The UK's EU referendum: All you need to know
By Brian Wheeler & Alex Hunt
BBC News
What will the referendum question be?
"Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?"
Read more: Does the wording of a referendum question matter?
What does Brexit mean?
It is a word that has become used as a shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU - merging the words
Britain and
exit to get Brexit, in a same way as a Greek exit from the EU was dubbed Grexit in the past.
Who will be able to vote?
British,
Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK,
along with UK nationals living abroad who have been on the electoral
register in the UK in the past 15 years. Members of the House of Lords
and Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar will also be eligible, unlike in a
general election. Citizens from EU countries - apart from Ireland,
Malta and Cyprus - will not get a vote.
How do you vote?
It
will be a similar system to that during other elections. Firstly, if
you have registered to vote, you'll be sent a card telling you when
voting takes place and where you should go to vote on 23 June. On that
day, when you go to the polling station you will be given a piece of
paper with the referendum question on it. You then go to a booth, which
will have a pencil in it for your use. You then put a X in the box which
reflects your choice and put the paper into a ballot box. Alternatively
you will also be able to opt to vote by post.
Read more: Electoral Commission's guide to applying to vote by post.
Didn't David Cameron try and change the rules of the UK's EU membership?
Yes.
This was the big news back in January and February as David Cameron
sought an agreement with other European Union leaders to change the
terms of Britain's membership. He says the deal, which will take effect
immediately if the UK votes to remain in the EU, gives Britain "special"
status within the 28 nation club, and will help sort out some of the
things British people say they don't like about the EU, such as high
levels of immigration and giving up the ability to run our own affairs.
Critics say his deal will make little difference and falls well
short of what he had promised when he announced his plan for a
referendum.
Read more: What Cameron wanted v what he got
The main points of the deal are:
-
Child benefit - Migrant workers will still be able to
send child benefit payments back to to their home country - Mr Cameron
had wanted to end this practice - but the payments will be set at a
level reflecting the cost of living in their home country rather than
the full UK rate
-
Migrant welfare payments - Mr Cameron says cutting the
amount of benefits low paid workers from other EU nations can claim when
they take a job in the UK will remove one of the reasons people come to
Britain in such large numbers (critics say it will make little
difference). He did not get the blanket ban he wanted. New arrivals will
not be able to claim tax credits and other welfare payments straight
away - but will gradually gain the right to more benefits the longer
they stay, at a rate yet to be decided.
-
Keeping the pound - Mr Cameron has said Britain will
never join the euro. He secured assurances that the eurozone countries
will not discriminate against Britain for having a different currency.
Any British money spent on bailing out eurozone nations that get into
trouble will also be reimbursed.
-
Protection for the City of London - Safeguards for Britain's large financial services industry to prevent eurozone regulations being imposed on it
-
Running its own affairs - For the first time, there
will be a clear commitment that Britain is not part of a move towards
"ever closer union" with other EU member states - one of the core
principles of the EU. This will be incorporated in an EU treaty change.
Mr Cameron also secured a "red card" system for national parliaments
making it easier for governments to band together to block unwanted
legislation. If 55% of national EU parliaments object to a piece of EU
legislation it will be rethought. Critics say it is not clear if this
would ever be used in practice.
Who wants the UK to leave the EU?
The British public are fairly evenly split,
according to the latest opinion polls.
The UK Independence Party, which won the last European elections, and
received nearly four million votes - 13% of those cast - in May's
general election, campaigns for Britain's exit from the EU. About half
of Conservative MPs, including five cabinet ministers, several Labour
MPs and the DUP are also in favour of leaving.
Why do they want the UK to leave?
They
believe Britain is being held back by the EU, which they say imposes
too many rules on business and charges billions of pounds a year in
membership fees for little in return. They also want Britain to take
back full control of its borders and reduce the number of people coming
here to work. One of the main principles of EU membership is "free
movement", which means you don't need to get a visa to go and live in
another EU country. They also object to the idea of "ever closer union"
and what they see as moves towards the creation of a "United States of
Europe".
