2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum

Last updated

2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
23 June 2016

Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?
Results
Choice
Votes %
Leave17,410,74251.89%
Remain16,141,24148.11%
Valid votes33,551,98399.92%
Invalid or blank votes25,3590.08%
Total votes33,577,342100.00%
Registered voters/turnout46,500,00172.21%

United Kingdom EU membership referendum 2016 map.svg
Results by local voting area
Leave:      50–60%     60–70%     70-80%
Remain:      50–60%     60–70%     70-80%     90-100%
On the map, the darker shades for a colour indicate a larger margin. The electorate of 46.5m represents 70.8% of the population.

On 23 June 2016, a referendum, commonly referred to as the EU referendum or the Brexit referendum, took place in the United Kingdom (UK) and Gibraltar to ask the electorate whether the country should remain a member of, or leave, the European Union (EU). The referendum resulted in 51.9% of the votes cast being in favour of leaving the EU, triggering calls to begin the process of the country's withdrawal from the EU commonly termed "Brexit".

Since 1 January 1973 the United Kingdom had been a member state of the EU and its predecessor the European Economic Community, along with other international bodies. Since joining, the constitutional implications for the UK had been a topic of debate domestically. A referendum on continued membership of the Communities to try and settle the issue was held in 1975, with 67.2% of the votes cast in favour of the UK remaining a member. [1] Between 1975 and 2016 as European integration deepened, subsequent EC/EU treaties and agreements were ratified by the UK Parliament.

Following the surprise Conservative Party victory at the 2015 general election as a main manifesto pledge, the legal basis for the EU referendum was established through the European Union Referendum Act 2015. Prime minister David Cameron also oversaw a renegotiation of the terms of EU membership, intending to implement these changes in the event of a Remain result. The referendum was legally non-binding due to the ancient principle of parliamentary sovereignty, although the government promised to implement the result. [2]

Campaigning officially took place between 15 April and 23 June 2016.- The official group for remaining in the EU was Britain Stronger in Europe while Vote Leave was the official group endorsing leaving. [3] Other campaign groups, political parties, businesses, trade unions, newspapers and prominent individuals were also involved, with both sides having supporters from across the political spectrum. Parties in favour of 'remain' included Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru and the Green Party; [4] [5] [6] [7] while the UK Independence Party (UKIP) campaigned in favour of leaving the European Union; [8] and the Conservative Party remained neutral. [9] In spite of the official positions of the Conservative Party and Labour, both parties allowed their MPs to publicly campaign for either side of the issue. [10] [11] Issues during campaigning included the costs and benefits of membership for the UK's economy, freedom of movement and migration. Several allegations of unlawful campaigning and Russian interference arose during and after the referendum.

The results were that most areas of the UK had a majority for Leave, with the exception of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Greater London and Gibraltar, where the majority of voters chose Remain. Voter preference correlated with age, level of education and socioeconomic factors. The causes and reasoning of the Leave result have been the subject of analysis and commentary.

Immediately after the result, financial markets reacted negatively worldwide and Cameron announced that he would resign as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron was succeeded by Theresa May on 13 July 2016. The referendum prompted a wide array of reactions internationally. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also faced a leadership challenge as a result of the EU referendum. On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom gave formal notice of intent to withdraw from the EU, with the withdrawal being formalised on 31 January 2020.

Background

The European Communities were formed in the 1950s  the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1952, and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957. [12] The EEC, the more ambitious of the three, came to be known as the "Common Market". The UK first applied to join them in 1961, but this was vetoed by France. [12] A later application was successful, and the UK joined in 1973; two years later, the first ever national referendum on continuing EC membership resulted in 67.2% voting “Yes” in favour of continued membership, on a 64.6% national turnout. [12] However no further referendums on the issue of the United Kingdom’s relationship with Europe were held and successive British governments integrated further into the European project which gained focus when the Maastricht Treaty established the European Union (EU) in 1993, which incorporated (and after the Lisbon Treaty, succeeded) the European Communities. [12] [13]

Growing pressure for a referendum

At the May 2012 NATO summit meeting, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Ed Llewellyn discussed the idea of using a European Union referendum as a concession to energise the Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative Party. [14] On 20 June 2012 a three clause private member's bill was introduced into the House of Commons by then Eurosceptic MP Douglas Carswell to end the United Kingdom’s EU membership and repeal the European Communities Act 1972 but without containing any commitment to the holding of any referendum and it received a second reading in a brief half long debate in the chamber which was held on 26 October 2012 however the Bill did not progress any further. [15]

Conservative MP James Wharton introduced a Private member's bill to the House of Commons in 2013 committing the UK to holding a referendum on continued EU membership by the end of 2017 which passed all of its stages in the chamber before it was blocked in the House of Lords early in 2014. James Wharton 2016.jpg
Conservative MP James Wharton introduced a Private member's bill to the House of Commons in 2013 committing the UK to holding a referendum on continued EU membership by the end of 2017 which passed all of its stages in the chamber before it was blocked in the House of Lords early in 2014.
During the 2015 general election campaign, David Cameron promised to renegotiate the terms of the UK's EU membership and later hold a referendum on the subject if a Conservative majority government was elected. David Cameron official.jpg
During the 2015 general election campaign, David Cameron promised to renegotiate the terms of the UK's EU membership and later hold a referendum on the subject if a Conservative majority government was elected.

In January 2013, Cameron delivered the Bloomberg speech and promised that, should the Conservatives win a parliamentary majority at the 2015 general election, the British government would negotiate more favourable arrangements for continuing British membership of the EU, before holding a referendum on whether the UK should remain in or leave the EU. [16] The Conservative Party published a draft EU Referendum Bill in May 2013, and outlined its plans for renegotiation followed by an in-out vote (i.e. a referendum giving options only of leaving and of remaining in under the current terms, or under new terms if these had become available), were the party to be re-elected in 2015. [17] The draft Bill stated that the referendum had to be held no later than 31 December 2017. [18]

The draft legislation was taken forward as a Private member's bill by Conservative MP James Wharton which was known as the European Union (Referendum) Bill 2013. [19] The bill's First Reading in the House of Commons took place on 19 June 2013. [20] Cameron was said by a spokesperson to be "very pleased" and would ensure the Bill was given "the full support of the Conservative Party". [21]

Regarding the ability of the bill to bind the UK Government in the 2015–20 Parliament (which indirectly, as a result of the referendum itself, proved to last only two years) to holding such a referendum, a parliamentary research paper noted that:

The Bill simply provides for a referendum on continued EU membership by the end of December 2017 and does not otherwise specify the timing, other than requiring the Secretary of State to bring forward orders by the end of 2016. [...] If no party obtained a majority at the [next general election due in 2015], there might be some uncertainty about the passage of the orders in the next Parliament. [22]

The bill received its Second Reading on 5 July 2013, passing by 304 votes to none after almost all Labour MPs and all Liberal Democrat MPs abstained, cleared the Commons in November 2013, and was then introduced to the House of Lords in December 2013, where members voted to block the bill. [23]

Conservative MP Bob Neill then introduced an Alternative Referendum Bill to the Commons. [24] [25] After a debate on 17 October 2014, it passed to the Public Bills Committee, but because the Commons failed to pass a money resolution, the bill was unable to progress further before the dissolution of parliament on 27 March 2015. [26] [27]

At the European Parliament election in 2014, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) secured more votes and more seats than any other party, the first time a party other than the Conservatives or Labour had topped a nationwide poll in 108 years, leaving the Conservatives in third place. [28]

Under Ed Miliband's leadership between 2010 and 2015, the Labour Party ruled out an in-out referendum unless and until a further transfer of powers from the UK to the EU were to be proposed. [29] In their manifesto for the 2015 general election, the Liberal Democrats pledged to hold an in-out referendum only in the event of there being a change in the EU treaties. [30] The UK Independence Party (UKIP), the British National Party (BNP), the Green Party, [31] the Democratic Unionist Party [32] and the Respect Party [33] all supported the principle of a referendum.

When the Conservative Party won a majority of seats in the House of Commons at the 2015 general election, Cameron reiterated his party's manifesto commitment to hold an in-out referendum on UK membership of the EU by the end of 2017, but only after "negotiating a new settlement for Britain in the EU". [34]

Renegotiation before the referendum

In early 2014, David Cameron outlined the changes he aimed to bring about in the EU and in the UK's relationship with it. [35] These were: additional immigration controls, especially for citizens of new EU member states; tougher immigration rules for present EU citizens; new powers for national parliaments collectively to veto proposed EU laws; new free-trade agreements and a reduction in bureaucracy for businesses; a lessening of the influence of the European Court of Human Rights on British police and courts; more power for individual member states, and less for the central EU; and abandonment of the EU notion of "ever closer union". [35] He intended to bring these about during a series of negotiations with other EU leaders and then, if re-elected, to announce a referendum. [35]

In November that year, Cameron gave an update on the negotiations and further details of his aims. [36] The key demands made of the EU were: on economic governance, to recognise officially that Eurozone laws would not necessarily apply to non-Eurozone EU members and the latter would not have to bail out troubled Eurozone economies; on competitiveness, to expand the single market and to set a target for the reduction of bureaucracy for businesses; on sovereignty, for the UK to be legally exempted from "ever closer union" and for national parliaments to be able collectively to veto proposed EU laws; and, on immigration, for EU citizens going to the UK for work to be unable to claim social housing or in-work benefits until they had worked there for four years, and for them to be unable to send child benefit payments overseas. [36] [37]

The outcome of the renegotiations was announced in February 2016. [38] The renegotiated terms were in addition to the United Kingdom's existing opt-outs in the European Union and the UK rebate. The significance of the changes to the EU-UK agreement was contested and speculated upon, with none of the changes considered fundamental, but some considered important to many British people. [38] Some limits to in-work benefits for EU immigrants were agreed, but these would apply on a sliding scale for four years and would be for new immigrants only; before they could be applied, a country would have to get permission from the European Council. [38] Child benefit payments could still be made overseas, but these would be linked to the cost of living in the other country. [39] On sovereignty, the UK was reassured that it would not be required to participate in "ever closer union"; these reassurances were "in line with existing EU law". [38] Cameron's demand to allow national parliaments to veto proposed EU laws was modified to allow national parliaments collectively to object to proposed EU laws, in which case the European Council would reconsider the proposal before itself deciding what to do. [38] On economic governance, anti-discrimination regulations for non-Eurozone members would be reinforced, but they would be unable to veto any legislation. [40] The final two areas covered were proposals to "exclude from the scope of free movement rights, third country nationals who had no prior lawful residence in a Member State before marrying a Union citizen" [41] and to make it easier for member states to deport EU nationals for public policy or public security reasons. [42] The extent to which the various parts of the agreement would be legally binding is complex; no part of the agreement itself changed EU law, but some parts could be enforceable in international law. [43]

The EU had reportedly offered David Cameron a so-called "emergency brake", which would have allowed the UK to withhold social benefits to new immigrants for the first four years after they arrived; this brake could have been applied for a period of seven years. [44] That offer was still on the table at the time of the Brexit referendum, but expired when the vote determined that the UK would leave the EU. Cameron claimed that "he could have avoided Brexit had European leaders let him control migration", according to the Financial Times . [45] [46] However, Angela Merkel said that the offer had not been made by the EU. Merkel stated in the German Parliament: "If you wish to have free access to the single market then you have to accept the fundamental European rights as well as obligations that come from it. This is as true for Great Britain as for anybody else." [47]

Legislation

The planned referendum was included in the Queen's Speech on 27 May 2015. [48] It was suggested at the time that Cameron was planning to hold the referendum in October 2016, [49] but the European Union Referendum Act 2015, which authorised it, went before the House of Commons the following day, just three weeks after the election. [50] On the bill's second reading on 9 June, members of the House of Commons voted by 544 to 53 in favour, endorsing the principle of holding a referendum, with only the Scottish National Party voting against. [51] In contrast to the Labour Party's position prior to the 2015 general election under Miliband, acting Labour leader Harriet Harman committed her party to supporting plans for an EU referendum by 2017, a position maintained by elected leader Jeremy Corbyn. [52]

To enable the referendum to take place, the European Union Referendum Act [53] was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It extended to include and take legislative effect in Gibraltar, [54] [55] and received royal assent on 17 December 2015. The Act was, in turn, confirmed, enacted and implemented in Gibraltar by the European Union (Referendum) Act 2016 (Gibraltar), [56] which was passed by the Gibraltar Parliament and entered into law upon receiving the assent of the Governor of Gibraltar on 28 January 2016.

The European Union Referendum Act required a referendum to be held on the question of the UK's continued membership of the European Union (EU) before the end of 2017. It did not contain any requirement for the UK Government to implement the results of the referendum. Instead, it was designed to gauge the electorate's opinion on EU membership. The referendums held in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1997 and 1998 are examples of this type, where opinion was tested before legislation was introduced. The UK does not have constitutional provisions which would require the results of a referendum to be implemented, unlike, for example, the Republic of Ireland, where the circumstances in which a binding referendum should be held are set out in its constitution. In contrast, the legislation that provided for the referendum held on AV in May 2011 would have implemented the new system of voting without further legislation, provided that the boundary changes also provided for in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 were also implemented. In the event, there was a substantial majority against any change. The 1975 referendum was held after the re-negotiated terms of the UK's EC membership had been agreed by all EC Member States, and the terms set out in a command paper and agreed by both Houses. [57] Following the 2016 referendum, the High Court confirmed that the result was not legally binding, owing to the constitutional principles of parliamentary sovereignty and representative democracy, and the legislation authorising the referendum did not contain clear words to the contrary. [58]

Referendum question

Sample referendum ballot paper 2016 EU Referendum Ballot Paper.svg
Sample referendum ballot paper

Research by the Electoral Commission confirmed that its recommended question "was clear and straightforward for voters, and was the most neutral wording from the range of options ... considered and tested", citing responses to its consultation by a diverse range of consultees. [59] The proposed question was accepted by the government in September 2015, shortly before the bill's third reading. [60] The question that appeared on ballot papers in the referendum under the Act was:

Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?

with the responses to the question (to be marked with a single (X)):

Remain a member of the European Union
Leave the European Union

and in Welsh:

A ddylai'r Deyrnas Unedig aros yn aelod o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd neu adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd?

with the responses (to be marked with a single (X)):

Aros yn aelod o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd
Gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd

Administration

Date

Prior to being officially announced, it was widely speculated that a June date for the referendum was a serious possibility. The First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales co-signed a letter to Cameron on 3 February 2016 asking him not to hold the referendum in June, as devolved elections were scheduled to take place the previous month on 5 May. These elections had been postponed for a year to avoid a clash with the 2015 general election, after Westminster had implemented the Fixed-term Parliament Act. Cameron refused this request, saying people were able to make up their own minds in multiple elections spaced at least six weeks from each other. [61] [62]

On 20 February 2016, Cameron announced that the UK Government would formally recommend to the British people that the UK should remain a member of a reformed European Union and that the referendum would be held on 23 June, marking the official launch of the campaign. He also announced that Parliament would enact secondary legislation on 22 February relating to the European Union Referendum Act 2015. With the official launch, ministers of the UK Government were then free to campaign on either side of the argument in a rare exception to Cabinet collective responsibility. [63]

Eligibility to vote

The right to vote in the referendum in the United Kingdom is defined by the legislation as limited to residents of the United Kingdom who were either also Commonwealth citizens under Section 37 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (which include British citizens and other British nationals), or those who were also citizens of the Republic of Ireland, or both. Members of the House of Lords, who could not vote in general elections, were able to vote in the referendum. The electorate of 46,500,001 represented 70.8% of the population of 65,678,000 (UK and Gibraltar). [64] Other than the residents of Gibraltar, British Overseas Territories Citizens residing in the British Overseas Territories were unable to vote in the referendum. [65] [66]

Residents of the United Kingdom who were citizens of other EU countries were not allowed to vote unless they were citizens (or were also citizens) of the Republic of Ireland, of Malta, or of the Republic of Cyprus. [67]

The Representation of the People Acts 1983 (1983 c. 2) and 1985 (1985 c. 50), as amended, also permit certain British citizens (but not other British nationals), who had once lived in the United Kingdom, but had since and in the meantime lived outside of the United Kingdom, but for a period of no more than 15 years, to vote. [68]

Voting on the day of the referendum was from 0700 to 2200 BST (WEST) (0700 to 2200 CEST in Gibraltar) in some 41,000 polling stations staffed by over 100,000 poll workers. Each polling station was specified to have no more than 2,500 registered voters.[ citation needed ] Under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 2000, postal ballots were also permitted in the referendum and were sent out to eligible voters some three weeks ahead of the vote (2 June 2016).

