“The EU costs us £350m per week – we could spend that on the NHS instead”Actual NET spend is £163m per week. For open trade, that’s a drop in the ocean.
Source: https://fullfact.org/europe/our-eu-membership-fee-55-million/
“There are risks in voting either way – but we think the safer option is to Vote Leave”
This is nothing more than uneducated opinion. As this pamphlet demonstrates perfectly, there is nothing to back this up.
If we vote to stay in the EU
“The EU will continue to grow. The next countries set to join are: Albania: 2.8m, Macedonia: 2.1m, Montenegro: 0.6m, Serbia: 7.2m, Turkey: 76m”
– This has no bearing on anything. These are not people that are going to move to the UK. In a recent survey of Turkish people, 86% said they ‘wouldn’t even consider’ moving to the UK.
– Despite the right wing media LIES, we are not about to see 70,000,000 Turkish people move to the UK.
Source: http://www.economic-truth.co.uk/?p=545
– Which goes without saying, Turkey have only completed 1 of 35 chapters required for their membership to be considered, and that has taken 29 years to achieve.
– The supporting graphic suggests the entire populations of these five countries are going to move to the UK. This is scaremongering, aimed at curtain twitchers and people with blinkered vision, and a life of failure.
“The next countries the EU wants to ‘let in’ include Turkey, which has a population of over 76 million and has borders with Syria and Iraq”
– More scaremongering. If you think having a country with borders against an unstable country is bad for the security of the EU, consider that the British & US activity in Iraq is responsible for the deaths of over 461,000 civilians. That’s against 3,108 killed in the UK and US, from (including) 9/11 to the current day. 2,996 people died on 9/11, and 54 people have been killed in UK terror attacks in the same period (15 years)
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24547256
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks
– In fact, bees have caused as many deaths in the UK as terrorism.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/06/28/terrorism-bees_n_1633308.html
– And, Islamic terrorists only account for 6% of terror deaths in the US between 1980 and 2005.
– And, between 82% and 97% of victims of terror attacks are Muslim. SO if Islam is trying to take over the world, you would have to believe they’re ‘doing it wrong’.
– Not to mention there are currently around 53,000 Turkish born people living in the UK. And 40,000 British born people living in Turkey. It isn’t one way traffic, it’s reasonably even.
“The EU will cost us more and more (with assisted source-lacking graphic). The EU already costs us £350m a week – enough to build a new NHS hospital every week. We get less than half of this back, and have no say over how it is spent”
– Where to start? Actual NET spend is £163m per week. For open trade, that’s a drop in the ocean.
Source: https://fullfact.org/europe/our-eu-membership-fee-55-million/
– And would you trust a woefully inadequate conservative government to invest in hospitals, given their reluctance to do so since 2010, and their lack of acknowledgement of the NHS deficit at present…
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35062121
“Millions spent on limos and expenses for Euro MPs”
– This is no different to the UK government, regardless of which party is in power. A limousine by definition is “a luxury sedan or saloon car generally driven by a chauffeur”. Basically a taxi, not the stretch limo shown in the graphic.
“Immigration will continue to be out of control. Nearly 2 million people came to the UK from the EU over the last ten years. Imagine what it will be like in future decades when new, poorer countries join.”
– Net migration from the EU in the last ten years stands 1.073m
Source: http://www.migrationwatchuk.org/
– Imagine what our lives would be like if we exaggerated everything by 200%? The point is null as it’s a speculation based on an incorrect figure.
“We’ll have to keep bailing out the Euro. The countries the use the Euro have a built-in majority, meaning they can always outvote us. You will be paying the bill for the EU’s failure”.
– Total spending on EU bailouts in the last 8 years: ZERO. Euro Bailouts have come from EU quantitative easing, whereby the EU government ‘create’ €60bn EACH MONTH – more than the total contributions of member states.
– But – Quantitative Easing in the UK has seen the UK government print £375bn since 2008. That’s almost £47bn per year, knocked off the value of the sterling, thus reducing the value of everything you own and the actual worth of the money in your bank account.