Who wants the UK to stay in the EU?
Prime
Minister David Cameron wants Britain to stay in the EU, now he has got
some powers back from it. Sixteen members of his cabinet also back
staying in. The Conservative Party has pledged to be neutral in the
campaign - but the Labour Party, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems are
all in favour of staying in. US president Barack Obama also wants
Britain to remain in the EU, as do other EU nations such as France and
Germany. As mentioned above, according to polls, the British public
seems pretty evenly split on the issue.
Why do they want the UK to stay?
Those
campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU say it gets a big boost from
membership - it makes selling things to other EU countries easier and,
they argue, the flow of immigrants, most of whom are young and keen to
work, fuels economic growth and helps pay for public services. They also
believe Britain's status in the world would be damaged by leaving and
that we are more secure as part of the 28 nation club, rather than going
it alone.
So would Britain be better in or out?
It
depends which way you look at it - or what you believe is important.
Leaving the EU would be a big step - arguably far more important than
who wins a general election - but would it set the nation free or
condemn it to economic ruin?
Here is a rundown of the arguments for and against.
What about businesses?
Big
business - with a few exceptions - tends to be in favour of Britain
staying in the EU because it makes it easier for them to move money,
people and products around the world. BT chairman Sir Mike Rake, a
recent CBI president, says there are "no credible alternatives" to
staying in the EU. But others disagree, such as Lord Bamford, chairman
of JCB, who says an EU exit would allow the UK to negotiate trade deals
as our country "rather than being one of 28 nations". Many small and
medium-sized firms would welcome a cut in red tape and what they see as
petty regulations. The British Chambers of Commerce says 55% of members
back staying in a reformed EU.
What are the rules for campaigning?
The
Electoral Commission is in charge of making sure it's a fair contest.
It has designated lead campaigns for both the "leave" and "remain"
sides. The official campaigns - Vote Leave and Britain Stronger in
Europe - get access to a grant of up to £600,000, an overall spending
limit of £7m, campaign broadcasts, free mailshots and free access to
meeting rooms. The Electoral Commission has
published a guide to the rules.
So who is leading the rival sides in the campaign?
-
Britain Stronger in Europe
- the main cross-party group campaigning for Britain to remain in the
EU is headed by former Marks and Spencer chairman Lord Rose. It is
backed by key figures from the Conservative Party, including prime
minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne, most Labour MPs,
including party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Alan Johnson, who is running
the Labour In for Britain campaign, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, the
Alliance party and the SDLP in Northern Ireland, and the Green Party. Who is funding the campaign:
Britain Stronger in Europe has raised £6.88m so far, boosted by two
donations totalling £2.3m from the supermarket magnate and Labour peer
Lord Sainsbury. Other prominent Remain donors included hedge fund
manager David Harding (£750,000), businessman and Travelex founder Lloyd
Dorfman (£500,000) and the Tower Limited Partnership (£500,000). Read a Who's Who guide. Who else is campaigning to remain:
The SNP is running its own remain campaign in Scotland as it does not
want to share a platform with the Conservatives. Several smaller groups
have also registered to campaign.
-
Vote Leave
- A cross-party campaign that has the backing of senior Conservatives
such as Michael Gove and Boris Johnson plus a handful of Labour MPs,
including Gisela Stuart and Graham Stringer, and UKIP's Douglas Carswell
and Suzanne Evans, and the DUP in Northern Ireland. Former Tory
chancellor Lord Lawson and SDP founder Lord Owen are also involved. It
has a string of affiliated groups such as Farmers for Britain, Muslims
for Britain and Out and Proud, a gay anti-EU group, aimed at building
support in different communities. Who is funding the campaign:
Vote Leave has raised £2.78m so far. Its largest supporter is
businessman Patrick Barbour, who gave £500,000. Former Conservative
Party treasurer Peter Cruddas gave a £350,000 donation and construction
mogul Terence Adams handed over £300,000. Read a Who's Who guide. Who else is campaigning to leave: UKIP
leader Nigel Farage is not part of Vote Leave. His party is running its
own campaign. The Trade Union and Socialist Coalition is also running
its own out campaign. Several smaller groups have also registered to
campaign.