The minimum age for voters in the referendum was set to 18 years, in line with the Representation of the People Act, as amended. A House of Lords amendment proposing to lower the minimum age to 16 years was rejected. [69]

The deadline to register to vote was initially midnight on 7 June 2016; however, this was extended by 48 hours owing to technical problems with the official registration website on 7 June, caused by unusually high web traffic. Some supporters of the Leave campaign, including the Conservative MP Sir Gerald Howarth, criticised the government's decision to extend the deadline, alleging it gave Remain an advantage because many late registrants were young people who were considered to be more likely to vote for Remain. [70] According to provisional figures from the Electoral Commission, almost 46.5 million people were eligible to vote. [71]

Registration problems

Nottingham City Council emailed a Vote Leave supporter to say that the council was unable to check whether the nationality that people stated on their voting registration form was true, and hence that they simply had to assume that the information that was submitted was, indeed, correct. [72]

3,462 EU nationals were wrongly sent postal voting cards, due to an IT issue experienced by Xpress, an electoral software supplier to a number of councils. Xpress was initially unable to confirm the exact number of those affected. The matter was resolved by the issuance of a software patch which rendered the wrongly recorded electors ineligible to vote on 23 June. [72]

Crown Dependencies

Residents of the Crown Dependencies (which are not part of the United Kingdom), namely the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, even if they were British citizens, were excluded from the referendum unless they were also previous residents of the United Kingdom (that is: England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). [73]

Some residents of the Isle of Man protested that they, as full British citizens under the British Nationality Act 1981 and living within the British Islands, should also have been given the opportunity to vote in the referendum, as the Isle and the Bailiwicks, although not included as if they were part of the United Kingdom for the purpose of European Union (and European Economic Area (EEA)) membership (as is the case with Gibraltar), would also have been significantly affected by the outcome and impact of the referendum. [73]

Campaign

Britain Stronger in Europe campaigners, London, June 2016 Britain Stronger in Europe campaigners, Southgate, London, 11 June 2016 01.jpg
Britain Stronger in Europe campaigners, London, June 2016
Referendum posters for both the Leave and Remain campaigns in Pimlico, London Vote Leave and Vote Remain posters in Pimlico, June 2016.jpg
Referendum posters for both the Leave and Remain campaigns in Pimlico, London
Remain campaign "I'm in" sticker European Union - Brexit referendum "I'm in" sticker on a green Harrington jacket.png
Remain campaign "I'm in" sticker

In October 2015, Britain Stronger in Europe, a cross-party group campaigning for Britain to remain a member of the EU, was formed. [74] There were two rival groups promoting British withdrawal from the EU that sought to become the official Leave campaign: Leave.EU (which was endorsed by most of UKIP, including Nigel Farage), and Vote Leave (endorsed by Conservative Party Eurosceptics). In January 2016, Nigel Farage and the Leave.EU campaign became part of the Grassroots Out movement, which was borne out of infighting between Vote Leave and Leave.EU campaigners. [75] [76] In April, the Electoral Commission announced that Britain Stronger in Europe and Vote Leave were to be designated as the official remain and leave campaigns respectively. [77] This gave them the right to spend up to £7,000,000, a free mailshot, TV broadcasts and £600,000 in public funds. The UK Government's official position was to support the Remain campaign. Nevertheless, Cameron announced that Conservative Ministers and MPs were free to campaign in favour of remaining in the EU or leaving it, according to their conscience. This decision came after mounting pressure for a free vote for ministers. [78] In an exception to the usual rule of cabinet collective responsibility, Cameron allowed cabinet ministers to campaign publicly for EU withdrawal. [79] A Government-backed campaign was launched in April. [80] On 16 June, all official national campaigning was suspended until 19 June following the murder of Jo Cox. [81]

After internal polls suggested that 85% of the UK population wanted more information about the referendum from the government, a leaflet was sent to every household in the UK. [82] It contained details about why the government believed the UK should remain in the EU. This leaflet was criticised by those wanting to leave as giving the remain side an unfair advantage; it was also described as being inaccurate and a waste of taxpayers' money (it cost £9.3m in total). [83]

In the week beginning on 16 May, the Electoral Commission sent a voting guide regarding the referendum to every household within the UK and Gibraltar to raise awareness of the upcoming referendum. The eight-page guide contained details on how to vote, as well as a sample of the actual ballot paper, and a whole page each was given to the campaign groups Britain Stronger in Europe and Vote Leave to present their case. [84] [85]

The Vote Leave campaign argued that if the UK left the EU, national sovereignty would be protected, immigration controls could be imposed, and the UK would be able to sign trade deals with the rest of the world. The UK would also be able to stop membership payments to the EU every week. [86] [note 1] The Britain Stronger in Europe campaign argued that leaving the European Union would damage the UK economy, and that the status of the UK as a world influence was hinged upon its membership. [89]

Responses to the referendum campaign

Party policies

In the run up to the referendum, of the 650 MPs elected to the 2015-17 UK Parliament a total of 479 MPs publicly declared their intention to vote in favour of remaining in the European Union compared with just 158 MPs who declared their intention to vote in favour of leaving the European Union.
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Leave
Remain UK MPs EU referendum voting intention 2016.svg
In the run up to the referendum, of the 650 MPs elected to the 2015-17 UK Parliament a total of 479 MPs publicly declared their intention to vote in favour of remaining in the European Union compared with just 158 MPs who declared their intention to vote in favour of leaving the European Union.
  Leave
  Remain

The tables list political parties with representation in the House of Commons or the House of Lords, the European Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Parliament, or the Gibraltar Parliament at the time of the referendum.

Great Britain

PositionPolitical partiesRef
Remain Green Party of England and Wales [90]
Labour Party [91] [92]
Liberal Democrats [93]
Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales [94]
Scottish Greens [95]
Scottish National Party (SNP) [96] [97]
Leave UK Independence Party (UKIP) [98]
Neutral Conservative Party [99]

Northern Ireland

PositionPolitical partiesRef
Remain Alliance Party of Northern Ireland [100] [101]
Green Party Northern Ireland [102]
Sinn Féin [103]
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) [104]
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) [105]
Leave Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) [106] [107]
People Before Profit (PBP) [108]
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) [109]

Gibraltar

PositionPolitical partiesRef
Remain Gibraltar Social Democrats [110]
Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party [111]
Liberal Party of Gibraltar [111]

Minor parties

Among minor parties, the Socialist Labour Party, the Communist Party of Britain, Britain First, [112] the British National Party (BNP), [113] Éirígí [Ireland], [114] the Respect Party, [115] the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), [116] the Social Democratic Party, [117] the Liberal Party, [118] Independence from Europe, [119] and the Workers' Party [Ireland] [120] supported leaving the EU.

The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), Left Unity and Mebyon Kernow [Cornwall] supported remaining in the EU. [121] [122] [123]

The Socialist Party of Great Britain supported neither leave nor remain and the Women's Equality Party had no official position on the issue. [124] [125] [126] [127]

Cabinet ministers

The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is a body responsible for making decisions on policy and organising governmental departments; it is chaired by the Prime Minister and contains most of the government's ministerial heads. [128] Following the announcement of the referendum in February, 23 of the 30 Cabinet ministers (including attendees) supported the UK staying in the EU. [129] Iain Duncan Smith, in favour of leaving, resigned on 19 March and was replaced by Stephen Crabb who was in favour of remaining. [129] [130] Crabb was already a cabinet member, as the Secretary of State for Wales, and his replacement, Alun Cairns, was in favour of remaining, bringing the total number of pro-remain Cabinet members to 25.

Business

Various UK multinationals have stated that they would not like the UK to leave the EU because of the uncertainty it would cause, such as Shell, [131] BT [132] and Vodafone, [133] with some assessing the pros and cons of Britain exiting. [134] The banking sector was one of the most vocal advocating to stay in the EU, with the British Bankers' Association saying: "Businesses don't like that kind of uncertainty". [135] RBS warned of potential damage to the economy. [136] Furthermore, HSBC and foreign-based banks JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank claim a Brexit might result in the banks' changing domicile. [137] [138] According to Goldman Sachs and the City of London's policy chief, all such factors could impact on the City of London's present status as a European and global market leader in financial services. [139] In February 2016, leaders of 36 of the FTSE 100 companies, including Shell, BAE Systems, BT and Rio Tinto, officially supported staying in the EU. [140] Moreover, 60% of the Institute of Directors and the EEF memberships supported staying. [141]

Many UK-based businesses, including Sainsbury's, remained steadfastly neutral, concerned that taking sides in the divisive issue could lead to a backlash from customers. [142]

Richard Branson stated that he was "very fearful" of the consequences of a UK exit from the EU. [143] Alan Sugar expressed similar concern. [144]

James Dyson, founder of the Dyson company, argued in June 2016 that the introduction of tariffs would be less damaging for British exporters than the appreciation of the pound against the Euro, arguing that, because Britain ran a 100 billion pound trade deficit with the EU, tariffs could represent a significant revenue source for the Treasury. [145] Pointing out that languages, plugs and laws differ between EU member states, Dyson said that the 28-country bloc was not a single market, and argued the fastest growing markets were outside the EU. [145] Engineering company Rolls-Royce wrote to employees to say that it did not want the UK to leave the EU. [146]

Surveys of large UK businesses showed a strong majority favoured the UK remaining in the EU. [147] Small and medium-sized UK businesses were more evenly split. [147] Polls of foreign businesses found that around half would be less likely to do business in the UK, while 1% would increase their investment in the UK. [148] [149] [150] Two large car manufacturers, Ford and BMW, warned in 2013 against Brexit, suggesting it would be "devastating" for the economy. [151] Conversely, in 2015, some other manufacturing executives told Reuters that they would not shut their plants if the UK left the EU, although future investment might be put at risk. [152] The CEO of Vauxhall stated that a Brexit would not materially affect its business. [153] Foreign-based Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda confirmed that, whether or not Britain left the EU, Toyota would carry on manufacturing cars in Britain as they had done before. [154]

Exchange rates and stock markets

In the week following conclusion of the UK's renegotiation (and especially after Boris Johnson announced that he would support the UK leaving), the pound fell to a seven-year low against the dollar and economists at HSBC warned that it could drop even more. [155] At the same time, Daragh Maher, head of HSBC, suggested that if Sterling dropped in value so would the Euro. European banking analysts also cited Brexit concerns as the reason for the Euro's decline. [156] Immediately after a poll in June 2016 showed that the Leave campaign was 10 points ahead, the pound dropped by a further one per cent. [157] In the same month, it was announced that the value of goods exported from the UK in April had shown a month-on-month increase of 11.2%, "the biggest rise since records started in 1998". [158] [159]

Uncertainty over the referendum result, together with several other factors—US interest rates rising, low commodity prices, low Eurozone growth and concerns over emerging markets such as China—contributed to a high level of stock market volatility in January and February 2016.[ citation needed ] On 14 June, polls showing that a Brexit was more likely led to the FTSE 100 falling by 2%, losing £98 billion in value. [160] [161] After further polls suggested a move back towards Remain, the pound and the FTSE recovered. [162]

On the day of the referendum, sterling hit a 2016 high of $1.5018 for £1 and the FTSE 100 also climbed to a 2016 high, as a new poll suggested a win for the Remain campaign. [163] Initial results suggested a vote for 'Remain' and the value of the pound held its value. However, when the result for Sunderland was announced, it indicated an unexpected swing to 'Leave'. Subsequent results appeared to confirm this swing and sterling fell in value to $1.3777, its lowest level since 1985. On the following Monday when the markets opened, £1 sterling fell to a new low of $1.32. [164]

Muhammad Ali Nasir and Jamie Morgan two British economists differentiated and reflected on the weakness of the Sterling due to the weak external position of the UK's economy and the further role played by the uncertainty surrounding Brexit [165] They reported that during the week of the referendum, up to the declaration of the result, exchange rate depreciation deviated from the long-run trend by approximately 3.5 per cent, but the actual immediate effect on the exchange rate was an 8 per cent depreciation. Furthermore, that over the period from the announcement of the referendum, the exchange rate fluctuated markedly around its trend and one can also identify a larger effect based on the "wrong-footing" of markets at the point when the outcome was announced. [165]

When the London Stock Exchange opened on the morning of 24 June, the FTSE 100 fell from 6338.10 to 5806.13 in the first ten minutes of trading. It recovered to 6091.27 after a further 90 minutes, before further recovering to 6162.97 by the end of the day's trading. When the markets reopened the following Monday, the FTSE 100 showed a steady decline losing over 2% by mid-afternoon. [166] Upon opening later on the Friday after the referendum, the US Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped nearly 450 points or about 2½% in less than half an hour. The Associated Press called the sudden worldwide stock market decline a stock market crash. [167] Investors in worldwide stock markets lost more than the equivalent of US$2 trillion on 24 June 2016, making it the worst single-day loss in history, in absolute terms. [168] The market losses amounted to US$3 trillion by 27 June. [169] Sterling fell to a 31-year low against the US dollar. [170] The UK's and the EU's sovereign debt credit ratings were also lowered to AA by Standard & Poor's. [171] [172]

By mid-afternoon on 27 June 2016, sterling was at a 31-year low, having fallen 11% in two trading days, and the FTSE 100 had surrendered £85 billion; [173] however, by 29 June it had recovered all its losses since the markets closed on polling day and the value of the pound had begun to rise. [174] [175]

European responses

The referendum was generally well-accepted by the European far right. [176] Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French Front national, described the possibility of a Brexit as "like the fall of the Berlin Wall" and commented that "Brexit would be marvellous – extraordinary – for all European peoples who long for freedom". [177] A poll in France in April 2016 showed that 59% of the French people were in favour of Britain remaining in the EU. [178] Dutch politician Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom, said that the Netherlands should follow Britain's example: "Like in the 1940s, once again Britain could help liberate Europe from another totalitarian monster, this time called 'Brussels'. Again, we could be saved by the British." [179]

Polish President Andrzej Duda lent his support for the UK remaining within the EU. [180] Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip asked all citizens of Moldova living in the UK to speak to their British friends and convince them to vote for the UK to remain in the EU. [181] Spanish foreign minister José García-Margallo said Spain would demand control of Gibraltar the "very next day" after a British withdrawal from the EU. [182] Margallo also threatened to close the border with Gibraltar if Britain left the EU. [183]

Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallström said on 11 June 2016 that if Britain left the EU, other countries would have referendums on whether to leave the EU, and that if Britain stayed in the EU, other countries would negotiate, ask and demand to have special treatment. [184] Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka suggested in February 2016 that the Czech Republic would start discussions on leaving the EU if the UK voted for an EU exit. [185]

Non-European responses

International Monetary Fund

Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, warned in February 2016 that the uncertainty over the outcome of the referendum would be bad "in and of itself" for the British economy. [186] In response, Leave campaigner Priti Patel said a previous warning from the IMF regarding the coalition government's deficit plan for the UK was proven incorrect and that the IMF "were wrong then and are wrong now". [187]

United States

In October 2015, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman declared that the United States was not keen on pursuing a separate free-trade agreement (FTA) with Britain if it were to leave the EU, thus, according to The Guardian newspaper, undermining a key economic argument of proponents of those who say Britain would prosper on its own and be able to secure bilateral FTAs with trading partners. [188] Also in October 2015, the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Matthew Barzun said that UK participation in NATO and the EU made each group "better and stronger" and that, while the decision to remain or leave is a choice for the British people, it was in the US interest that it remain. [189] In April 2016, eight former US Secretaries of the Treasury, who had served both Democratic and Republican presidents, urged Britain to remain in the EU. [190]

In July 2015, President Barack Obama confirmed the long-standing US preference for the UK to remain in the EU. Obama said: "Having the UK in the EU gives us much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union, and is part of the cornerstone of the institutions built following World War II that has made the world safer and more prosperous. We want to make sure that the United Kingdom continues to have that influence." [191] Some Conservative MPs accused U.S. President Barack Obama of interfering in the Brexit vote, [192] [193] with Boris Johnson calling the intervention a "piece of outrageous and exorbitant hypocrisy" [194] and UKIP leader Nigel Farage accusing him of "monstrous interference", saying "You wouldn't expect the British Prime Minister to intervene in your presidential election, you wouldn't expect the Prime Minister to endorse one candidate or another." [195] Obama's intervention was criticised by Republican Senator Ted Cruz as "a slap in the face of British self-determination as the president, typically, elevated an international organisation over the rights of a sovereign people", and stated that "Britain will be at the front of the line for a free trade deal with America", were Brexit to occur. [196] [197] More than 100 MPs from the Conservatives, Labour, UKIP and the DUP wrote a letter to the U.S. ambassador in London asking President Obama not to intervene in the Brexit vote as it had "long been the established practice not to interfere in the domestic political affairs of our allies and we hope that this will continue to be the case." [198] [199] Two years later, one of Obama's former aides recounted that the public intervention was made following a request by Cameron. [200]

Prior to the vote, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump anticipated that Britain would leave based on its concerns over migration, [201] while Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton hoped that Britain would remain in the EU to strengthen transatlantic co-operation. [202]

Other states

In October 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared his support for Britain remaining in the EU, saying "China hopes to see a prosperous Europe and a united EU, and hopes Britain, as an important member of the EU, can play an even more positive and constructive role in promoting the deepening development of China-EU ties". Chinese diplomats have stated "off the record" that the People's Republic sees the EU as a counterbalance to American economic power, and that an EU without Britain would mean a stronger United States.[ citation needed ]

In February 2016, the finance ministers from the G20 major economies warned for the UK to leave the EU would lead to "a shock" in the global economy. [203] [204]

In May 2016, the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that Australia would prefer the UK to remain in the EU, but that it was a matter for the British people, and "whatever judgment they make, the relations between Britain and Australia will be very, very close". [205]

Indonesian president Joko Widodo stated during a European trip that he was not in favour of Brexit. [206]

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a statement of reasons why he was "very concerned" at the possibility of Brexit. [207]

Russian President Vladimir Putin said: "I want to say it is none of our business, it is the business of the people of the UK." [208] Maria Zakharova, the official Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, said: "Russia has nothing to do with Brexit. We are not involved in this process in any way. We don't have any interest in it." [209]

Economists

In November 2015, the Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney said that the Bank of England would do what was necessary to help the UK economy if the British people voted to leave the EU. [210] In March 2016, Carney told MPs that an EU exit was the "biggest domestic risk" to the UK economy, but that remaining a member also carried risks, related to the European Monetary Union, of which the UK is not a member. [211] In May 2016, Carney said that a "technical recession" was one of the possible risks of the UK leaving the EU. [212] However, Iain Duncan Smith said Carney's comment should be taken with "a pinch of salt", saying "all forecasts in the end are wrong". [213]

In December 2015, the Bank of England published a report about the impact of immigration on wages. The report concluded that immigration put downward pressure on workers' wages, particularly low-skilled workers: a 10 per cent point rise in the proportion of migrants working in low-skilled services drove down the average wages of low-skilled workers by about 2 per cent. [214] The 10 percentage point rise cited in the paper is larger than the entire rise observed since the 2004–06 period in the semi/unskilled services sector, which is about 7 percentage points. [215]

In March 2016, Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz argued that he might reconsider his support for the UK remaining in the EU if the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) were to be agreed to. [216] Stiglitz warned that under the investor-state dispute settlement provision in current drafts of the TTIP, governments risked being sued for loss of profits resulting from new regulations, including health and safety regulations to limit the use of asbestos or tobacco. [216]

The German economist Clemens Fuest wrote that there was a liberal, free-trade bloc in the EU comprising the UK, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Slovakia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, controlling 32% of the votes in the European Council and standing in opposition to the dirigiste , protectionist policies favoured by France and its allies. [217] Germany with its 'social market' economy stands midway between the French dirigiste economic model and the British free-market economic model. From the German viewpoint, the existence of the liberal bloc allows Germany to play-off free-market Britain against dirigiste France, and that if Britain were to leave, the liberal bloc would be severely weakened, thereby allowing the French to take the EU into a much more dirigiste direction that would be unattractive from the standpoint of Berlin. [217]

A study by Oxford Economics for the Law Society of England and Wales has suggested that Brexit would have a particularly large negative impact on the UK financial services industry and the law firms that support it, which could cost the law sector as much as £1.7bn per annum by 2030. [218] The Law Society's own report into the possible effects of Brexit notes that leaving the EU would be likely to reduce the role played by the UK as a centre for resolving disputes between foreign firms, whereas a potential loss of "passporting" rights would require financial services firms to transfer departments responsible for regulatory oversight overseas. [219]

World Pensions Forum director M. Nicolas J. Firzli has argued that the Brexit debate should be viewed within the broader context of economic analysis of EU law and regulation in relation to English common law, arguing: "Every year, the British Parliament is forced to pass tens of new statutes reflecting the latest EU directives coming from Brussels – a highly undemocratic process known as 'transposition'... Slowly but surely, these new laws dictated by EU commissars are conquering English common law, imposing upon UK businesses and citizens an ever-growing collection of fastidious regulations in every field". [220]

Thiemo Fetzer, professor of economics from University of Warwick, analyzed the welfare reforms in the UK since 2000 and suggests that numerous austerity-induced welfare reforms from 2010 onwards have stopped contributing to mitigate income differences through transfer payments. This could be a key activating factor of anti-EU preferences that lie behind the development of economic grievances and the lack of support in a Remain victory. [221]

Michael Jacobs, the current director of the Commission on Economic Justice at the Institute for Public Policy Research and Mariana Mazzucato, a professor in University College London in Economics of Innovation and Public Value have found that the Brexit campaign had the tendency to blame external forces for domestic economic problems and have argued that the problems within the economy wasn't due to 'unstoppable forces of globalisation' but rather the result of active political and business decisions. Instead, they claim that orthodox economic theory has guided poor economic policy such as investment and that has been the cause of problems within the British economy. [222]

Institute for Fiscal Studies

In May 2016, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said that an EU exit could mean two more years of austerity cuts as the government would have to make up for an estimated loss of £20 billion to £40 billion of tax revenue. The head of the IFS, Paul Johnson, said that the UK "could perfectly reasonably decide that we are willing to pay a bit of a price for leaving the EU and regaining some sovereignty and control over immigration and so on. That there would be some price though, I think is now almost beyond doubt." [223]

Lawyers

A poll of lawyers conducted by a legal recruiter in late May 2016 suggested 57% of lawyers wanted to remain in the EU. [224]

During a Treasury Committee shortly following the vote, economic experts generally agreed that the leave vote would be detrimental to the UK economy. [225]

Michael Dougan, Professor of European Law and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law at the University of Liverpool and a constitutional lawyer, described the Leave campaign as "one of the most dishonest political campaigns this country [the UK] has ever seen", for using arguments based on constitutional law that he said were readily demonstrable as false. [226]

NHS officials

Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, warned in May 2016 that a recession following a Brexit would be "very dangerous" for the National Health Service, saying that "when the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold." [227] Three-quarters of a sample of NHS leaders agreed that leaving the EU would have a negative effect on the NHS as a whole. In particular, eight out of 10 respondents felt that leaving the EU would have a negative impact on trusts' ability to recruit health and social care staff. [228] In April 2016, a group of nearly 200 health professionals and researchers warned that the NHS would be in jeopardy if Britain left the European Union. [229] The leave campaign reacted by saying more money would be available to be spent on the NHS if the UK left the EU.

British health charities

Guidelines by the Charity Commission for England and Wales that forbid political activity for registered charities have limited UK health organizations' commentary on EU poll, according to anonymous sources consulted by the Lancet. [230] According to Simon Wessely, head of psychological medicine at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London – neither a special revision of the guidelines from 7 March 2016, nor Cameron's encouragement have made health organisations, willing to speak out. [230] The Genetic Alliance UK the Royal College of Midwives the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and the Chief Executive of the National Health Service had all stated pro-remain positions by early June 2016. [230]

Fishing industry

A June 2016 survey of British fishermen found that 92% intended to vote to leave the EU. [231] The EU's Common Fisheries Policy was mentioned as a central reason for their near-unanimity. [231] More than three-quarters believed that they would be able to land more fish, and 93% stated that leaving the EU would benefit the fishing industry. [232]

Historians

In May 2016, more than 300 historians wrote in a joint letter to The Guardian that Britain could play a bigger role in the world as part of the EU. They said: "As historians of Britain and of Europe, we believe that Britain has had in the past, and will have in the future, an irreplaceable role to play in Europe." [233] On the other hand, many historians argued in favour of leaving, seeing it as a return to self-sovereignty. [234] [235]

Exit plan competition

Following David Cameron's announcement of an EU referendum, in July 2013 the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) announced the "Brexit Prize", a competition to find the best plan for a UK exit from the European Union, and declared that a departure was a "real possibility" following the 2015 general election. [236] Iain Mansfield, a Cambridge graduate and UKTI diplomat, submitted the winning thesis: A Blueprint for Britain: Openness not Isolation. [237] Mansfield's submission focused on addressing both trade and regulatory issues with EU member states as well as other global trading partners. [238] [239]

Opinion polling

Opinion polling on the referendum UK EU referendum polling.svg
Opinion polling on the referendum

Opinion polls from 2010 onwards suggested the British public were relatively evenly divided on the question, with opposition to EU membership peaking in November 2012 at 56% compared with 30% who prefer to remain in, [240] while in June 2015 those in favour of Britain remaining in the EU reached 43% versus those opposed 36%. [241] The largest ever poll (of 20,000 people, in March 2014) showed the public evenly split on the issue, with 41% in favour of withdrawal, 41% in favour of membership, and 18% undecided. [242] However, when asked how they would vote if Britain renegotiated the terms of its membership of the EU, and the UK Government stated that British interests had been satisfactorily protected, more than 50% indicated that they would vote for Britain to stay in. [243]

Analysis of polling suggested that young voters tended to support remaining in the EU, whereas those older tend to support leaving, but there was no gender split in attitudes. [244] [245] In February 2016 YouGov also found that euroscepticism correlated with people of lower income and that "higher social grades are more clearly in favour of remaining in the EU", but noted that euroscepticism also had strongholds in "the more wealthy, Tory shires". [246] Scotland, Wales and many English urban areas with large student populations were more pro-EU. [246] Big business was broadly behind remaining in the EU, though the situation among smaller companies was less clear-cut. [247] In polls of economists, lawyers, and scientists, clear majorities saw the UK's membership of the EU as beneficial. [248] [249] [250] [251] [252] On the day of the referendum, the bookmaker Ladbrokes offered odds of 6/1 against the UK leaving the EU. [253] Meanwhile, spread betting firm Spreadex offered a Leave Vote Share spread of 45–46, a Remain Vote Share spread of 53.5-54.5, and a Remain Binary Index spread of 80–84.7, where victory for Remain would makeup to 100 and a defeat 0. [254]

On the day YouGov poll

RemainLeaveUndecidedLeadSampleConducted by
52%48%N/A4%4,772 YouGov

Shortly after the polls closed at 10 pm on 23 June, the British polling company YouGov released a poll conducted among almost 5,000 people on the day; it suggested a narrow lead for "Remain", which polled 52% with Leave polling 48%. It was later criticised for overestimating the margin of the "Remain" vote, [255] when it became clear a few hours later that the UK had voted 51.9% to 48.1% in favour of leaving the European Union.

Issues

The number of jobs lost or gained by a withdrawal was a dominant issue; the BBC's outline of issues warned that a precise figure was difficult to find. The Leave campaign argued that a reduction in red tape associated with EU regulations would create more jobs and that small to medium-sized companies who trade domestically would be the biggest beneficiaries. Those arguing to remain in the EU, claimed that millions of jobs would be lost. The EU's importance as a trading partner and the outcome of its trade status if it left was a disputed issue. Whereas those wanting to stay cited that most of the UK's trade was made with the EU, those arguing to leave say that its trade was not as important as it used to be. Scenarios of the economic outlook for the country if it left the EU were generally negative. The United Kingdom also paid more into the EU budget than it received. [256]

Boris Johnson played a key role in the Vote Leave campaign. Boris Johnson July 2016.jpg
Boris Johnson played a key role in the Vote Leave campaign.