Are you starting to see the arguments about EU membership fees are petty and worthless yet, when quantitative easing is paying the NET EU membership rate six times over?
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15198789
“The European Court will be in charge of our laws. It already overrules us on everything from how much tax we pay, to who we can let in and out of the country, and on what terms.”
– The laws – the UK’s MEPs get to vote on all EU laws. Most UKIP MEPs don’t bother to turn up to vote though.
– The laws that the EU overrule us on are very few and far between. Boris Johnson will tell you about how the EU have overruled us on 56 laws, but he fails to mention the 2466 laws we have either proposed or agreed with. That’s 2.2% of laws the MEPs that don’t even bother turning up to vote on have failed to agree.
Source: http://infacts.org/mythbusts/britain-hasnt-lost-72-0-eu-council/
– This isn’t even mentioning the times the UKIP MEPs voted against the interests of the UK on several issues.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/23/ukip-vote-against-ivory-trade_n_5197278.html
Source: https://next.ft.com/content/85563e82-8f44-11e3-be85-00144feab7de
If we Vote Leave and take back control
“We’ll be in charge of our own borders. In a world with so many new threats it’s safer to control our own borders and decide for ourselves who can come into this country, not be overruled by EU judges.”
– We already have control of our borders.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/overview
– We do not face a realistic terrorist threat on our shores. There have been two terrorist murders in the UK in the last ten years, both committed by British nationals.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_Great_Britain
– In fact, the current terror threat is as high from NI sectarian terrorism as it is from Islamic fundamentalist terrorism.
Source: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/terrorism
– EU judges do not have control over UK migration policy – however, to trade with the EU open market, we would most likely have to accept free movement of people within the EU. A block on immigration would also see a block on emigration. With almost 4 million British nationals already living abroad, what should be done with these people?
“We can control immigration – and have a fairer system which welcomes people to the UK based on the skills they have, not the passport they hold.”
– This comment is based on nothing but an idea, but Nigel Farage has often suggested we should adopt a system similar to the Australian model. Unfortunately for Nigel, the maths don’t add up. Australia ‘have twice as many migrants per head as the UK’.
– Norway and Switzerland are also heralded by the Leave campaign as model states, but their immigration policies are no different to the policy the UK has at present.
– Free movement of people applies to countries not in the EU but in the European Economic Area (EEA), like Norway, as it does to Switzerland. Norway and Switzerland both have higher immigration per head of population from the EU than the UK, as of 2013.
– If we want to trade within the European Economic Area (EEA) we have to accept the EU free movement policy.
Source: https://fullfact.org/immigration/what-would-australian-style-points-system-mean-uk-immigration/
“We will be able to save £350 million per week. We can spend our money on our priorities like the NHS, schools and housing”
– The £350 million figure is a myth, as previously stated. The actual NET figure is £163 million.
Source: https://fullfact.org/europe/our-eu-membership-fee-55-million/
– Of the money we get back from the EU at present, a significant percentage is already spent on education. We’re already getting this money through the EU, so this point is null.
Source: https://fullfact.org/education/how-much-money-do-british-universities-get-eu/
– UK governments have increased tuition fees at universities from £1000 per year in 1998 to £9000 per year in 2012.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11677862
– Even when the UK government have made university education unaffordable to most of the population, their 300% hike in tuition fees generated no extra income.
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/mar/21/explained-triple-tuition-fees-no-extra-cash
– They’re not going to spend money on education. History demonstrates this remarkably well.
– The Leave campaign claim they will be able to spend an extra £5.5bn annually on the NHS – but most leading economists consider this to be incorrect – ‘Most economists think it’s unlikely to be the case. Most predict that leaving the EU would probably put additional strain on the UK public finances overall, making it harder to pay for public services out of tax revenue.’
Source: https://fullfact.org/europe/nhs-eu-funding-and-vat-possible-effects-leaving-eu/
– And housing. How are we going to build affordable housing when the conservative led media claim it is not required?