Thanks for sending in your questions. Here are a selection of them, and our answers:
Do I have to register to take part in the EU referendum?
A
lot of people asked about this. To be clear, if you are a British,
Irish or Commonwealth citizen on the electoral register you will be able
to vote in the referendum. You will not have to register specially. You
can check with your local authority's electoral services team if you
are worried that you are not on the register. If you want to take part
in the referendum and you are not on the register you have until
midnight on Tuesday, 7 June to submit an application for a vote. The
deadlines for applying for a postal vote at the referendum are:
Northern Ireland - 5pm, Friday 3 June 2016
Great Britain - 5pm, Wednesday 8 June 2016
In England, Scotland or Wales, you can register to vote online anytime at
gov.uk/register-to-vote.
If you are a British citizen living abroad, you can register to vote
online in the same way. In Northern Ireland, visit the government's
Register to vote in Northern Ireland page to download a registration form. If you are an Irish citizen living abroad who was born in Northern Ireland, visit
the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website to download the correct form.
Which MPs are for staying and which are for leaving?
The good news for Edward, from Cambridge, who asked this question, is we have been working on exactly such a list.
Click here for the latest version..
Will it simply be the case of all votes being counted to give two totals?
Yes,
is the answer to this question from William from West Sussex. All the
votes will be counted and then added up, with a straight majority needed
to provide the result. In answer to some other people's questions,
there is no minimum turnout needed. So if, for the sake of argument,
only three people voted on the day, if two of them voted to leave, that
would be the result.
I'm away on holiday for the week of 23 June - can I still vote?
The
good news for Dean from West Sussex - and the many others of you who
asked the same question - is that you will be able to vote by post, as
people can in local and general elections.
Here's the Electoral Commission's guide to applying to vote by post.
When and how will the results be announced?
In
answer to a question from John, from Lewes, counts will get under way
when polls close at 22:00 GMT Thursday, 23 June at 382 local centres
around the UK. These local results will be declared as the counts are
completed before being collated at 12 regional centres, which will also
declare the totals for each side. A chief counting officer will then
announce the overall result at Manchester Town Hall.
If the UK left the EU would UK citizens need special permits to work in the EU?
Lots
of people asked about this. A lot would depend on the kind of deal the
UK agreed with the EU after exit. If it remained within the single
market, it would almost certainly retain free movement rights allowing
UK citizens to work in the EU and vice versa. If the government opted to
impose work permit restrictions, as UKIP wants, then other countries
could reciprocate, meaning Britons would have to apply for visas to
work.
What about EU nationals who want to work in the UK?
As
explained in the answer above, it would depend on whether the UK
government decided to introduce a work permit system of the kind that
currently applies to non-EU citizens, limiting entry to skilled workers
in professions where there are shortages.
Would leaving the EU mean we wouldn't have to abide by the European Court of Human Rights?
Duncan,
from Chippenham, wanted to know if the UK could deport terror suspects
to their own countries to face charges without being overruled by the
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg.
The ECHR is
not a European Union institution. It was set up by the Council of
Europe, which has 47 members including Russia and Ukraine. So quitting
the EU would not exempt the UK from its decisions.
The UK
government is, however, committed to repealing the Human Rights Act
which requires UK courts to treat the ECHR as setting legal precedents
for the UK, in favour of a British Bill of Rights. As part of that,
David Cameron is expected to announce measures that will boost the
powers of courts in England and Wales to over-rule judgements handed
down by the ECHR.
Has any member state ever left the EU, or would the UK be the first?
