFP/GETTYIMAGES
Perhapsforthatreasonitisalsooneofthoseareaswherethegovernmenthasalreadydone
something,essentiallyitsaiditwouldpickupthetabforanyEUresearchfundingthatisagreed
beforeBritainleavestheEU.
Soifyousecurefundingin2017thatstretchesonto2025thenthatfundingisguaranteed.
Again,alotisgoingtodependpreciselyonwhatdealtheUKcannegotiate,butifyoulookat
Horizon2020,Israelforexamplehasassociatemembershipthroughalongstandingagreement.
Isupposethereisnoreasontothink,intheend,thattheEUwouldoffersomethingtoIsraelthat
itwouldn'talsooffertoapostBrexitUK.
HowwillaccesstohealthcarechangeforexpatslivingintheEU,asks
VeroniqueBradley,wholivesinItaly.
KevinConnollysays:
HealthcareisoneofthoseissuesthatremainsrelativelysimpleaslongastheUKremainsinthe
EU.

Itisjustpartofarangeofcitizens'rightsthatapplyacrosstheentireunion.AfterBrexit,I
supposetherewillbetwopossibilities.
Thefirstandeasiestwouldbethatthenegotiatorscomeupwithareciprocaldealthatkeepsthe
currentarrangements,orsomethingabitlikethem,inplace.
Iftheydon't,thesituationwilldependontheindividualcountrywhereyoulive.
FortheBradleysinItaly,forexample,residentsfromnonEUcountries,andthatwillsoon
includetheBrits,willhavetofinalisetheirresidencystatus,acquireanItalianidentitycardand
thenapplyforanItalianhealthinsurancecard.
IftheyvisittheUKatthemoment,accesstotheNHSfornonresidentBritsisnot
straightforwardunlessyouhaveaEuropeanhealthinsurancecard.
Therighttotreatmentisbasedonresidency,notonyourtaxstatus.
So,evenifyouliveabroadandpaysomeBritishtaxonabuytoletpropertyforinstance,you
mightfindyourselfgettingabillforanyNHStreatmentyouendupgettingwhileyouarebackin
theUK.
WhatwillhappentoEUnationalswholivedandworkedintheUKandnow
receiveaBritishstatepension,asksPeterBarz,aGermancitizenlivinginthe
UK.
NormanSmithsays:
IfyouareanEUnationalandyougetaBritishstatepension,nothingmuchshouldchange,
becausethestatepensionisdependentnotonwhereyoucomefrom,butonhowlongyouhave
paidNationalInsurancecontributionsintheUK.
Soitdoesn'tmatterwhetheryoucomefromLithuaniaorLatviaorTransylvaniaorTimbuktu,
whatcountsishowmuchyouhavepaidintermsofNationalInsurancecontributions.
Thereisonewrinklethoughandthatisthatyouhavetohavepaidinforatleast10years.
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Underthecurrentrules,ifyouareanEUcitizenandhaven'tpaidinfor10years,youcanpoint
toanycontributionsyouhavemadeinyournativecountryandsay,"Ipaidinthere",andthatwill
count.
ThatworksforEUcountriesandanother16countrieswithwhichtheUKhassocialsecurity
agreements.
OncewehavelefttheEU,youwillnolongerbeabletodothatunlesswenegotiatenew
reciprocalagreements.
Ifwedon'tthenpotentially,ifyouhavepaidinfewerthanthan10years'worthofNational
Insurancecontributions,youwillnotgetaBritishstatepension.
IsitpossibletobebothanEUcitizenandnotanEUcitizen,asksDeclan
O'Neill,whoholdsanIrishpassport.
KevinConnollysays:
IshouldprobablydeclaresomesortofinteresthereasadualIrishandBritishnationalmyself.
Ofcourse,anyoneborninNorthernIrelandhasanabsoluterighttocarrybothpassports.
DeclanmightbehappytoknowthatthisisoneofthefewquestionswhereIcan'tseea
downsideaslongasyouarehappyandcomfortablecarryingbothpassports.
GETTYIMAGES
TheIrishdocumentmeansyoucontinuetoenjoythebenefitsofEUcitizenship,andtheBritish
passportwillgiveyoufullrightsintheUKatthesametime.
CallitoneoftheclearjoysofcomingfromNorthernIreland,alongsidetherollinghills,rugged
coastlineandenjoyablebreaksbetweentheshowers.
AllyouhavetodoisremembertocarrytheIrishpassportwhenyouarejoiningtheEUcitizens
onlyqueueattheairportinfuture.
IsthereagetoutclauseforArticle50,asksGillianCoates.