– And we need to build new homes. By our own government’s estimates, up to 400,000 per year. How many are getting built? 143,560 last year, quite short of the target.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/25/uk-housebuilding-new-homes-construction-high-2008
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30776306
– And what is the biggest problem with building new houses? Most people don’t want the housing near them. The selfish attitude towards much needed building projects strangles a lot of projects before they even have a chance to begin.
Source: http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northeast/controversial-housing-scheme-refused
– In fact, it’s easier to find out how to object to other people’s building projects than it is to get planning permission to build much needed housing.
Source: http://planninglawblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/how-to-object.html
“We will be free to trade with the whole world. The EU stops us signing our own trade deals with key allies like Australia or New Zealand, and growing economies like India, China and Brazil. We’ll be free to seize new opportunities which means more jobs.”
– We can already trade with all the countries listed.
– ‘China’s Xi Jinping urges UK to stay in EU’
Source: https://next.ft.com/content/df78cae4-797e-11e5-933d-efcdc3c11c89
– ‘Britain remaining in EU is ‘better for the world’, says Japanese prime minister’
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/05/japan-prime-minister-britain-eu-shinzo-abe
– ‘Indian prime minister hints that Britain should stay in EU because it is a gateway to Europe’
– ‘Australia would welcome In vote, says PM Turnbull’
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36183444
– ‘UK stronger in EU, says New Zealand PM’
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35943388
– And Brazil’s economy is in ‘turmoil’.
– So all the countries listed by the Leave campaign, the head of each country has recommended we stay in the EU. Not so sure leaving is a good idea, Mr Gove.
“We can make our own laws. Our laws should be made by people we can elect and kick out – that’s more democratic.”
– We do make our own laws. Only 2% of laws implemented in the UK are imposed by the EU.
Source: http://infacts.org/mythbusts/britain-hasnt-lost-72-0-eu-council/
– The EU is a democratically elected government, of which almost 10% of MEPs are representatives of the UK.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament
– While we can elect MEPs and we can also elect MPs in a UK government, the conservative party will do anything they can to retain control in parliament. In fact, they’re being investigated by 18 police forces across the country for ELECTORAL FRAUD, with 29 seats potentially won by fraudulent means.
Source: http://www.channel4.com/news/election-expenses-exposed
– The conservative party have a majority of just 12.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results
– While they claim they are democratically elected, they only won 24.3% of the vote.
– Think you can vote them out? Think again. A Brexit would almost certainly guarantee another Scottish independence referendum. The Scottish are clever, they want to remain in the EU.
– Without Scotland contributing to a UK general election, the number of seats in parliament would be reduced by 59. This would effectively give the conservatives a majority of 71. Vote out of the EU and we’re most likely stuck with conservatives.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Scotland
– And they also want to redraw constituency lines to increase their majority further.
– Leaving the EU would therefore practically GUARANTEE decades of conservative rule, decades of austerity, recession and a growing divide between the rich and poor.
“Does the EU keep us safe? (Sir Richard Dearlove, former chief of MI5) Brexit would bring two potentially important security gains: the ability to dump the European Convention on Human Rights and, more importantly, greater control over immigration from the European Union”
– Dumping the European Convention on Human Rights, a policy introduced by Britain after the second world war would be a phenomenally stupid idea. People should read it and understand what it does for them before they think it’s a good idea to bin it.
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/oct/03/what-is-european-convention-on-human-rights-echr
– It’s also not possible.
Source: https://next.ft.com/content/8f3c08f8-f2a9-11e5-9f20-c3a047354386
– Immigration has already been covered.
“Would jobs be at risk? Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall, General Electric, Unilever, Airbus cited) EU Regulations make it harder for British firms to hire staff. Major employers like Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall, Honda, Unilever, GE and Airbus have all said they will stay in the UK whatever the result of the referendum.”
– Toyota support EU membership. They’re not happy about Leave using their logo either. Things may not be rosy going forward for UK employees if we leave the EU.