Pauline,
from Shipston on Stour, asked this one. No nation state has ever left
the EU. But Greenland, one of Denmark's overseas territories, held a
referendum in 1982, after gaining a greater degree of self government,
and voted by 52% to 48% to leave, which it duly did after a period of
negotiation. The BBC's Carolyn Quinn
visited Greenland at the end of last year to find out how they did it.
If we stay in do we keep the pound for ever?
It
is up the UK government to decide whether or not to keep the pound or
switch to the euro. The deal David Cameron struck with the EU included
recognition that the UK has no plans to switch to the euro currency.
How much does the UK contribute to the EU and how much do we get in return?
In
answer to this query from Nancy from Hornchurch - the UK is one of 10
member states who pay more into the EU budget than they get out, only
France and Germany contribute more. In 2014/15, Poland was the largest
beneficiary, followed by Hungary and Greece.
The UK also gets an
annual rebate that was negotiated by Margaret Thatcher and money back,
in the form of regional development grants and payments to farmers,
which added up to £4.6bn in 2014/15. According to the latest Treasury
figures, the UK's net contribution for 2014/15 was £8.8bn - nearly
double what it was in 2009/10.
The National Audit Office, using a
different formula which takes into account EU money paid directly to
private sector companies and universities to fund research, and
measured over the EU's financial year, shows the UK's net contribution
for 2014 was £5.7bn.
Read more number crunching from Reality Check.
If I retire to Spain or another EU country will my healthcare costs still be covered?
David,
from East Sussex, is worried about what would happen to his retirement
plans if Britain votes to leave the EU. This is one of those issues
where it is not possible to say definitively what would happen. At the
moment, the large British expat community in Spain gets free access to
Spanish GPs and their hospital treatment is paid for by the NHS. After
they become permanent residents Spain pays for their hospital treatment.
Similar arrangements are in place with other EU countries.
If
Britain leaves the EU but remains in the single market, or the European
Economic Area as it is known, it might be able to continue with this
arrangement,
according to a House of Commons library research note.
If Britain has to negotiate trade deals with individual member states,
it may opt to continue paying for expats' healthcare through the NHS or
decide that they would have to cover their own costs if they continue to
live abroad, if the country where they live declines to do so.
Will the opinion polls get it wrong again?
The
short answer is that we'll find out on 24 June! John wrote to ask
whether we are in for a repeat of the general election when the opinion
polls underestimated support for one side, the Conservatives, and
overstated support for the other, Labour. As John points out, research
suggests younger people are more likely to vote to remain in the EU,
while older voters tend to favour out. But as a general rule, older
people are more likely to vote in elections than younger people. The
"don't knows" are also running at between 17% and 20%. Prof John
Curtice, who supervised the general election exit poll, has also noticed
a difference between polls conducted online, which suggest the race is
close, and ones conducted over the telephone, which put the Remain
campaign ahead. Opinion polling is not an exact science - for more
information on the latest referendum polls and analysis by Prof Curtice,
visit the National Centre for Social Research's
What UK thinks site.
Who counts as a British citizen?
Jude
wanted to know if his Peruvian girlfriend, who is a British citizen but
has been living in Peru for five years, can take part in the
referendum. The answer is yes, if she has appeared on the UK electoral
register in the past 15 years.
How long will it take for Britain to leave the EU?
This
was a question asked by many people. The minimum period after a vote to
leave would be two years. During that time Britain would continue to
abide by EU treaties and laws, but not take part in any decision-making,
as it negotiated a withdrawal agreement and the terms of its
relationship with the now 27 nation bloc. In practice it may take longer
than two years, depending on how the negotiations go.
Could MPs block an EU exit if Britain votes for it?
Michael,
from East Sussex asks an intriguing question - could the necessary
legislation pass the Commons if all SNP and Lib Dems, nearly all Labour
and many Conservative MPs were in favour of staying?
The answer is
that technically MPs could block an EU exit - but it would be seen as
political suicide to go against the will of the people as expressed in a
referendum. The referendum result is not legally binding - Parliament
still has to pass the laws that will get Britain out of the 28 nation
bloc, starting with the repeal of the 1972 European Communities Act.
