Brexit: What are the pros and cons of leaving the EU
The arguments for and against membership of the European Union

On 23 June 2016, the UK settled the question that had been rumbling close to the surface of British politics for a generation: should the country remain within the European Union or go it alone.
Or so it seemed when just over 52 per cent of voters chose Brexit. Now, more than a year later, argument about the pros and cons of leaving the European Union continues.
How did we get here?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In 2015, the Tory Party's general election victory activated a manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.
David Cameron made the promise at a time when he was under pressure from Eurosceptic backbenchers and when the Tories appeared to be losing votes to Ukip.
Most political commentators agree that given a free hand, he would not have wanted a referendum.
Cameron then embarked on a tour of EU capitals as he sought to renegotiate Britain's terms of membership, but vowed to campaign with his "heart and soul" to keep Britain in the bloc.
However, several members of his own cabinet campaigned for to leave, which came to be known as "Brexit".
When Britain went to vote, all polls indicated the UK would stay in the EU. Even as the count was underway, Ukip's Nigel Farage said it looked as if "Remain will edge it".
However, the Leave campaign won, prompting Cameron to announce he would resign as prime minister.
Click through to read the pros and cons of Brexit on membership fee.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
June 22 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include a SpaceX flight, Bibi pulling Donald Trump toward war, and an ICE agent looking like a bank robber
-
5 bunker-busting cartoons about the Israel-Iran war
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on Iran waiting for Pete Hegseth to leak war plans and Donald Trump's wish for a Nobel prize
-
Malaysia's delicious food and glorious beaches
The Week Recommends From 'colourful' George Town to the 'jungled interior' of Langkawi, Malaysia is incredibly diverse
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Is Starmer's plan to send migrants overseas Rwanda 2.0?
Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations