Relationships between Branches - Effects of the EU on the UK

Question 1

EFFECTS ON:

ECONOMY

Three Positives

Answer 1

1. The Growth Effect; Between 1958 (establishment of the EEC) and 1973 (UK’s entry into the EEC), the GDP per head grew 95% in France, West Germany and Italy. It only grew 50% in Britain. In 2013, Britain became the most prosperous than the average of the three countries put together.
2. The Single European Market encourages competition which pushes UK firms to higher levels - Nifco UK is an example of this. In 2007, it had lost control of costs in the business to supply UK-based car plants across Europe. In response to the competition provided by rivals in Germany and other member states, they modernised and invested in newer personnel, plant and research. The managing directer at the time, voted remain in the 2016 referendum.
3. In 2016 alone, 43% of British trade was with the EU and it was worth £241 billion.

Question 2

EFFECTS ON:

ECONOMY

Three negatives

Answer 2

1. Common Fisheries Policy: 1983 onwards, the EU regulated the quantity of deep-sea fish that could be caught, through a system of quotas. This allowed fishing boats from other member states equal accessibility to each other’s fishing grounds. The struggles are outlined in the 1990 Factortame case where a Spanish fishing company sued the UK government for its restriction of access to the UK waters. This case established the supremacy of EU law over Parliament.
2. Though the Common Agricultural Policy meant that UK farmers received 4 billion euros annually, and helped subsidise production and protect EU farmers, the UK only employed 1.1% of its population in agriculture and so has benefitted far less than countries like Romania where 26% of the workforce is employed in agriculture.
3. The UK gives more than it gets out - in 2017, 9 countries were net contributors, the UK being one of them… they gave the EU 7.43 billion euros.

Question 3

EFFECTS ON:

RIGHTS, SOCIAL AND WORK CONDITIONS

Three positives

Answer 3

1. In 1997, Blair signed up to the Social Chapter which contained rights such as parental leave, annual paid holiday, the establishment of the minimum wage.
2. The European Convention of Human Rights was entrenched into our constitution under Blair - it contained articles such as article 3 which enabled freedom from torture and inhumane treatment. This was part of British Law through the HRA 1998 which meant that British citizens no longer had to travel to European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg France.
3. Erasmus Programme established in 1987 - it was an EU student exchange programme. Because of Brexit, we now have to take part in the Turing scheme which enables UK students to study in different countries.

Question 4

EFFECT ON:

RIGHTS, SOCIAL AND WORK CONDITIONS

Two negatives

Answer 4

1. The EU was producing too much red tape and regulations for industry which inhibited progress and imposed excessive costs on businesses.
2. The free movement of Labour and people led to the movement of too many migrants entering the UK placing stress on our public services and threatening British culture - say the nationalists.

Question 5

EFFECTS ON:

UK POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEVOLVED REGIONS

Two positives

Answer 5

1. Smaller and more nationalist parties have opportunities to fight for their issues.
2. SNP, after all 32 counties voted in favour of remaining whilst 52% of the UK voted Leave, galvanised the SNP to drive for independence and Indyref2 became more apparent - covid didn’t help either.

Question 6

EFFECTS ON:

UK POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEVOLVED REGIONS

Three negatives

Answer 6

1. UKIP - very nationalistic and has been highly critical of EU membership and immigration. 2014 European Parliament elections, UKIP won more seats than any other British party to sit in the EU - THE IRONY.
2. The Conservative party is divided - ERG or European Research Group, the group of Conservative backbench MPs back Brexit. They are the strongest pro-Brexit group and are led by Jacob Rees-Mogg. Henry Smith is also a member of this group.
3. LIES - Johnson claimed that the gross contribution to the EU per week was £327 when it was actually £252 million per week.

Question 7

EFFECTS ON:

SOVEREIGNTY AND MAINTAINING PEACE AND HARMONY

Three positives

Answer 7

1. Our sovereignty has not been taken - it has been compromised by previous successive governments who had chosen to pool elements of sovereignty in the EU to achieve national objectives that could not be achieved on their own.
2. Leaving EU = leaving EU rule-writing - it makes it less attractive for foreign investment.
3. Challenges that cannot be solved on its own e.g., energy efficiency and sustainability and energy security means that pooling sovereignty power would help the UK.

Question 8

EFFECTS ON:

SOVEREIGNTY AND MAINTAINING PEACE AND HARMONY

Three negatives

Answer 8

1. Abu Qatada Case 2013 - May was undermined as Home Secretary because of the supremacy of the ECHR.
2. Parliamentary sovereignty is undermined though it is supposedly a cornerstone of the British constitution.
3. We don’t have a veto - bigger countries in the EU have larger votes and so we potentially may have to go along with qualified majority voting despite not supporting it. When does it stop? Will we have to support a foreign army and a superstate, down so through federalism?