Brexit: What next?

Four experts give their opinions on the pros and cons for the UK of leaving the EU.

A. Chris Holmes

In my view, Brexit will have a devastating effect on the UK economy. Granted, membership of the EU wasn't cheap, but access to the single market, which exempts member states from paying tariffs on imports and exports within the EU, more than made up for the expense. Now, a whole new set of agreements will have to be drawn up. A free-trade deal with Europe is unlikely, as the EU will want to deter other member states from breaking away. Having left the union, the UK will also have lost much of its bargaining power to establish agreements with other world powers.

B. Sylvia Chalmers

Weighing up the pros and cons, I am inclined to come down on the side of Brexit. In my opinion, concerns about trade agreements are unfounded because of the large deficit the UK has with the EU. The fact that the UK imports more than it exports means that it is in Europe’s interest to maintain tariff-free trade if the UK leaves the single market. A more pressing issue for me is border security and the question of who and what should be allowed to enter the country. Leaving the EU will allow the UK to regain control of its borders and determine who and what can and can't come in.

C. George Phillips

As far as I can see, the UK will be much better off without the EU. Not only did it cost a fortune to be a part of Europe - some estimates put the figure at around £200 billion - but being a member state also had other drawbacks. For over four decades, the UK had to go along with wasteful and expensive EU regulations, such as those of the Common Agricultural Policy. I believe Brexit will bring some clear-cut advantages to the UK, such as favourable trade agreements with influential countries like China, India and the US and renewed control over fishing rights around its coast.

D. Amanda Shaw

The most disastrous effect of Brexit for me is the threat it poses to freedom of movement. Until now, EU residents have been able to live and work freely anywhere else in the bloc, not only increasing their job opportunities but also broadening their horizons. While security at customs is obviously an issue to be taken seriously, immigration to the UK appears to have created a more diverse national culture and a better-qualified workforce. Since Brexit, however, both the EU citizens currently working in the UK and the Brits settled in other EU member states are fearful about their future.

(Solutions Advanced Workbook 3^rd Edition)

Read the following passage and match the experts A-D with questions 71-74. The experts may be chosen more than once.

Which expert...

disagrees with George Phillips about the value for money of being in the EU? ………