Citizens of EU countries, including the United Kingdom, have the right to travel, live and work within other EU countries, as free movement is one of the four founding principles of the EU. [257] Campaigners for remaining said that EU immigration had positive impacts on the UK's economy, citing that the country's growth forecasts were partly based upon continued high levels of net immigration. [256] The Office for Budget Responsibility also claimed that taxes from immigrants boost public funding. [256] A recent[ when? ] academic paper suggests that migration from Eastern Europe put pressure on wage growth at the lower end of the wage distribution, while at the same time increasing pressures on public services and housing. [258] The Leave campaign believed reduced immigration would ease pressure in public services such as schools and hospitals, as well as giving British workers more jobs and higher wages. [256] According to official Office for National Statistics data, net migration in 2015 was 333,000, which was the second highest level on record, far above David Cameron's target of tens of thousands. [259] [260] Net migration from the EU was 184,000. [260] The figures also showed that 77,000 EU migrants who came to Britain were looking for work. [259] [260]

After the announcement had been made as to the outcome of the referendum, Rowena Mason, political correspondent for The Guardian offered the following assessment: "Polling suggests discontent with the scale of migration to the UK has been the biggest factor pushing Britons to vote out, with the contest turning into a referendum on whether people are happy to accept free movement in return for free trade." [261] A columnist for The Times , Philip Collins, went a step further in his analysis: "This was a referendum about immigration disguised as a referendum about the European Union." [262]

The Conservative MEP (Member of the European Parliament) representing South East England, Daniel Hannan, predicted on the BBC programme Newsnight that the level of immigration would remain high after Brexit. [263] "Frankly, if people watching think that they have voted and there is now going to be zero immigration from the EU, they are going to be disappointed. ... you will look in vain for anything that the Leave campaign said at any point that ever suggested there would ever be any kind of border closure or drawing up of the drawbridge." [264]

The EU had offered David Cameron a so-called "emergency brake" which would have allowed the UK to withhold social benefits to new immigrants for the first four years after they arrived; this brake could have been applied for a period of seven years." [265] That offer was still on the table at the time of the Brexit referendum, but expired when the vote determined that the UK would leave the EU. [266]

The possibility that the UK's smaller constituent countries could vote to remain within the EU but find themselves withdrawn from the EU led to discussion about the risk to the unity of the United Kingdom. [267] Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, made it clear that she believed that a second independence referendum would "almost certainly" be demanded by Scots if the UK voted to leave the EU but Scotland did not. [268] The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, said: "If Wales votes to remain in [the EU] but the UK votes to leave, there will be a... constitutional crisis. The UK cannot possibly continue in its present form if England votes to leave and everyone else votes to stay". [269]

There was concern that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a proposed trade agreement between the United States and the EU, would be a threat to the public services of EU member states. [270] [271] [272] [273] Jeremy Corbyn, on the Remain side, said that he pledged to veto TTIP in Government. [274] John Mills, on the Leave side, said that the UK could not veto TTIP because trade pacts were decided by Qualified Majority Voting in the European Council. [275]

There was debate over the extent to which the European Union membership aided security and defence in comparison to the UK's membership of NATO and the United Nations. [276] Security concerns over the union's free movement policy were raised too, because people with EU passports were unlikely to receive detailed checks at border control. [277]

Debates, question and answer sessions, and interviews

A debate was held by The Guardian on 15 March 2016, featuring the leader of UKIP Nigel Farage, Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom, the leader of Labour's "yes" campaign Alan Johnson and former leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg. [278]

Earlier in the campaign, on 11 January, a debate took place between Nigel Farage and Carwyn Jones, who was at the time the First Minister of Wales and leader of the Welsh Labour Party. [279] [280] Reluctance to have Conservative Party members argue against one another has seen some debates split, with Leave and Remain candidates interviewed separately. [281]

The Spectator held a debate hosted by Andrew Neil on 26 April, which featured Nick Clegg, Liz Kendall and Chuka Umunna arguing for a remain vote, and Nigel Farage, Daniel Hannan and Labour MP Kate Hoey arguing for a leave vote. [282] The Daily Express held a debate on 3 June, featuring Nigel Farage, Kate Hoey and Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg debating Labour MPs Siobhain McDonagh and Chuka Umunna and businessman Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent drinks. [283] Andrew Neil presented four interviews ahead of the referendum. The interviewees were Hilary Benn, George Osborne, Nigel Farage and Iain Duncan Smith on 6, 8, 10 and 17 May, respectively. [284]

The scheduled debates and question sessions included a number of question and answer sessions with various campaigners. [285] [286] and a debate on ITV held on 9 June that included Angela Eagle, Amber Rudd and Nicola Sturgeon, Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsom, and Gisela Stuart. [287]

EU Referendum: The Great Debate was held at Wembley Arena on 21 June and hosted by David Dimbleby, Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis in front of an audience of 6,000. [288] The audience was split evenly between both sides. Sadiq Khan, Ruth Davidson and Frances O'Grady appeared for Remain. Leave was represented by the same trio as the ITV debate on 9 June (Johnson, Leadsom and Stuart). [289] Europe: The Final Debate with Jeremy Paxman was held the following day on Channel 4. [290]

Voting, voting areas, and counts

Sign outside a polling station in London on the morning of the referendum Brexit (27240041144).jpg
Sign outside a polling station in London on the morning of the referendum

Voting took place from 0700 BST (WEST) until 2200 BST (same hours CEST in Gibraltar) in 41,000 polling stations across 382 voting areas, with each polling station limited to a maximum of 2,500 voters. [291] The referendum was held across all four countries of the United Kingdom, as well as in Gibraltar, as a single majority vote. The 382 voting areas were grouped into twelve regional counts and there was separate declarations for each of the regional counts.

In England, as happened in the 2011 AV referendum, the 326 districts were used as the local voting areas and the returns of these then fed into nine English regional counts. In Scotland the local voting areas were the 32 local councils which then fed their results into the Scottish national count, and in Wales the 22 local councils were their local voting areas before the results were then fed into the Welsh national count. Northern Ireland, as was the case in the AV referendum, was a single voting and national count area although local totals by Westminster parliamentary constituency areas were announced.

Gibraltar was a single voting area, but as Gibraltar was to be treated and included as if it were a part of South West England, its results was included together with the South West England regional count. [291]

The following table shows the breakdown of the voting areas and regional counts that were used for the referendum. [291]

CountryCounts and voting areas
United Kingdom
(together with Gibraltar, treated as if it were a [full] part of the United Kingdom)
Referendum declaration;
12 regional counts;
382 voting areas (381 in the UK, 1 in Gibraltar)
Constituent countriesCounts and voting areas
England
(together with Gibraltar, treated as if it were a part of South West England)
9 regional counts;
327 voting areas (326 in the UK, 1 in Gibraltar)
Northern IrelandNational count and single voting area;
18 parliamentary constituency totals
ScotlandNational count;
32 voting areas
WalesNational count;
22 voting areas

Disturbances

On 16 June 2016, a pro-EU Labour MP, Jo Cox, was shot and killed in Birstall, West Yorkshire the week before the referendum by a man calling out "death to traitors, freedom for Britain", and a man who intervened was injured. [292] The two rival official campaigns agreed to suspend their activities as a mark of respect to Cox. [81] After the referendum, evidence emerged that Leave.EU had continued to put out advertising the day after Jo Cox's murder. [293] [294] David Cameron cancelled a planned rally in Gibraltar supporting British EU membership. [295] Campaigning resumed on 19 June. [296] [297] Polling officials in the Yorkshire and Humber region also halted counting of the referendum ballots on the evening of 23 June to observe a minute of silence. [298] The Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, UK Independence Party and the Green Party all announced that they would not contest the ensuing by-election in Cox's constituency as a mark of respect. [299]

On polling day itself two polling stations in Kingston upon Thames were flooded by rain and had to be relocated. [300] In advance of polling day, concern had been expressed that the courtesy pencils provided in polling booths could allow votes to be later altered. Although this was widely dismissed as a conspiracy theory (see: Voting pencil conspiracy theory), some Leave campaigners advocated that voters should instead use pens to mark their ballot papers. On polling day in Winchester an emergency call was made to police about "threatening behaviour" outside the polling station. After questioning a woman who had been offering to lend her pen to voters, the police decided that no offence was being committed. [301]

Result

Of the 382 voting areas in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar a total of 270 returned majority votes in favour of "Leave" whereas 129 returned majority votes in favour of "Remain" in the referendum including all 32 areas in Scotland.
Leave
Remain United Kingdom EU referendum 2016 area results 2-tone.svg
Of the 382 voting areas in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar a total of 270 returned majority votes in favour of "Leave" whereas 129 returned majority votes in favour of "Remain" in the referendum including all 32 areas in Scotland.
  Leave
  Remain

The final result was announced on Friday 24 June 2016 at 07:20 BST by then-Electoral Commission Chairwoman Jenny Watson at Manchester Town Hall after all 382 voting areas and the twelve UK regions had declared their totals. With a national turnout of 72% across the United Kingdom and Gibraltar (representing 33,577,342 people), at least 16,788,672 votes were required to win a majority. The electorate voted to "Leave the European Union", with a majority of 1,269,501 votes (3.8%) over those who voted "Remain a member of the European Union". [302] The national turnout of 72% was the highest ever for a UK-wide referendum, and the highest for any national vote since the 1992 general election. [303] [304] [305] [306] Roughly 38% of the UK population voted to leave the EU and roughly 35% voted to remain. [307]

2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
ChoiceVotes %
Leave the European Union17,410,74251.89
Remain a member of the European Union16,141,24148.11
Valid votes33,551,98399.92
Invalid or blank votes25,3590.08
Total votes33,577,342100.00
Registered voters/turnout46,500,00172.21
Source: Electoral Commission [308]
National referendum results (excluding invalid votes)
Leave
17,410,742 (51.9%)
Remain
16,141,241 (48.1%)

50%

Regional count results

RegionElectorateVoter turnout,
of eligible
VotesProportion of votesInvalid votes
RemainLeaveRemainLeave
  East Midlands 3,384,29974.2%1,033,0361,475,47941.18%58.82%1,981
  East of England 4,398,79675.7%1,448,6161,880,36743.52%56.48%2,329
  Greater London 5,424,76869.7%2,263,5191,513,23259.93%40.07%4,453
  North East England 1,934,34169.3%562,595778,10341.96%58.04%689
  North West England 5,241,56870.0%1,699,0201,966,92546.35%53.65%2,682
  Northern Ireland 1,260,95562.7%440,707349,44255.78%44.22%374
  Scotland 3,987,11267.2%1,661,1911,018,32262.00%38.00%1,666
  South East England 6,465,40476.8%2,391,7182,567,96548.22%51.78%3,427
  South West England (inc Gibraltar)4,138,13476.7%1,503,0191,669,71147.37%52.63%2,179
  Wales 2,270,27271.7%772,347854,57247.47%52.53%1,135
  West Midlands 4,116,57272.0%1,207,1751,755,68740.74%59.26%2,507
  Yorkshire and the Humber 3,877,78070.7%1,158,2981,580,93742.29%57.71%1,937

Results by constituent countries & Gibraltar

CountryElectorateVoter turnout,
of eligible
VotesProportion of votesInvalid votes
RemainLeaveRemainLeave
  England 38,981,66273.0%13,247,67415,187,58346.59%53.41%22,157
  Gibraltar 24,11983.7%19,32282395.91%4.08%27
  Northern Ireland 1,260,95562.7%440,707349,44255.78%44.22%384
  Scotland 3,987,11267.2%1,661,1911,018,32262.00%38.00%1,666
  Wales 2,270,27271.7%772,347854,57247.47%52.53%1,135

Voting figures from local referendum counts and ward-level data (using local demographic information collected in the 2011 census) suggests that Leave votes were strongly correlated with lower qualifications and higher age. [309] [310] [311] [312] The data were obtained from about one in nine wards in England and Wales, with very little information from Scotland and none from Northern Ireland. [309] A YouGov survey reported similar findings; these are summarised in the charts below. [313] [314]

Researchers based at the University of Warwick found that areas with "deprivation in terms of education, income and employment were more likely to vote Leave". The Leave vote tended to be greater in areas which had lower incomes and high unemployment, a strong tradition of manufacturing employment, and in which the population had fewer qualifications. [315] It also tended to be greater where there was a large flow of Eastern European migrants (mainly low-skilled workers) into areas with a large share of native low-skilled workers. [315] Those in lower social grades (especially the 'working class') were more likely to vote Leave, while those in higher social grades (especially the 'upper middle class') were more likely to vote Remain. [316]

Polls by Ipsos MORI, YouGov and Lord Ashcroft all assert that 70–75% of under 25s voted 'remain'. [317] Additionally according to YouGov, only 54% of 25- to 49-year-olds voted 'remain', whilst 60% of 50- to 64-year-olds and 64% of over-65s voted 'leave', meaning that the support for 'remain' was not as strong outside the youngest demographic. [318] Also, YouGov found that around 87% of under-25s in 2018 would now vote to stay in the EU. [319] Opinion polling by Lord Ashcroft Polls found that Leave voters believed leaving the EU was "more likely to bring about a better immigration system, improved border controls, a fairer welfare system, better quality of life, and the ability to control our own laws", while Remain voters believed EU membership "would be better for the economy, international investment, and the UK's influence in the world". [320] Immigration is thought to be a particular worry for older people that voted Leave, who consider it a potential threat to national identity and culture. [321] The polling found that the main reasons people had voted Leave were "the principle that decisions about the UK should be taken in the UK", and that leaving "offered the best chance for the UK to regain control over immigration and its own borders". The main reason people voted Remain was that "the risks of voting to leave the EU looked too great when it came to things like the economy, jobs and prices". [320]

One analysis suggests that in contrast to the general correlation between age and likelihood of having voted to leave the EU, those who experienced the majority of their formative period (between the ages of 15 and 25) during the Second World War are more likely to oppose Brexit than the rest of the over-65 age group,[ failed verification ] for they are more likely to associate the EU with bringing peace. [322]

Ipsos MORI demographic polling breakdown

On 5 September 2016, the polling company Ipsos MORI estimated the following percentage breakdown of votes in the referendum by different demographic group, as well as the percentage of turnout among registered voters in most of those demographic groups: [323]

Overall2015 general election vote
LabourLib DemConservativeUKIPDid not vote (but not too young)
Remain48%64%69%41%1%42%
Leave52%36%31%59%99%58%
Turnout72%77%81%85%89%45%
Age group
18–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465–7475+
Remain75%60%55%44%39%34%37%
Leave25%40%45%56%61%66%63%
Turnout60%66%71%73%79%82%73%
GenderMen by age groupWomen by age group
MenWomen18–3435–5455+18–3435–5455+
Remain45%51%64%44%35%67%55%39%
Leave55%49%36%56%65%33%45%61%
Turnout74%71%64%74%80%64%70%76%
Social grade Men by social grade Women by social grade
ABC1C2DEABC1C2DEABC1C2DE
Remain59%52%38%36%54%51%35%36%65%54%41%37%
Leave41%48%62%64%46%49%65%64%35%46%59%63%
Turnout79%75%70%65%81%75%70%67%76%74%70%63%
18–34 year olds by social grade 35–54 year olds by social grade 55+ year olds by social grade
ABC1C2DEABC1C2DEABC1C2DE
Remain71%71%54%56%61%53%35%36%48%37%32%30%
Leave29%29%46%44%39%47%65%64%52%63%68%70%
Turnout71%67%58%54%
Educational level
Degree or higherQualifications below degreeNo qualifications
Remain68%44%30%
Leave32%56%70%
Turnout78%71%71%
Work sectorHousing tenure
Public sectorPrivate sectorFully ownedMortgageSocial renterPrivate renter
Remain56%52%42%54%37%56%
Leave44%48%58%46%63%44%
Turnout79%75%61%65%
Ethnic group
WhiteAll non-whiteBlackSouth AsianChineseMixed raceOther
Remain46%69%73%67%70%67%65%
Leave54%31%27%33%30%33%35%
Turnout74%57%
Work status
Full-timePart-timeStudentUnemployed

(and claiming UC or JSA)

Not working

(looking after home)

RetiredOther
Remain53%53%80%40%36%36%39%
Leave47%47%20%60%64%64%61%
RegionRemainLeaveTurnout
All (GB)48%52%66%
East44%56%70%
East Midlands41%59%68%
London60%40%56%
North East42%58%64%
North West46%54%65%
Scotland62%38%62%
South East48%52%71%
South West47%53%72%
Wales47%53%66%
West Midlands41%59%66%
Yorkshire & Humberside42%58%65%

Reactions to the result

Pro-Brexit campaigners outside Parliament in London in November 2016 Brexit Campaigners out side Parliament November 2016.jpg
Pro-Brexit campaigners outside Parliament in London in November 2016

Immediate reaction to the vote

Youth protests and non-inclusion of underage citizens

The referendum was criticised for not granting people younger than 18 years of age a vote. Unlike in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the vote was not extended to 16- and 17-year-old citizens. Critics argued that these people would live with the consequences of the referendum for longer than those who were able to vote. Some supporters for the inclusion of these young citizens considered this exclusion a violation of democratic principles and a major shortcoming of the referendum. [324] [325]