NormanSmithsays:
Ithinkthehonestanswerisyouwouldhavetobealegaleagletoanswerthis.
ButmytakeonitisthatlegallyitlookslikeoncewetriggerArticle50wearelockedin,andthat
iscertainlyhowtheEuropeanParliamentreadsit.
AndthereisaviewthatifwewereinthistwoyearprocessaftertriggeringArticle50andwe
wantedtogetoutofit,thenultimatelythatwouldbeadecisionfortheEuropeanCourtofJustice.
THINKSTOCK
However,intherealworldIthinkitislikelytoberatherdifferent,whateverthelegalprotocol.
Ithinkthetruthis,ifweweretrundlingalonganddecideditwasallgoingtobecatastrophicand
wehavegottopullupthehandbrakeprettysharpish,alotofotherEUcountrieswouldbe
probablybelaughingatus,butIthinkatthesametimetheywouldprobablybequitepleasedwe
weren'tgoing.
SoIthinktheshortansweris:legally,itdoesn'tlooksogoodifyouwanttogetoutofit,but
politically,itprobablycanbedonewiththesupportofotherEuropeanleaders.
AdrianWallisrunsasmallelectronicscompanyandwantstoknowabout
exporttariffsafterBrexit,andwhatthey'dmeanforhisbusiness.
KevinConnollysays:
AslongasBritainhasbeenintheEUwehaven'treallytalkedmuchabouttariffs.That's
becausealltradewithintheEuropeanEconomicAreaistarifffree.OntopofthattheEUhas
tradeagreementswith52othercountriesaswell.
AfterBrexit,Britainisgoingtohavetonegotiatenewdealsallonitsown.That'sbothaproblem
andanopportunity.
Forexampleyoucanusetariffsagainstforeignimportstoprotectbusinessesyoucareabout,
astheEUdoeswithagriculturalproduce,butyoudothenruntheriskofretaliationfromyour
tradingpartners.
ThekeybodyinallofthisistheWorldTradeOrganisationandatthemomenttheUKisonlya

memberviaitsmembershipoftheEU.
OnebitofgoodnewsisthattheUKwillautomaticallybecomeamemberinitsownrightassoon
asitleavestheEU.
ThatmattersbecauseintheperiodwhentheUKisnegotiatinganewtradedealwiththeEU,and
thatcouldtakeyears,tradewouldbeconductedunderWTOrules.
Atthemoment,fornonfooditems,thatimpliesanaveragetariffofabout2.3%
ButsupposetheEUweretoimposea10%tariffonUKcarimports,forexample.Well,thenthe
UKcouldimposethesametariffonGermanandFrenchcars.
Intheory,aneconomistwouldsaythatcreatesasituationwhereeveryonehasanincentiveto
sortoutabetterdealfortheirconsumers.
Thesnagisthatthesethingstakeyears,ifnotdecades.Theytendtobedoneonacountryby
countryandsectorbysectorbasis.
SoifAdrianiswaitingtofindouttheimplicationsforhisbusiness,thenI'mafraidhe'sgoingto
havetobepatient.
Maybevery,verypatient.
EricDegerlandaskswhenUKpassportsaregoingtochange.
KevinConnollysays:
Thistakesustotheheartofanissuethatlotsofpeoplereallycareabout.Itwillbearealand
palpablesignofBrexitwhenthereisanewUKpassportwithoutthewords"EuropeanUnion"on
thefrontcover.
Sadly,theshortansweriswedon'treallyknowwhenthechangewillcomeabout.
Butwecansaythatthecheapestthingforthegovernmenttodowouldbetophaseinthenew
passportsaspeople'soldonesexpire.
Soifyou'relookingforwardtogettingbackthatbluehardbackpassportwehadintheolddays,
youmayhavealongtimetowait.
GETTYIMAGES
Butwecansaythatthecheapestthingforthegovernmenttodowouldbetophaseinthenew
passportsaspeople'soldonesexpire.
Soifyou'relookingforwardtogettingbackthatbluehardbackpassportwehadintheolddays,
youmayhavealongtimetowait.
SendusyourBrexitquestionsusingtheformbelow.Aselectionwillbeanswered.
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