Should Britain Leave the European Union?

Should Britain Leave the EU?

In tough economic times a lot of different things come under scrutiny and often this means deciding on a countries loyalties, allies and commitments. In the UK a topic that has long been controversial is now receiving even more attention is membership of the EU, something which has the country divided. Here we will look at some of the reasons not everyone is thrilled by the idea of being in EU and then you can come to your own conclusions.

Reasons Against the UK in the EU

They Enforce Laws: The EU involves itself in many aspects of the law in the UK as well as elsewhere. Stricter motorbike driving laws for instance, have been recently proposed that will force bikers to wear fluorescent clothing, and prevent them from modifying and servicing their bikes. Other laws meanwhile have prevented the UK from exiling criminals from the country and generally many Brits feel that the EU is too invasive in enforcing rules and regulations that should be left to the British government.

It’s a Drain on Resources: The UK has been called on to bail out many of the other EU countries at the expense of the tax payer, and there are many other costs to being in the EU – The Common Agricultural Policy for instance allegedly costs families up to £1,200 in increased food expenses.

Immigration: The UK has also been forced to allow a lot more immigration into its borders thanks to its membership of the EU which also of course results in a drain on resources, jobs and more.

Reasons Against Leaving the EU

Of course however there are benefits to being the EU otherwise the UK wouldn’t have joined to begin with. Of course there is the large advantage of the single market which makes trade much easier between the member states. Meanwhile the advantage in size that the EU has as a combined force enables it to compete with other larger economies such as China and the US, which is something it might be beneficial to be a part of. At the same time immigration works both ways and it does make it easier for UK citizens to travel and relocate.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that many of the problems that come from the EU would still exist even if Britain were to leave – the country would still have to appease the wishes of the EU to an extent just to open trade, though relationships could be damaged in the process. Some commenters have speculated that it may be preferable to instead try to encourage reform within the EU so that the UK could retain membership without having quite so many drawbacks. It’s a complicated issue and either way there will be supporters and opponents. Only time will tell what is eventually deigned best for the country.