Increase of applications for passports of other EU countries

The foreign ministry of Ireland stated on 24 June 2016 that the number of applications from the UK for Irish passports had increased significantly. [326] [327] Enquiries about passports also increased: the Irish Embassy in London reported 4,000 a day immediately after the vote to leave, in comparison with the normal 200 a day. [328] Other EU nations also had increases in requests for passports from British citizens, including France and Belgium. [328]

Abuse and hate crime allegations

There were more than a hundred reports of racist abuse and hate crime in the immediate aftermath of the referendum, with many citing the plan to leave the European Union. [329] It was claimed that there had been a 57% increase in hate crime following the referendum vote. However, the National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Hate Crime, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, said: "This should not be read as a national increase in hate crime of 57% but an increase in reporting through one mechanism". [330] Others[ who? ] claimed that the numbers did not necessarily reflect "any objective spread in modern Britain", but that the apparent spike in hate crime was the result of the subjective definition of the crime and that the police being incentivised "to find hatred". In the UK, crimes are recorded as hate crimes based on the perception of the victim. Assistant Chief Constable Maurice Mason of the Essex police explained that "If the person feels it's a hate crime it'll get recorded as a hate crime", saying that his county's "50% increase in reported hate crimes" post referendum were "low level matters, some members of the public complaining about Nigel Farage or whatever ... that’ll get recorded as a hate crime". [331]

On 24 June 2016, a Polish school in Cambridgeshire was vandalised with a sign reading "Leave the EU. No more Polish vermin". [332] Following the referendum result, similar signs were distributed outside homes and schools in Huntingdon, with some left on the cars of Polish residents collecting their children from school. [333] On 26 June, the London office of the Polish Social and Cultural Association was vandalised with graffiti that was initially characterised as a racist hate crime. However it later emerged that the graffiti, which said, 'F*** you OMP’ may have been directed at OMP, a eurosceptic Polish think tank that had issued a statement congratulating Britain on its Brexit vote. [334] [335] This incident was also unsuccessfully investigated by the police. [332] [335] In Wales, a Muslim woman was told to leave after the referendum, even though she had been born and raised in the United Kingdom. [336] Other reports of racism occurred as perceived foreigners were targeted in supermarkets, on buses and on street corners, and told to leave the country immediately. [337] All such incidents were widely condemned by politicians and religious leaders. [338]

By September 2016, it was reported, according to the LGBT anti-violence charity Galop, that attacks on LGBT people in the United Kingdom had risen by 147% in the three months after the referendum. [339] However some gay commentators dismissed the claim of a link between Brexit and an increase in attacks on members of the LGBTQ community. [340]

The killing of a Polish national Arkadiusz Jozwik in Harlow, Essex in August 2016 [341] was widely, but falsely, [342] speculated to be linked to the Leave result. [343] A BBC Newsnight report by John Sweeney showed an interview with someone who knew the victim who then claimed that Leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage had "blood on his hands". [344] It was mentioned in the European Parliament by the EU Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker who said: "We Europeans can never accept Polish workers being harassed, beaten up or even murdered on the streets of Harlow." [343] A teenager was subsequently convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three and a half years in a young offender institution but the trial did not conclude that the altercation resulting in Jozwik's death was a hate crime. [342] Nigel Farage criticised the "sensationalist" reporting of the issue and complained to the BBC about broadcasting the "blood on his hands" remark. [345] [346]

Petition for a new referendum

A pro-EU demonstration in Manchester in October 2017 Manchester anti-Brexit protest for Conservative conference, October 1, 2017 IMG 2869.jpg
A pro-EU demonstration in Manchester in October 2017

Within hours of the result's announcement, a petition, entitled "EU Referendum Rules triggering a 2nd EU Referendum" and calling for a second referendum to be held in the event that a result was secured with less than 60% of the vote and on a turnout of less than 75%, attracted tens of thousands of new signatures. The petition had actually been initiated by someone favouring an exit from the EU, one William Oliver Healey of the English Democrats on 24 May 2016, when the Remain faction had been leading in the polls, and had received 22 signatures prior to the referendum result being declared. [347] [348] [349] On 26 June, Healey made it clear on his Facebook page that the petition had actually been started to favour an exit from the EU and that he was a strong supporter of the Vote Leave and Grassroots Out campaigns. Healey also claimed that the petition had been "hijacked by the remain campaign". [350] English Democrats chairman Robin Tilbrook suggested those who had signed the petition were experiencing "sour grapes" about the result of the referendum. [351] It attracted more than four million signatures, meaning it was considered for debate in Parliament; [352] [353] this debate took place on 5 September 2016. [354]

On 27 June 2016, David Cameron's spokesperson stated that holding another vote on Britain's membership of the European Union was "not remotely on the cards". [355] Home Secretary Theresa May made the following comment when announcing her candidacy to replace Cameron as Conservative leader (and hence as Prime Minister) on 30 June: "The campaign was fought ... and the public gave their verdict. There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU ... and no second referendum. ... Brexit means Brexit." [356] The petition was rejected by the government on 9 July. Its response said that the referendum vote "must be respected" and that the government "must now prepare for the process to exit the EU". [357]

Political

Conservative Party

Prime Minister David Cameron announced his resignation following the outcome of the referendum. David Cameron announces resignation.jpg
Prime Minister David Cameron announced his resignation following the outcome of the referendum.
Theresa May succeeded David Cameron as Prime Minister following the vote. Theresa May in Tallin crop.jpg
Theresa May succeeded David Cameron as Prime Minister following the vote.

On 24 June, the Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he would resign by October because the Leave campaign had been successful in the referendum. The leadership election was scheduled for 9 September. The new leader would be in place before the autumn conference set to begin on 2 October. [358] Unexpectedly, Boris Johnson, who had been a leading figure for Vote Leave, declined to be nominated shortly before the deadline for nominations. On 13 July, almost three weeks after the vote, Theresa May succeeded Cameron as Prime Minister.

Labour Party

The Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn faced growing criticism from his party, which had supported remaining within the EU, for poor campaigning. [359] On 26 June 2016, Corbyn sacked Hilary Benn (the shadow foreign secretary) for apparently leading a coup against him. This led to a string of Labour MPs quickly resigning their roles in the party. [360] [361] A no confidence motion was held on 28 June; Corbyn lost the motion with more than 80% (172) of MPs voting against him. [362] Corbyn responded with a statement that the motion had no "constitutional legitimacy" and that he intended to continue as the party's leader. The vote did not require the party to call a leadership election [363] but after Angela Eagle and Owen Smith launched leadership challenges to Corbyn, the 2016 Labour Party leadership election was triggered. Corbyn won the contest, with a larger share of the vote than in 2015.

UK Independence Party

On 4 July 2016 Nigel Farage stood down as the leader of UKIP, stating that his "political ambition has been achieved" following the result of the referendum. [364] Following the resignation of the party leader Diane James, Farage became an interim leader on 5 October 2016. [365] He was succeeded by Paul Nuttall on 28 November 2016.

Scottish independence

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on 24 June 2016 that it was "clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union" and that Scotland had "spoken decisively" with a "strong, unequivocal" vote to remain in the European Union. [366] On the same day, the Scottish Government announced that officials would plan for a "highly likely" second referendum on independence from the United Kingdom and start preparing legislation to that effect. [367] Former First Minister Alex Salmond said that the vote was a "significant and material change" in Scotland's position within the United Kingdom, and that he was certain his party would implement its manifesto on holding a second referendum. [368] Sturgeon said she will communicate to all EU member states that "Scotland has voted to stay in the EU and I intend to discuss all options for doing so." [369]

New political movement

In reaction to the lack of a unified pro-EU voice following the referendum, the Liberal Democrats and others discussed the launch of a new centre-left political movement. [370] This was officially launched on 24 July 2016 as More United. [371]

Economy

On the morning of 24 June, the pound sterling fell to its lowest level against the US dollar since 1985. [372] The drop over the day was 8% – the biggest one-day fall in the pound since the introduction of floating exchange rates following the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971. [373]

The FTSE 100 initially fell 8%, then recovered to be 3% down by the close of trading on 24 June. [374] The FTSE 100 index fully recovered by 29 June and subsequently rose above its pre-referendum levels. [375]

The referendum result also had an immediate impact on some other countries. The South African rand experienced its largest single-day decline since 2008, dropping over 8% against the United States dollar. [376] [377] Other countries affected included Canada, whose stock exchange fell 1.70%, [378] Nigeria [377] and Kenya. [377]

On 28 June 2016, former governor of Bank of England Mervyn King said that current governor Mark Carney would help to guide Britain through the next few months, adding that the BOE would undoubtedly lower the temperature of the post-referendum uncertainty, and that British citizens should keep calm, wait and see. [379]

On 5 January 2017, Andy Haldane, chief economist and the executive director of monetary analysis and statistics at the Bank of England, admitted that the bank's forecasts (predicting an economic downturn should the referendum favour Brexit) had proved inaccurate given the subsequent strong market performance. [380] He stated that the bank's models "were rather narrow and fragile [and] ill-equipped to making sense of behaviours that were deeply irrational" and said that his "profession is to some degree in crisis" due to this and the unforeseen 20072008 crisis. [380] [381]

Electoral Reform Society

In August 2016, the Electoral Reform Society published a highly critical report on the referendum and called for a review of how future events are run. Contrasting it very unfavourably with the 'well-informed grassroots' campaign for Scottish independence, Katie Ghose described it as "dire" with "glaring democratic deficiencies" which left voters bewildered. Ghose noted a generally negative response to establishment figures with 29% of voters saying David Cameron made them more likely to vote leave whereas only 14% said he made them want to vote remain. Looking ahead, the society called for an official organisation to highlight misleading claims and for Office of Communications (Ofcom) to define the role that broadcasters were expected to play. [382]

Television coverage

The BBC, ITV and Sky News all provided live coverage of the counts and the reaction to the result. The BBC's coverage, presented by David Dimbleby, Laura Kuenssberg and John Curtice, was simulcast domestically on BBC One and the BBC News Channel, and internationally on BBC World News. ITV's coverage was presented by Tom Bradby, Robert Peston and Allegra Stratton.

The BBC called the referendum result for Leave with its projected forecast at 04:40 BST on 24 June. David Dimbleby announced it with the words:

Well, at twenty minutes to five, we can now say the decision taken in 1975 by this country to join the Common Market has been reversed by this referendum to leave the EU. We are absolutely clear now that there is no way that the Remain side can win. It looks as if the gap is going to be something like 52 to 48, so a four-point lead for leaving the EU, and that is the result of this referendum, which has been preceded by weeks and months of argument and dispute and all the rest of it. The British people have spoken and the answer is: we're out!

(The remark about 1975 was technically incorrect; the UK had joined the Common Market in 1973 and the 1975 referendum was on whether to remain in it.)

Television coverage
TimeslotProgrammePresentersBroadcaster
22:00–06:00EU Referendum Live Tom Bradby, Robert Peston & Allegra Stratton ITV
06:00–09:30 Good Morning Britain Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid & Charlotte Hawkins
09:30–14:00 ITV News Alastair Stewart
18:00–19:00 ITV News Mark Austin, Robert Peston & Mary Nightingale
22:00–22:45 ITV News Tom Bradby, Robert Peston & Allegra Stratton
21:55–09:00EU Referendum – The Result David Dimbleby, Laura Kuenssberg & John Curtice BBC
09:00–13:00EU Referendum – The Reaction Sophie Raworth, Victoria Derbyshire & Norman Smith
13:00–13:45 BBC News at One Sophie Raworth
13:45–14:00Regional newsVarious

Investigations into campaigns

Campaign spending

A protest following the Cambridge Analytica allegations, 29 March 2018 Cambridge Analytica protest Parliament Square1.jpg
A protest following the Cambridge Analytica allegations, 29 March 2018

On 9 May 2016, Leave.EU was fined £50,000 by the UK Information Commissioner's Office 'for failing to follow the rules about sending marketing messages': they sent people text messages without having first gained their permission to do so. [383] [384]

In February 2017, the Electoral Commission announced that it was investigating the spending of Stronger in and Vote Leave, along with smaller parties, as they had not submitted all the necessary invoices, receipts, or details to back up their accounts. [385] In April 2017, the Commission specified that 'there were reasonable grounds to suspect that potential offences under the law may have occurred' in relation to Leave.EU. [386] [387]

On 4 March 2017, the Information Commissioner's Office also reported that it was 'conducting a wide assessment of the data-protection risks arising from the use of data analytics, including for political purposes' in relation to the Brexit campaign. It was specified that among the organisations to be investigated was Cambridge Analytica and its relationship with the Leave.EU campaign. [388] [387]

ICO report: Investigation into the use of data analytics in political campaigns Investigation into the use of data analytics in political campaigns.pdf
ICO report: Investigation into the use of data analytics in political campaigns

In May 2017, The Irish Times reported that £425,622 donated by the Constitutional Research Council to the Democratic Unionist Party for spending during the referendum may have originated in Saudi Arabia. [389]

In November 2017, the Electoral Commission said that it was investigating allegations that Arron Banks, an insurance businessman and the largest single financial supporter of Brexit, violated campaign spending laws. [390] The commission's investigation focuses on both Banks and Better for the Country Limited, a company of which Banks is a director and majority shareholder. [391] The company donated £2.4 million to groups supporting British withdrawal from the EU. [390] The investigation began after the Commission found "initial grounds to suspect breaches of electoral law". [392] The Commission specifically seeks to determine "whether or not Mr Banks was the true source of loans reported by a referendum campaigner in his name" and "whether or not Better for the Country Limited was the true source of donations made to referendum campaigners in its name, or if it was acting as an agent". [390]

In December 2017, the Electoral Commission announced several fines related to breaches of campaign finance rules during the referendum campaign. [393] The Liberal Democrats were fined £18,000 and Open Britain (formerly Britain Stronger in Europe) paid £1,250 in fines. [393] The maximum possible fine was £20,000. [393]

In March 2018, Deutsche Welle reported that Canadian whistleblower Christopher Wylie "told UK lawmakers during a committee hearing...that a firm linked to Cambridge Analytica helped the official Vote Leave campaign [the official pro-Brexit group headed by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove] circumvent campaign financing laws during the Brexit referendum". [394]

In May 2018, the Electoral Commission fined Leave.EU £70,000 for unlawfully overspending by a minimum of £77,380 – exceeding the statutory spending limit by more than 10%, inaccurately reporting three loans it had received from Aaron Banks totalling £6 million including "a lack of transparency and incorrect reporting around who provided the loans, the dates the loans were entered into, the repayment date and the interest rate", and failing to provide the required invoices for "97 payments of over £200, totalling £80,224". The Electoral Commission's director of political finance and regulation and legal counsel said that the "level of fine we have imposed has been constrained by the cap on the commission's fines". [395] [396] In the same month, the Electoral Commission issued a £2,000 fine to the pro-EU campaign group Best for Our Future Limited; it also fined Unison £1,500 for inaccurately reporting a donation to Best for Our Future and failing to pay an invoice; and it fined GMB £500 for inaccurately reporting a donation to Best for Our Future. [397]

