Brexit: What are the pros and cons of leaving the EU

The arguments for and against membership of the European Union

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BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 27:In this photo illustration pound coins are stacked in front of a twenty pound note on November 27 2008 in Bristol, England. Many UK consumers are feeling

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(Image credit: 2008 Getty Images)

In 2016, Britain paid in £13.1bn, but it also received £4.5bn worth of spending, says Full Fact, "so the UK's net contribution was £8.5bn".

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What's harder to determine is whether the financial advantages of EU membership, such as free trade and inward investment (see below) outweigh the upfront costs.

Click through to read the pros and cons of Brexit on trade.

The Week Staff