The
withdrawal agreement would also have to be ratified by Parliament - the
House of Lords and/or the Commons could vote against ratification,
according to a House of Commons library report.
It adds:
"If
the Commons resolves against ratification, the treaty can still be
ratified if the Government lays a statement explaining why the treaty
should nonetheless be ratified and the House of Commons does not resolve
against ratification a second time within 21 days (this process can be
repeated ad infinitum)."
In practice, Conservative MPs who
voted to remain in the EU would be whipped to vote with the government.
Any who defied the whip would have to face the wrath of voters at the
next general election.
One scenario that could see the referendum
result overturned, is if MPs forced a general election and a party
campaigned on a promise to keep Britain in the EU, got elected and then
claimed that the election mandate topped the referendum one. Two thirds
of MPs would have to vote for a general election to be held before the
next scheduled one in 2020.
What is the single market?
Virginia,
from Hayling Island, asked several questions around the concept of the
single market. You could probably write a book on this one. But we'll
try to keep it brief. The single market is seen by its advocates as the
EU's biggest achievement and one of the main reasons it was set up in
the first place. Britain was a member of a free trade area in Europe
before it joined what was then known as the common market. In a free
trade area countries can trade with each other without paying tariffs -
but it is not a single market because the member states do not have to
merge their economies together.
The European Union single market,
which was completed in 1992, allows the free movement of goods,
services, money and people within the European Union, as if it was a
single country. It is possible to set up a business or take a job
anywhere within it. The idea was to boost trade, create jobs and lower
prices. But it requires common law-making to ensure products are made to
the same technical standards and imposes other rules to ensure a "level
playing field". Critics say it generates too many petty regulations and
robs members of control over their own affairs. Mass migration from
poorer to richer countries has also raised questions about the free
movement rule.
Read more: A free trade area v EU single market
What will happen to protected species if Britain leaves the EU?
Dee,
from Launceston, wanted to know what would happen to EU laws covering
protected species such as bats if Britain left. The answer is that they
would remain in place, initially at least. After a leave vote, the
government would probably review all EU-derived laws in the two years
leading up to the official exit date to see which ones to keep or scrap.
The status of Special Areas of Conservation and Special
Protection Areas, which are designated by the EU, would be reviewed to
see what alternative protections could be applied. The same process
would apply to European Protected Species legislation, which relate to
bats and their habitats.
The government would want to avoid a
legislative vacuum caused by the repeal of EU laws before new UK laws
are in place - it would also continue to abide by other international
agreements covering environmental protection.
How much money will the UK save through changes to migrant child benefits and welfare payments?
Martin,
from Poole, in Dorset, wanted to know what taxpayers are likely to get
back from the benefit curbs negotiated by David Cameron in Brussels. We
don't exactly know because the details have not been worked out. HM
Revenue and Customs have suggested about 20,000 EU nationals receive
child benefit payments in respect of 34,000 children in their country of
origin at an estimated cost of about £30m.
But the total saving
is likely to be significantly less than that because Mr Cameron did not
get the blanket ban he wanted. Instead, payments will be linked to the
cost of living in the countries where the children live. David Cameron
has said that as many as 40% of EU migrant families who come to Britain
could lose an average of £6,000 a year of in-work benefits when his
"emergency brake" is applied. The DWP estimates between 128,700 and
155,100 people would be affected. But the cuts will be phased in. New
arrivals will not get tax credits and other in-work benefits straight
away but will gradually gain access to them over a four year period at a
rate yet to be decided.
If we leave the EU does it mean we would be barred from the Eurovision Song Contest?
Sophie
from Peterborough, who asks the question, need not worry. We have
consulted Alasdair Rendall, president of the UK Eurovision fan club, who
says: "No, we would not be barred. All participating countries must be a
member of the European Broadcasting Union. The EBU - which is totally
independent of the EU - includes countries both inside and outside of
the EU, and also includes countries such as Israel that are outside of
Europe. Indeed the UK started participating in the Eurovision Song
Contest in 1957, 16 years before joining the then EEC."