In July 2018, the Electoral Commission fined Vote Leave £61,000 for not declaring £675,000 incurred under a common plan with BeLeave, unlawfully overspending by £449,079, inaccurately reporting 43 items of spending totalling £236,501, failing to provide the required invoices for "8 payments of over £200, totalling £12,850", and failing to comply with an investigation notice issued by the commission. Darren Grimes representing BeLeave was fined £20,000, the maximum permitted individual fine, for exceeding its spending limit as an unregistered campaigner by more than £660,000 and delivering an inaccurate and incomplete spending return. Veterans for Britain was also fined £250 for inaccurately reporting a donation it received from Vote Leave. [398] The Electoral Commission referred the matter to the police. On 14 September 2018, following a High Court of Justice case, the court found that Vote Leave had received incorrect advice from the UK Electoral Commission, but confirmed that the overspending had been illegal. Vote Leave subsequently said they would not have paid it without the advice. [399] [400]

In February 2019, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's 18-month investigation into disinformation and fake news published its final report, [401] calling for and inquiry to establish, in relation to the referendum, "what actually happened with regard to foreign influence, disinformation, funding, voter manipulation, and the sharing of data, so that appropriate changes to the law can be made and lessons can be learnt for future elections and referenda". [402]

Speculation about Russian interference

In the run-up to the Brexit referendum, Russian President Vladimir Putin refrained from taking a public position on Brexit, [403] but Prime Minister David Cameron suggested that "Putin might be happy" with Britain leaving the EU, [404] while the Remain campaign accused the Kremlin of secretly backing a "Leave" vote in the referendum. [405] Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denied these allegations, saying that "Russia is blamed for everything. Not only in the UK but all over the world. (...) But Russia has nothing to do with Brexit at all. We're not involved in this process." [403] Steve Rosenberg, the Moscow correspondent for BBC News, suggested on 26 June 2016 that the Russian government stood to gain from Brexit in several ways: (1) enabling Russian state media "to contrast post-referendum upheaval and uncertainty abroad with a picture of 'stability' back home and images of a 'strong' President Putin at the helm" in a way that bolstered the ruling United Russia party; (2) to place the value of the British pound under pressure and thereby exact retaliation for sanctions against Russia imposed after its occupation of Crimea; (3) to "make the European Union more friendly towards Russia" in the absence of British membership; and (4) to force the resignation of Cameron, who had been critical of Russian actions. [405] After the referendum result Putin said that Brexit brought "positives and negatives". [405]

In December 2016, MP Ben Bradshaw speculated in Parliament that Russia may have interfered in the referendum. [406] In February 2017, he called on the GCHQ intelligence service to reveal the information it had on Russian interference. [407] In April 2017, the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (PACAC) issued a report suggesting that there were technical indications that a June 2016 crash of the voter-registration website was caused by a distributed denial-of-service attack using botnets. [408] The Cabinet Office, in response, stated that it did not believe that "malign intervention" had caused the crash, and instead attributed the crash "to a spike in users just before the registration deadline". [408]

In October 2017, MP Damian Collins, chairman of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg requesting documents relating to possible Russian government manipulation of Facebook during the Brexit referendum and the general election the following year. [409]

In October 2017, a study by researchers at City, University of London was published in the journal Social Science Computer Review . The article identified 13,493 Twitter accounts that posted a total of about 65,000 messages in the last four weeks of the Brexit referendum campaign, the vast majority campaigning for a "Leave" vote; they were deleted shortly after the referendum. [410] [411] A further 26,538 Twitter accounts suddenly changed their username. [411] The research findings "raised questions about the possibility that a coordinated 'bot army' was deployed, and also about the possibility that Twitter itself may have detected and removed them without disclosing the manipulation". [410]

In November 2017, the Electoral Commission told The Times that it had launched an inquiry to "examine the growing role of social media in election campaigns amid concerns from the intelligence and security agencies that Russia is trying to destabilise the democratic process in Britain". [412] The commission was in contact with Facebook and Twitter as part of the inquiry. [412]

According to Facebook, Russian-based operatives spent 97 cents to place three adverts on the social network in the run-up to the referendum, which were viewed 200 times. [413]

On 10 June 2018, The Guardian reported that investigators from The Observer had seen evidence that Leave.EU funder Arron Banks had met Russian officials "multiple times" from 2015 to 2017 and had discussed "a multibillion dollar opportunity to buy Russian goldmines". [414]

In July 2020, the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament published a report on Russian interference in British politics, which concluded that the government "had not seen or sought evidence of successful interference in UK democratic processes" and criticised the government for failing to conduct an assessment of Russian attempts to interfere in the Brexit referendum. [415] Three months later, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, who had decided to look into potential unlawful marketing involving repurposing of data during the referendum, produced her final report. She concluded that she had found no evidence of Russian involvement in the referendum. [416] [417]

See also

Notes

  1. The figure widely circulated by the Vote Leave campaign that the UK sends the EU £350m a week was declared a "misuse of official statistics" by the UK Statistics authority. [87] This figure did not take into account the UK's budget rebate. Taking the rebate into account, the UK sent the EU £252m a week in 2016. Later, a private prosecution was launched against Boris Johnson for misconduct in public office; the case was thrown out. [88]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Carswell</span> British politician

John Douglas Wilson Carswell is a British former politician who served as a Member of Parliament from 2005 to 2017, co-founded Vote Leave and currently serves as president and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom</span> Criticism/Opposition to the European Union in the United Kingdom

Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom is a continuum of belief ranging from the opposition to certain political policies of the European Union to the complete opposition to the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union. It has been a significant element in the politics of the United Kingdom (UK). A 2009 Eurobarometer survey of EU citizens showed support for membership of the EU was lowest in the United Kingdom, alongside Latvia and Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brexit</span> UK withdrawal from the European Union (2020)

Brexit was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). Following a referendum on 23 June 2016, Brexit officially took place at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020. The UK is the only sovereign country to have left the EU. The UK had been a member state of the EU or its predecessor, the European Communities (EC), since 1 January 1973. Following Brexit, EU law and the Court of Justice of the European Union no longer have primacy over British laws. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 retains relevant EU law as domestic law, which the UK can amend or repeal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Union Referendum Act 2015</span> United Kingdom legislation

The European Union Referendum Act 2015 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that made legal provision for a consultative referendum to be held in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar, on whether it should remain a member state of the European Union or leave the bloc altogether. The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons by Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary on 28 May 2015. Two weeks later, the second reading of the Bill was supported by MPs from all parties except the SNP; the Bill subsequently passed on its third reading in the Commons on 7 September 2015. It was approved by the House of Lords on 14 December 2015, and given Royal Assent on 17 December 2015. The Act came partly into force on the same day and came into full legal force on 1 February 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom</span> 2019 election of members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom

The 2019 European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2019 European Parliament election, held on Thursday 23 May 2019 and the results were announced on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May 2019, after all the other EU countries had voted. This was the United Kingdom's final participation in a European Parliament election before leaving the European Union on 31 January 2020, and was also the last election to be held under the provisions of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 before its repeal under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vote Leave</span> Campaign for UK withdrawal from the EU

Vote Leave was a campaigning organisation that supported a "Leave" vote in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. On 13 April 2016 it was designated by the Electoral Commission as the official campaign in favour of leaving the European Union in the Referendum.

Leave.EU was a political campaign group that was first established to support the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union in the June 2016 referendum. Founded in July 2015 as The Know, the campaign was relaunched in September of that year with its name changed to "Leave.eu" to reflect altered wording in the referendum question.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opinion polling for the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum</span>

The referendum on EU membership took place on 23 June 2016. Opinion polling for the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum was ongoing in the months between the announcement of a referendum and the referendum polling day. Polls on the general principle of the UK's membership of the European Union were carried out for a number of years prior to the referendum. Opinion polls of voters in general tended to show roughly equal proportions in favour of remaining and leaving. Polls of business leaders, scientists, and lawyers showed majorities in favour of remaining. Among non-British citizens in other EU member states, polling suggested that a majority were in favour of the UK remaining in the EU in principle, but that a similarly sized majority believed that if the UK were only able to remain in the EU on renegotiated terms then it should leave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grassroots Out</span> Political pressure organization in favor of Brexit

Grassroots Out (GO) was an organisation funded by Arron Banks that campaigned in favour of EU withdrawal in the 2016 referendum on EU membership in the United Kingdom. The organisation was formed in January 2016, as a result of infighting between Vote Leave and Leave.EU, and officially launched on 23 January 2016 in Kettering.

A number of politicians, public figures, newspapers and magazines, businesses and other organisations endorsed either the United Kingdom remaining in the EU or the United Kingdom leaving the EU during the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campaigning in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum</span> Public outreach by politicians in the lead-up to Brexit

Campaigning in the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum began unofficially on 20 February 2016 when Prime Minister David Cameron formally announced under the terms of the European Union Referendum Act 2015 that a referendum would be held on the issue of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union. The official campaign period for the 2016 referendum ran from 15 April 2016 until the day of the poll on 23 June 2016.

Issues in the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016 are the economic, human and political issues that were discussed during the campaign about the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, during the period leading up to the Brexit referendum of 23 June 2016. [Issues that have arisen since then are outside the scope of this article].

After the British EU membership referendum held on 23 June 2016, in which a majority voted to leave the European Union, the United Kingdom experienced political and economic upsets, with spillover effects across the rest of the European Union and the wider world. Prime Minister David Cameron, who had campaigned for Remain, announced his resignation on 24 June, triggering a Conservative leadership election, won by Home Secretary Theresa May. Following Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn's loss of a motion of no confidence among the Parliamentary Labour Party, he also faced a leadership challenge, which he won. Nigel Farage stepped down from leadership of the pro-Leave party UKIP in July. After the elected party leader resigned, Farage then became the party's interim leader on 5 October until Paul Nuttall was elected leader on 28 November.

The result in favour of Brexit of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum is one of the most significant political events for Britain during the 21st century. The debate provoked major consideration to an array of topics, argued up-to, and beyond, the referendum on 23 June 2016. The referendum was originally conceived by David Cameron as a means to defeat the anti-EU faction within his own party by having it fail, but he misjudged the level of public support for leaving, particularly amongst Labour Party voters. Factors included sovereignty, immigration, the economy and anti-establishment politics, amongst various other influences. The result of the referendum was that 51.8% of the votes were in favour of leaving the European Union. The formal withdrawal from the EU took place at 23:00 on 31 January 2020, almost three years after Theresa May triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on 29 March 2017. This page provides an overarching analysis of the different arguments which were presented by both the Leave and Remain campaigns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Kingdom membership of the European Union</span> Period of the United Kingdom being a member state of the European Union

The United Kingdom was a member state of the European Union (EU) and of its predecessor the European Communities (EC) – principally the European Economic Community (EEC) from 1 January 1973 until 31 January 2020. Since the foundation of the EEC, the UK had been an important neighbour and then leading member state, until Brexit ended 47 years of membership. During the UK's time as a member state two referendums were held on the issue of its membership, with the first being held on 5 June 1975, resulting in a vote to stay in the EC, and the second, held on 23 June 2016, which resulted in the vote to leave the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leave Means Leave</span> UK pro-Brexit political pressure group

Leave Means Leave was a pro-Brexit, Eurosceptic political pressure group organisation that campaigned and lobbied for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union following the 'Leave' result of the EU referendum on 23 June 2016. The campaign was co-chaired by British property entrepreneur Richard Tice and business consultant John Longworth. The vice-chairman was Leader of the Brexit Party, Nigel Farage.

Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum is a debated subject and remains unproven, though multiple sources argue evidence exists demonstrating that the Russian government attempted to influence British public opinion in favour of leaving the European Union. Investigations into this subject have been undertaken by the UK Electoral Commission, the UK Parliament's Culture Select Committee and Intelligence and Security Committee, and the United States Senate. "The Russia Report" published by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament in July 2020 did not specifically address the Brexit campaign, but it concluded that Russian interference in UK politics is commonplace. It also found substantial evidence that there had been interference in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement</span> Proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement

A referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement, also referred to as a "second referendum", a "rerun", a "people's vote", or a "confirmatory public vote", was proposed by a number of politicians and pressure groups as a way to break the deadlock during the 2017–19 Parliament surrounding the meaningful vote on the Brexit deal.

Brexit was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020. As of 2020, the UK is the only member state to have left the EU. Britain entered the predecessor to the EU, the European Communities (EC), on 1 January 1973. Following this, Eurosceptic groups grew in popularity in the UK, opposing aspects of both the EC and the EU. As Euroscepticism increased during the early 2010s, Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a speech in January 2013 at Bloomberg London, in which he called for reform of the EU and promised an in–out referendum on the UK's membership if the Conservative Party won a majority at the 2015 general election. The Conservatives won 330 seats at the election, giving Cameron a majority of 12, and a bill to hold a referendum was introduced to Parliament that month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro-EU leaflet</span> 2016 UK Government pamphlet

"Why the Government Believes That Voting to Remain in the European Union is the Best Decision for the UK" was a one-off pamphlet created in April 2016 by the government of the United Kingdom. The leaflet was created in anticipation of the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum in June, which would ask the British public whether the UK should leave the EU. After internal polling revealed that 85 per cent of the public wanted more information before making their decision, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the government would send a leaflet to households across the UK, explaining why remaining in the EU was the best choice for the UK. The leaflets were paid for by British taxpayers at a cost of £9.3 million, and were delivered across the UK in two waves: the first to households in England, and the second to households in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