Source: http://blog.toyota.co.uk/statement-from-toyota-in-regards-to-the-uk-eu-referendum-june-23rd-2016
– Nissan support EU membership. Nissan are also suing Leave over their inclusion on this pamphlet.
Source: http://nissaninsider.co.uk/nissan-it-makes-sense-for-uk-to-remain-in-eu/
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/20/nissan-vote-leave-campaign-eu-referendum-flyer
– Vauxhall support EU membership. They’re not happy about Leave using their logo either.
– GE support EU membership. They’re not happy about Leave using their logo either.
Source: https://next.ft.com/content/cee23c96-1cfe-11e6-a7bc-ee846770ec15
– Unilever support EU membership. They’re not happy about Leave using their logo either.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36544875
– Honda support EU membership.
– Airbus support EU membership. They’re not happy about Leave using their logo either.
Source: https://next.ft.com/content/cee23c96-1cfe-11e6-a7bc-ee846770ec15
– All the companies listed support EU membership. Who signed off on this? The Leave campaign has no support from major manufacturers.
“Does the EU mean lower prices? (Tim Martin, Chairman of Wetherspoons) The EU places tariffs on goods from outside of the EU, which is bad for British shoppers and the developing world. And the EU forces us to charge VAT on goods, pushing up bills for working families.”
– ‘If the UK and the EU can’t agree on a specific trade agreement, then trade would take place under World Trade Organisation rules.’
Source: https://fullfact.org/europe/tariffs-and-barriers-trade-between-britain-and-eu/
– The EU set VAT rates at a minimum of 15%. The conservative government put that up to 20% in the UK. Leaving the EU is not likely to see VAT decrease – null point.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/vat/topics/rates_en.htm
“Will we be better or worse off? (Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer) As Chancellor I became increasingly aware that, in economic terms, membership of the EU did us more harm than good. Outside the EU, we would prosper, we would be free, and we would stand tall.”
– The vast majority of economists disagree with Lamont, who left the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer over 27 years ago. The rest of his statement is pure fantasy.
Source: https://next.ft.com/content/e66852f0-3249-11e6-ad39-3fee5ffe5b5b
Source: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/economists-warn-against-brexit-vote-bh07fdx0t
“What’s best for business? (John Longworth, Director General, British Chamber of Commerce, 2011-16) The EU interferes with UK firms and stacks the rules in favour of a select number of big businesses. If we Vote Leave, jobs will be safer. We can have faster growth and greater prosperity in the future.”
– A lack of detail into how the ‘EU interferes with UK firms’ makes this one difficult to pin down. Although all the firms highlighted above are vehemently against the Leave campaign, as documented.
– It is well documented that the government favours a select number of big businesses, but this is not a EU problem, it’s quite the opposite. The government are missing out on collecting anywhere from £25-75bn annually by allowing large corporations tax breaks. Companies getting these tax breaks include Starbucks, Google and Amazon, all of whom have paid little or no corporation tax in recent years.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20560359
– The EU has tried to crack down on tax avoidance, at corporate level.
Source: https://next.ft.com/content/e7c430d6-c5c2-11e5-808f-8231cd71622e
– But much to our disappointment, British MEPs voted against investigating and closing down corporate tax loopholes. Think the UK are going to do anything about corporate tax avoidance? Think again.
– John Longworth offers no insight into how the UK will make jobs ‘safer’, ‘faster growth’ and ‘greater future prosperity’, so this is a null point.
Does the EU protect workers rights? (Gisela Stuart, Labour MP and Chair of Vote Leave) The rights we have won for British workers came from our Parliament, not the EU. The EU is run in the interests of big corporations who spend billions lobbying to make it work for them.”
– Workers rights in the UK devolve directly from the EU.
Source: https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/UK%20employment%20rights%20and%20the%20EU.pdf
– The rest of her comment can just as easily be attributed to the British government, as demonstrated with John Longworth above.
Still think the Leave campaign has anything to offer?
operationtotalunity 
sweden is EU member state.. just saying
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Cheers Jenni, have amended!
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