Do Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK on a limited work visa get to vote?
Brendan,
from London, wonders whether Commonwealth citizens need to have been
granted indefinite leave to remain to get a vote. The Electoral
Commission guidelines say: "Any type of leave to enter or remain is
acceptable, whether indefinite, time limited or conditional." That means
all citizens of India, Australia, Pakistan, Canada and 48 other
Commonwealth nations who are living in the UK can take part (provided
they are old enough and are on the electoral register). As can citizens
of British overseas territories, such as the Falkland Islands, Bermuda
or Gibraltar, if they are currently residing in the UK. Here is a
full list of Commonwealth countries.
Can EU citizens who are resident in the UK and on the electoral roll vote in the referendum?
Philip,
from Kriton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, asked this. The answer is
no, unless you are an Irish, Malta or Cyprus citizen. The rules are the
same as for a general election, when EU citizens living in the UK are
not allowed to take part. So they will not get a polling card and not be
on the list at the polling station.
What impact would leaving the EU have on house prices?
John,
in London, is concerned about what will happen to house prices if
Britain leaves the EU and "millions of EU citizens need to leave"
creating a flood of available housing. This is one of those questions
where there is no clear-cut factual answer. But we can say that none of
the main players are suggesting that citizens of other EU countries will
be "sent packing" (to use John's phrase) after a Leave vote. There are a
host of other variables that have an impact on property prices,
including things like interest rates and the general state of the
economy. But expect this to be one of those issues fought over by both
sides during the campaign.
What is the 'red tape' that the opponents of the EU go on about?
Ged, from Liverpool, suspects "red tape" is a euphemism for employment rights and environmental protection.
According to the Open Europe think tank,
four of the top five most costly EU regulations are either employment
or environment-related. The UK renewable energy strategy, which the
think-tank says costs £4.7bn a year, tops the list. The working time
directive (£4.2bn a year) - which limits the working week to 48 hours -
and the temporary agency workers directive (£2.1bn a year), giving
temporary staff many of the same rights as permanent ones - are also on
the list.
There is nothing to stop a future UK government
reproducing these regulations in British law, if the country left the
EU. And the costs of so-called "red tape" would not necessarily
disappear overnight in the event of an exit - if Britain opted to follow
the "Norway model" and remained in the European Economic Area most of
the EU-derived laws would remain in place.
Would Britain be party to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership if it left?
Ste,
in Bolton, asked about this. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership - or TTIP - currently under negotiation between the EU and
United States will create the biggest free trade area the world has ever
seen. Cheerleaders for TTIP, including David Cameron, believe it could
make American imports cheaper and boost British exports to the US to the
tune of £10bn a year. But many on the left, including Labour leader
Jeremy Corbyn, fear it will shift more power to multinational
corporations, undermine public services, wreck food standards and
threaten basic rights. Quitting the EU would mean the UK would not be
part of TTIP. It would have negotiate its own trade deal with the US.
What impact would leaving the EU have on the NHS?
Paddy,
from Widnes, wanted to know how leaving the EU would affect the number
of doctors we have and how it would impact the NHS. This became an issue
in the referendum debate after the Leave campaign claimed the money
Britain sends to the EU, which it claims is £350m a week, could be spent
on the NHS instead. The BBC's Reality Check team
looked into this claim and found it to be dubious.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned that leaving the EU would lead
to budget cuts and an exodus of overseas doctors and nurses. The Leave
campaign dismissed his intervention as "scaremongering" and continues to
insist that EU membership fees could be spent on domestic services like
the NHS. Former Labour health secretary
Lord Owen has said the only way to protect the NHS from further privatisation
is to get out of the EU. He says a planned trade deal between the EU
and US - the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) -
would put the NHS in "serious danger".