References

  1. "True stories of the 1975 EEC Referendum". OpenLearn. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  2. "Cameron says no second EU referendum if result is close". Reuters. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  3. "Gisela Stuart to Chair Vote Leave campaign – Vote Leave". 27 July 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  4. "Labour fears voters will back Brexit". 10 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  5. Carrell, Severin (3 March 2016). "Scotland to campaign officially to remain in the EU". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  6. "Europe". 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  7. correspondent, Rowena Mason Political (14 March 2016). "Green party 'loud and proud' about backing Britain in Europe". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  8. "Major coach tour to crusade for Brexit – UKIP". 18 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  9. Hope, Christopher (21 September 2015). "Conservative Party to stay neutral during EU referendum". Daily Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  10. Helm, Toby; McDonald, Henry (9 January 2016). "Two-thirds of Tory MPs want Britain to quit European Union". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  11. "EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, Sam (1 April 2014). "Britain and the EU: A long and rocky relationship". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  13. "Treaty of Maastricht on European Union". EUR-Lex. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  14. Tribune, Chicago (24 June 2016). "Fateful O'Hare Airport pizza meeting sealed Brexit vote deal: British media". Chicago Tribune .
  15. "MPs debate case for UK pulling out of European Union". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. "David Cameron Pledges EU Referendum if Conservatives Win Next Election". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  17. "David Cameron: EU referendum bill shows only Tories listen". BBC News. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  18. "European Union (Referendum) Bill (HC Bill 11)". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 20 June 2013.
  19. "Private Members' Bills". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  20. "Presentation of Bills". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  21. "EU referendum: Tory MP will take forward bill". BBC News. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  22. European Union (Referendum) Bill, Bill 11 of 2013–14 Research Paper 13/41 (page 1), 28 June 2013; access-date 5 July 2014.
  23. Rigby, Elizabeth; Pickard, Jim (31 January 2014). "EU referendum bill blocked in Lords". Financial Times . Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  24. "EU referendum bill likely after Bob Neill comes third in backbench ballot". The Guardian . Press Association. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  25. Kirkup, James (2 July 2014). "Conservative law on EU referendum raises 'serious' possibilty[sic] of exit, says MP". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  26. "MPs debate Bob Neill's Bill for EU membership referendum". BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  27. "European Union (Referendum) Bill 2014–15 – UK Parliament". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  28. Parker, George; Stacey, Kiran (26 May 2014). "Ukip and Front National lead populist earthquake". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  29. "Miliband: EU poll is 'clear and present danger' to jobs". BBC News. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  30. "Liberal Democrats Hint Cameron's EU Referendum Plan Negotiable". Reuters. 15 April 2015.
  31. "Yes to an EU Referendum: Green MP Calls for Chance to Build a Better Europe". Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  32. DUP manifesto, 2015 Archived 22 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine , mydup.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  33. "The EU" Archived 8 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Respect Party. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  34. The Conservative Party Manifesto 2015 (PDF). Conservative Party. p. 30. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  35. 1 2 3 Ross, Tim (15 March 2014). "David Cameron: my seven targets for a new EU" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  36. 1 2 "The four key points from David Cameron's EU letter". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  37. Cameron, David. "A new settlement for the United Kingdom in a reformed European Union" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 McKinney, Conor James (22 February 2016). "Explaining the EU deal: an introduction" . Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  39. O'Brien, Charlotte (22 February 2016). "Explaining the EU deal: child benefit" . Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  40. Craig, Paul (22 February 2016). "Explaining the EU deal: the UK and the eurozone" . Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  41. Nic Shuibhne, Niamh (22 February 2016). "Explaining the EU deal: limiting residence rights for family members" . Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  42. Barnard, Catherine (22 February 2016). "Explaining the EU deal: deporting EU immigrants" . Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  43. Peers, Steve (24 February 2016). "Explaining the EU deal: is it legally binding?" . Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  44. "How David Cameron blew it – The behind-the-scenes story of a failed campaign to keep Britain in the European Union". Politico EU. POLITICO SPRL. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  45. Parker, George. "Cameron pins Brexit on EU failure to grant UK brake on migration". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  46. Stewart, Heather (28 June 2016). "Cameron tells EU leaders they must offer UK more control over immigration". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  47. Woodcock, Andrew (28 June 2016). "Cameron warns EU immigration rules could threaten UK trade deal" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  48. "Queen's Speech 2015: EU referendum, tax freeze and right-to-buy". BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  49. Watt, Nicholas. "David Cameron may bring EU referendum forward to 2016". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  50. "European Union Referendum Bill 2015–16". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  51. "EU referendum: MPs support plan for say on Europe". BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  52. "Labour to back EU referendum bill, says Harman". BBC News. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  53. European Union Referendum Act 2015 in BAILII.
  54. "European Union Referendum Act 2015". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  55. Rowena Mason; Nicholas Watt; Ian Traynor; Jennifer Rankin (20 February 2016). "EU referendum to take place on 23 June, David Cameron confirms". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  56. Act No. 2016-01 (Legislation Number (L.N.) 2016/034, as amended by L.N. 2016/035, L.N. 2016/082 and L.N. 2016/120.
  57. House of Commons Library BRIEFING PAPER Number 07212, 3 June 2015. This content is released under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
  58. R (Miller) v Brexit Secretary EWHC 2768 (Admin) at para. 106.
  59. "Referendum on membership of the European Union: Assessment of the Electoral Commission on the proposed referendum question" (PDF). United Kingdom Electoral Commission . Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  60. Watt, Nicholas; Syal, Rajeev (1 September 2015). "EU referendum: Cameron accepts advice to change wording of question". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  61. "David Cameron just gave a massive hint about when the EU referendum will happen" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  62. "Carwyn Jones writes a joint letter with the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland to urge EU referendum delay". WalesOnline. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  63. "EU referendum: Cameron sets June date for UK vote". BBC News. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  64. "Who can vote in the EU referendum?". fullfact.org. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  65. "Brexit and the threats it poses to Bermuda", The Royal Gazette , 16 June 2016
  66. "Brexit and the Falkland Islands - Penguin News". www.penguin-news.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  67. "EU citizens not eligible for referendum vote, says No 10". BBC News. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  68. "Background to the UK's EU referendum 2016" . Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  69. Sims, Alexandra; Stone, Jon (8 December 2015). "MPs block plan to let 16 and 17-year olds vote in the EU referendum" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  70. "EU vote registration deadline extended". BBC News. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  71. "European Union referendum: UK goes to the polls". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  72. 1 2 "EU referendum: Thousands wrongly sent polling cards". BBC News. 3 June 2016.
  73. 1 2 "Lord of the Rings star launches Manx EU referendum petition". BBC News. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  74. "'Patriotic' call to remain in the EU". 12 October 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  75. "The battle to be official Leave campaign". 14 March 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  76. Savage, Michael (24 March 2018). "Keep your enemies close: the splits and infighting behind the Leave campaigns". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  77. "Lead EU referendum campaigns named". 13 April 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  78. "Cameron: MPs will be allowed free vote on EU referendum – video" (Video). The Guardian. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016. The PM also indicates Tory MPs will be able to take differing positions once the renegotiation has finished
  79. Hughes, Laura; Swinford, Stephen; Dominiczak, Peter (5 January 2016). "EU Referendum: David Cameron forced to let ministers campaign for Brexit after fears of a Cabinet resignation". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  80. "EU referendum: PM 'makes no apology' for £9m EU leaflets". BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  81. 1 2 "EU Referendum campaigns remain suspended after Jo Cox attack". BBC News. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  82. "Why the Government believes that voting to remain in the European Union is the best decision for the UK" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  83. Landale, James (7 April 2016). "EU referendum: Government to spend £9m on leaflets to every home". BBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  84. "All voters to get EU referendum guide". BBC News. 15 May 2016.
  85. "The 2016 EU Referendum Voting Guide" (PDF). About My Vote. Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  86. "Why Vote Leave". Vote Leave. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  87. Use of '£350m per week' figure to describe UK's financial contributions to the EU (PDF) (Report). 17 September 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  88. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson vs Brexit Justice Ltd and Marcus Ball(High Court, Queen's Bench3 July 2019), Text.
  89. "Get the Facts". Britain Stronger in Europe. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  90. "Policy: Europe". greenparty.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  91. Wintour, Patrick (2 June 2015). "Andy Burnham pushes Labour to set up separate pro-European Union campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  92. Patrick Wintour. "Alan Johnson to head Labour Yes campaign for EU referendum". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  93. "Nick Clegg: Pro-Europeans are the real reformers now". libdems.org.uk. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  94. Staff. "Positions". partyof.wales. Plaid Cymru. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  95. Greer, Ross (10 October 2015). "EU Referendum: Greens to Make Progressive Case for Membership". Scottish Green Party . Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  96. Staff (2 June 2015). "Nicola Sturgeon warns of EU exit 'backlash'". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  97. Johnson, Simon (21 May 2015). "Alex Salmond: I'll campaign with Tories to stay in EU" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  98. "Home page". ukip.org. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  99. Hope, Christopher (21 September 2015). "Conservative Party to stay neutral during EU referendum". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  100. "Dickson – An EU referendum will threaten jobs and investment in Northern Ireland". Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  101. "Alliance expresses concerns over referendum idea". allianceparty.org. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  102. Staff (February 2014). Green Party in Northern Ireland: Manifesto 2015 (PDF). Green Party in Northern Ireland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  103. "Sinn Fein to protect EU membership". The Belfast Telegraph . 20 April 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  104. SDLP. "International Affairs". Social Democratic and Labour Party. Archived from the original on 21 July 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  105. UUP. "Statement from the Ulster Unionist Party on EU Referendum". Ulster Unionist Party. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  106. Cromie, Claire (25 November 2015). "EU referendum: DUP gives backing to UKIP Brexit campaign, blasting David Cameron's 'pathetic demands'". The Belfast Telegraph . Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  107. "DUP to 'recommend vote to leave the EU'". The News Letter . Belfast. 20 February 2016.
  108. PBP. "Lexit: why we need a left exit from the eu". Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  109. "EU Membership is a Matter for UK Citizens, Not US President". tuv.org.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  110. "Feetham urges joint strategies with Govt on key issues". Gibraltar Chronicle . 19 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  111. 1 2 "Garcia flags constitutional reform and Brexit in New Year message". Gibraltar Chronicle . 5 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  112. "Britain First Policies". Britainfirst.org. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  113. "Foreign Affairs | British National Party". bnp.org.uk. n.d. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  114. "Éirígí backs Brexit with Northern Ireland poster campaign". The Irish Times.
  115. "Respect to campaign to leave the EU". respectparty.org. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  116. Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition (22 February 2016). "TUSC letter in The Guardian – now sign the petition". tusc.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  117. "EU referendum: 10 alternatives to the official Leave and Remain campaigns". BBC News. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  118. "Liberal Party Assembly Motion" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2017.
  119. Mike Nattrass MEP FRICS (19 April 2014). An independence from Europe YouTube (Video). Mike Nattrass via YouTube.
  120. "Statement by Workers' Party President Michael Donnelly on eve of EU referendum". Workers Party of Ireland. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  121. Cullen, Hugh (15 February 2016). "The Socialist Case Against Leaving the European Union". Scottish Socialist Party.
  122. "Leaflet: Remain – For a Europe of Solidarity". leftunity.org. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  123. "MK backs "remain" vote in EU referendum". Mebyon Kernow's official website. 3 April 2016. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  124. "The Problem is Not the EU … It's Capitalism". Socialist Party of Great Britain. April 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  125. "Editorial: EU Referendum – An Irrelevant Sideshow". Socialist Party of Great Britain. May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  126. "WE propose a Women's Bill of Rights". womensequality.org.uk. 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016.
  127. Mayer, Catherine (8 March 2016). "Whether we leave or stay in the EU, a Women's Bill of Rights is long overdue". HuffPost . AOL . Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  128. "How Cabinet works". The National Archives. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  129. 1 2 "EU Referendum: Where Conservative MPs stand". BBC News. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  130. "Who is Stephen Crabb?". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  131. "Shell CEO urges Britain to remain in European Union" . The Daily Telegraph. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  132. Juliette Garside. "BT boss says EU is a positive force for business". The Guardian.
  133. Jamie Dunkley; Russell Lynch (20 May 2015). "Vodafone head joins Deutsche Bank in warning over EU exit" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  134. Hazel Sheffield (19 May 2015). "Deutsche Bank considers UK exit plan". The Independent.
  135. "Bankers start to warn on UK's EU referendum". Financial Times.
  136. "RBS warns of business damage from Brexit plans" (Press release). Scottish National Party. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  137. Jill Treanor. "HSBC warns of economic risks of UK pulling out of Europe". The Guardian.
  138. "HSBC, JPMorgan may move parts of businesses to Luxembourg – The Times". Reuters UK.
  139. "Brexit 'would sap London's wealth and power" . The Daily Telegraph. 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  140. "EU exit would risk jobs, says group of business bosses". BBC. 23 February 2016.
  141. Parker, George; Cadman, Emily; Plimmer, Gill (22 February 2016). "Cameron outlines business case". Financial Times. p. 3.
  142. Castle, Stephen (1 May 2016). "Fear of Alienating Customers Keeps British Companies From Taking Sides on E.U." The New York Times. No. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  143. "Branson 'fearful' over Brexit impact". BBC News. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  144. "Alan Sugar: Brexit Would Be A 'Disaster' For UK". Sky News. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  145. 1 2 Sir James Dyson: 'So if we leave the EU no one will trade with us? Cobblers...' A. Pearson, The Daily Telegraph (London), 10 June 2016
  146. "Rolls-Royce says Brexit will heighten investment risk". BBC News.
  147. 1 2 Farell, Sean (2 June 2016). "UK small businesses are evenly split on Brexit, poll says". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  148. Kleinman, Mark (11 April 2016). "Brexit Threat To UK Jobs, ICC Survey Warns". Sky News. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  149. "86% of international businesses surveyed believe the UK should remain within the EU – says ICC United Kingdom" (PDF). iccwbo.uk. United Kingdom office of International Chamber of Commerce. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  150. Cordell, Jake (11 May 2016). "EU businesses want a hard line in any post-Brexit negotiations". City AM. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  151. Blackden, Richard (20 January 2013). "Ford and BMW warn against UK exit from EU as David Cameron readies historic speech" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  152. "Britain's pro-EU carmakers say plants not at risk from 'Brexit'". Reuters UK.
  153. Szu Ping Chan (15 September 2015). "Ignore the scaremongers, manufacturing powerhouse Vauxhall says it would be fine outside the EU" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  154. Harding, Robin; Inagaki, Kana (11 January 2016). "Toyota pledges to stay in UK even if country takes Brexit". Financial Times.
  155. P. Spence, Pound falls below $1.39 as economists warn Brexit could hammer households, The Daily Telegraph, Finance, 24 February 2016.
  156. Nelson, Eshe (23 February 2016). "If Sterling Goes Down on 'Brexit,' It's Taking the Euro With It". Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  157. "Pound falls after Independent poll puts Brexit 10 points ahead" . The Independent. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  158. "UK trade deficit narrows in April as exports jump". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  159. "UK trade deficit falls after record rise in exports". 9 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  160. "FTSE 100 falls 2% as investors fret over Brexit". BBC News.
