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

Britain's place in the world

For Leavers, exiting the EU will allow Britain to re-establish itself as a truly independent nation with connections to the rest of the world.

But Remainers fear that Brexit will result in the country giving up its influence in Europe, turning back the clock and retreating from the global power networks of the 21st century.

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Brexit would bring some clear-cut advantages, said The Economist before the referendum. The UK "would regain control over fishing rights around its coast", for example. But it concluded that the most likely outcome would be that Britain would find itself "a scratchy outsider with somewhat limited access to the single market, almost no influence and few friends".

The UK will remain a member of Nato and the UN, but it may be regarded as a less useful partner by its key ally, the US.

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