  161. "FTSE 100 loses £100bn in four days as Brexit paralyses markets and pound crumbles" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016.
  162. "The pound has made strong gains against the dollar". BBC News.
  163. "Sterling hits 2016 high, stocks climb as UK votes on Brexit". Reuters. 23 June 2016.
  164. "GBP to USD exchange rate". 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  165. 1 2 Nasir, Muhammad Ali; Morgan, Jamie (2017). "Pre-Brexit: The EU referendum as an illustration of the effects of uncertainty on the Sterling exchange rate" (PDF). Journal of Economic Studies. Journal of Economic Studies. 45 (5): 910–921. doi:10.1108/JES-07-2017-0205. S2CID   158274269.
  166. "FTSE 100 at the London Stock Exchange" . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  167. Kirka, Danica; Lee, Youkyung (24 June 2016). "Stocks crash as UK vote to quit EU shocks investors". AP The Big Story. London. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  168. David, Javier E. (26 June 2016). "Brexit cost investors $2 trillion, the worst one day drop ever". CNBC . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  169. David, Javier E. (27 June 2016). "Brexit-related losses widen to $3 trillion in relentless 2-day sell-off". CNBC. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  170. McGeever, Jamie; Graham, Patrick (24 June 2016). "UK markets shudder after Brexit vote, sterling hits 31-year low". Reuters . Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  171. Rosenfeld, Everett (27 June 2016). "Brexit fears drive downgrade: S&P cuts UK rating to 'AA' from 'AAA'". CNBC. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  172. "S&P revises European Union credit rating to AA from AA+". CNBC. 30 June 2016.
  173. Cunningham, Tara; Davidson, Lauren (27 June 2016). "FTSE 100 surrenders £85bn in two days, pound slides and banking stocks plunge in Brexit aftermath" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016. FTSE 100 surrenders £85bn in two days, pound slides and banking stocks plunge in Brexit aftermath
  174. "Markets shift after Carney speech". BBC News. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  175. "Global stock markets rally as Brexit fears abate". BBC News. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  176. Chrisafis, Angelique (24 June 2016). "European far right hails Brexit vote". The Guardian.
  177. Verhofstadt, Guy (5 January 2016). "Putin will be rubbing his hands at the prospect of Brexit". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  178. Ball, Sam (30 April 2016). "Why the French are against Brexit, but only just". France 24.
  179. "Exclusive: Britain 'could liberate Europe again' by voting for Brexit and sparking populist revolution". The Daily Telegraph (London). 22 May 2016.
  180. Holehouse, Matthew (18 January 2016). "Brexit will trigger collapse of EU, warns Poland" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  181. www.publika.md (20 June 2016). "Pavel Filip încurajează moldovenii să discute cu prietenii lor britanici pentru un vot pro-rămânere în UE". publika.md. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  182. "Spanish PM's anger at David Cameron over Gibraltar". BBC News. 16 June 2016.
  183. "Brexit border closure 'perfectly possible' in law – Margallo". Gibraltar Chronicle . 18 June 2016.
  184. EU referendum: Swedish foreign minister warns Brexit 'could cause break-up of European Union' L. Dearden, The Independent (London), 11 June 2016
  185. M. Holehouse, "Czech Republic 'will follow Britain out of EU'", The Daily Telegraph, 23 February 2016
  186. Inman, Phillip (24 February 2016). "Brexit referendum could destabilise UK recovery, says IMF". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  187. Riley-Smith, Ben. "EU referendum: IMF accused of 'bullying' voters with warnings over Brexit" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  188. "US warns Britain: If you leave EU you face barriers to trading with America". The Guardian. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  189. "US ambassador: We would love strong UK in strong EU". BBC News. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  190. Staying in EU 'best hope' for UK's future say ex-US Treasury secretaries, BBC News (20 April 2016).
  191. Andrew Sparrow (24 July 2015). "Britain must stay in EU 'to make world more prosperous', says Obama". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  192. "Barack Obama accused of interfering in British politics after recommending UK remain in EU" . The Independent. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  193. "Obama's Brexit comments spark controversy in UK". Al Jazeera. 23 April 2016.
  194. "Johnson slams Obama's 'outrageous hypocrisy' over EU debate". The Belfast Telegraph. 13 March 2016.
  195. "'Monstrous interference': UK pols furious at Obama's plan to intervene in EU debate". Fox News Channel. 22 April 2016.
  196. Cruz, Ted. "Britain will be at the front of the queue for a US trade deal" . Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  197. Michael Wilkinson (27 April 2016). "Ted Cruz: Post-Brexit Britain would be at front of the line for trade deal if I am US President" . The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  198. "Don't meddle in EU vote, Brexit MPs tell Obama". The Times. 20 March 2016.
  199. "Obama warned against EU referendum intervention". BBC News. 17 March 2016.
  200. Greg Heffer (2 July 2018). "Cameron 'personally requested Obama's back of the queue Brexit warning'". Sky News. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  201. Olli Smith (24 March 2016). "'Time to GO': Trump gives Brexit blessing as he blames 'crazy migration' for EU collapse". Daily Express . Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  202. Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann (23 June 2016). "First Read: How 'Brexit' Impacts American Politics". NBC News.
  203. Ross, Tim (27 February 2016). "Global economy will suffer 'a shock' if Britain leaves EU, G20 warns". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  204. "UK EU exit would be global economy 'shock' – G20 leaders". BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  205. "Turnbull hopeful UK avoids EU Brexit". 1 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  206. "Presiden Jokowi ingin Inggris tak keluar dari Uni Eropa". BBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). 22 April 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  207. "Ranil 'very concerned' at probable Brexit". Daily Mirror. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  208. Worley, Will (18 June 2016). "EU referendum: Vladimir Putin says David Cameron called vote 'to blackmail Europe'" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  209. Titov, Alexander; Sakwa, Richard (16 June 2016). "Does Putin Really Want a Brexit From The EU?". Newsweek .
  210. P. Spence, Bank of England can make Brexit work, says Mark Carney, The Daily Telegraph, 11 November 2015.
  211. Mark Carney: EU exit is 'biggest domestic risk' BBC News, 8 March 2016
  212. Robertson, Jamie. "Brexit vote may spark recession, Mark Carney warns". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  213. "Iain Duncan Smith casts doubt on Mark Carney's Brexit warning". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  214. The impact of immigration on occupational wages: evidence from Britain Archived 7 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine S. Nickell and J. Saleheen, Staff Working Paper No. 574, Bank of England (2015)
  215. "How small is small? The impact of immigration on UK wages – National Institute of Economic and Social Research". niesr.ac.uk. 17 January 2016.
  216. 1 2 EU referendum: UK could be better off leaving if TTIP passes, Joseph Stiglitz says, H. Sheffield, The Independent, 2 March 2016
  217. 1 2 Fuest, Clemens (19 April 2016). "How Germany Views Brexit". Project Syndicate. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  218. Dakers, Marion (28 September 2015). "Law firms will bear the brunt of Brexit, lawyers warn" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  219. "The EU and the Legal Sector" (PDF). The Law Society of England and Wales. October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  220. Firzli, Nicolas. "A Frenchman writes: Britain should say adiEU in June". Dow Jones Financial News. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  221. Fetzer, Thiemo (25 July 2018). "Did Austerity Cause Brexit?". Rochester, NY. SSRN   3251187.
  222. "The Brexit-Trump syndrome: it's the economics, stupid". 21 November 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  223. "EU exit could add two years to austerity, IFS says". BBC News. 25 May 2016.
  224. Higgins, Kathryn (1 June 2016). "Majority of UK lawyers want to remain in the EU, poll finds". Global Legal Post. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  225. "Video: The UK's future economic relationship with the European Union". 5 July 2016.
  226. Dougan, Michael (30 June 2016). Professor Michael Dougan assesses UK's position following vote to leave the EU (Youtube). Liverpool: University of Liverpool, School of Law and Social Justice. Event occurs at 01:18. Retrieved 31 May 2018. I really do have no hesitation whatsoever in concluding that Leave conducted one of the most dishonest political campaigns this country has ever seen.
  227. "EU referendum: Brexit 'could damage NHS', health boss warns". BBC News. 22 May 2016.
  228. Rumney, Emma (26 May 2016). "NHS leaders fear negative impact of Brexit, survey says". Public Finance.
  229. Gibbons, Katie; Savage, Michael (4 April 2016). "Brexit would put the NHS at risk, health leaders warn". The Times.
  230. 1 2 3 Barbara Casassus (4 June 2016). "Guidelines cause UK health charities to be silent on Brexit". The Lancet. 387 (10035): 2277–2278. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30714-0 . PMID   27302254.
  231. 1 2 Watling, Lindsay (10 June 2016). "Study finds 92% of fisherman will vote for Brexit". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  232. Vevers, Dan. "Nine in ten fishermen will back Brexit, survey suggests". STV. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  233. Stewart, Heather (25 May 2016). "Vote to leave EU would 'condemn Britain to irrelevance', say historians". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  234. Rival historians trade blows over Brexit, Financial Times
  235. Historian Andrew Roberts on Brexit
  236. "'Brexit': IEA offers prize for UK exit plan from EU". BBC. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  237. "IEA Brexit Prize". Iea.org.uk. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  238. Stacey, Kiran (8 April 2014). "UK diplomat wins prize for Brexit plan" . Financial Times. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  239. Littlewood, Mark (9 April 2014). "The winner of the Brexit Prize provides a blueprint for an open, independent Britain". Conservative Home. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  240. Boffey, Daniel; Helm, Toby (17 November 2012). "56% of Britons Would Vote to Quit EU in Referendum, Poll Finds". The Observer. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  241. "YouGov Survey Results" (PDF). D25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  242. "Lord Ashcroft Europe Poll – Europe on Trial". Yahoo! Finance. 23 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  243. "YouGov/The Sun Survey Results" (PDF). YouGov. June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  244. John Curtice, senior research fellow at NatCen and professor of politics at Strathclyde University (October 2015). "Britain divided? Who supports and who opposes EU membership" (PDF). Economic and Social Research Council.
  245. Grice, Andrew (23 November 2015). "EU referendum: Majority of UK public wants 'Brexit', poll reveals" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  246. 1 2 Dahlgreen, Will (28 February 2016). "The Eurosceptic map of Britain". YouGov. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  247. Pickard, Jim (3 February 2016). "Conservatives: the party of business?". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  248. Cressey, Daniel (30 March 2016). "Scientists say 'no' to UK exit from Europe in Nature poll". Nature. 531 (7596): 559. Bibcode:2016Natur.531..559C. doi: 10.1038/531559a . PMID   27029257. S2CID   4408142.
  249. Booth, James (2 March 2016). "Partners overwhelmingly anti-Brexit as confidence in Britain staying in falters". Legal Week. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  250. "Economists' Views on Brexit". Ipsos MORI. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  251. Sodha, Sonia; Helm, Toby; Inman, Phillip (28 May 2016). "Economists overwhelmingly reject Brexit in boost for Cameron". Observer. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  252. Giles, Chris; Cadman, Emily (3 January 2016). "Economists' forecasts: Brexit would damage growth". Financial Times. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  253. Dickinson, Annabelle (30 December 2016). "The year the bookies were confounded – 150/1 on Trump becoming US President and 100/1 on Alan Partridge becoming the Mayor of East Anglia". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 31 December 2016.
  254. "FTSE and pound hover near recent highs as Brexit referendum gets underway". www.spreadex.com. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  255. Cowling, David (24 December 2016). "Why were the polls wrong again in 2016?". BBC News. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  256. 1 2 3 4 "UK and the EU: Better off out or in?". BBC News. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  257. Sodha, Sonia (27 July 2015). "Why is EU free movement so important?". Analysis, BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  258. Becker and Fetzer (October 2016). "Does Migration Cause Extreme Voting?". University of Warwick. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  259. 1 2 EU Referendum: Record number of migrants arrive in UK without jobs, as Boris Johnson accuses David Cameron of "deeply damaging" faith in democracy L. Hughes, The Daily Telegraph (London), 26 May 2016
  260. 1 2 3 Migration Statistics Quarterly Report: May 2016 ONS, 26 May 2016
  261. Mason, Rowena (24 June 2016). "How did UK end up voting to leave the European Union?". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  262. Ward, Olivia (25 June 2016). "Toxic Brexit debate has led the U.K. into political turmoil: Analysis". Toronto Star. Toronto, Canada. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  263. "Newsnight exchange with Brexit MEP Daniel Hannan". BBC News. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  264. Lowyry, Nigel (25 June 2016). "Nigel Farage: Leave campaign pledges 'mistake', may not be upheld". iNews UK. Media Nusantara Citra. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  265. Helm, Toby (24 July 2016). "Brexit: EU considers migration 'emergency brake' for UK for up to seven years". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  266. "How David Cameron blew it – The behind-the-scenes story of a failed campaign to keep Britain in the European Union". Politico EU. POLITICO SPRL. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016. As Brussels held its ground, Cameron dropped his manifesto commitment for new EU workers to wait four years before accessing benefits, as long as something was done to cut immigration. In February Britain and the EU struck a deal. Britain would get an "emergency brake," allowing the UK to withhold access to benefits for new migrants for a one-off period of seven years.
  267. "Brexit could lead to second independence poll and break-up of Britain, says leading Scottish investment fund manager". The Herald. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  268. "Sturgeon: EU exit could trigger demand for Scottish independence referendum". BBC News. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  269. "EU referendum: Brexit would spark 'constitutional crisis' for UK, warns Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones" . The Independent. 18 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  270. NHS could be part-privatised if UK and EU agree controversial TTIP trade deal, expert warns I. Johnston, The Independent (London), 21 February 2016
  271. TTIP: Government caves in to cross-party alliance of Eurosceptic MPs demanding NHS is protected from controversial deal O. Wright, The Independent (London), 19 May 2016
  272. EU referendum: 25 Tory rebels plot to vote down Queen's Speech as Labour MP caught calling voter 'horrible racist' on campaign trail L. Hughes, The Daily Telegraph, 19 May 2016
  273. TTIP symbolises the worst of global capitalism. Cameron pushes it at his peril N. Dearden, The Guardian, 20 May 2016
  274. Jeremy Corbyn Vows To Veto ‘TTIP’ EU-US Free Trade Deal Amid Privatisation Fears P. Waugh, HuffPost, 2 June 2016
  275. The EU Referendum Pits Big Business Against Working People – That's Why I'm Voting ‘Leave’ J. Mills, HuffPost, 10 June 2016
  276. "EU referendum: Leaving EU 'big gamble' for UK security". BBC News. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  277. "Reality Check: Is Britain safer in or out of the EU?". BBC News. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  278. EU referendum debate – Guardian Live. 15 March 2016 via YouTube.
  279. Martin Shipton (15 December 2015). "Nigel Farage and Carwyn Jones to go head-to-head to debate whether UK should stay in the EU". walesonline.
  280. "Farage and Jones clash over steel in EU debate". BBC News.
  281. "It's official: David Cameron will not debate another political leader on television before EU referendum" . The Daily Telegraph. 24 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  282. "Debate: Should Britain leave the EU?". The Spectator.
  283. "The Express EU Debate in full". Daily Express. 5 June 2016.
  284. "The Andrew Neil Interviews: Leave or Remain? – Episode guide". BBC.
  285. "The EU Debate, Victoria Derbyshire". BBC.
  286. "Vote Leave lambasts ITV over EU debate between Cameron and Farage". The Guardian. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  287. Aiden Kerr (6 June 2016). "Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson to clash in TV debate". STV News. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  288. John Plunkett (11 May 2016). "BBC rejects fears EU referendum debate could be hijacked" . Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  289. "EU referendum: Campaigns set for live BBC debate at Wembley". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  290. "Jeremy Paxman to host final EU Referendum debate on Channel 4". Channel 4. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  291. 1 2 3 European Referendum Act 2015 Section 11.
  292. Booth, Robert; Dodd, Vikram; Rawlinson, Kevin; Slawson, Nicola (18 June 2016). "Jo Cox murder suspect tells court his name is 'death to traitors, freedom for Britain'". TheGuardian.com .
  293. Cadwalladr, Carole; Helm, Toby (28 July 2018). "Anger over use of Brexit ads in aftermath of Jo Cox murder". The Observer . Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  294. "The Banks Files: Brexit funder urged campaign to "press it harder" after Jo Cox murder". Channel 4 News. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  295. "Cameron cuts short Gibraltar visit over MP attack". Yahoo!. 16 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  296. Stewart, Heather (18 June 2016). "Paused EU referendum debate to resume, but with a more respectful tone". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  297. "David Cameron: 'No turning back' on EU vote". BBC News. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  298. "Counting stops for minute silence for Jo Cox" . The Telegraph. 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  299. Stone, Jon (17 June 2016). "Jo Cox death: Parties stand down in killed Labour MP's seat as Corbyn and Cameron call for unity" . The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  300. Davies, Caroline (23 June 2016). "Long queues reported outside referendum polling stations". The Guardian.
  301. Etehad, Melissa (23 June 2016). "Pencil or pen? An unusual conspiracy theory grips Brexit vote. – The Washington Post". The Washington Post . Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  302. "EU Referendum Results". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  303. Sparrow, Andrew; Weaver, Matthew; Oltermann, Philip; Vaughan, Adam; Asthana, Anushka; Tran, Mark; Elgot, Jessica; Watt, Holly; Rankin, Jennifer; McDonald, Henry; Kennedy, Maev; Perraudin, Frances; Neslen, Arthur; O'Carroll, Lisa; Khomami, Nadia; Morris, Steven; Duncan, Pamela; Allen, Katie; Carrell, Severin; Mason, Rowena; Bengtsson, Helena; Barr, Caelainn; Goodley, Simon; Brooks, Libby; Wearden, Graeme; Quinn, Ben; Ramesh, Randeep; Fletcher, Nick; Treanor, Jill; McCurry, Justin; Adams, Richard; Halliday, Josh; Pegg, David; Phipps, Claire; Mattinson, Deborah; Walker, Peter (24 June 2016). "Brexit: Nicola Sturgeon says second Scottish referendum 'highly likely'". The Guardian.
  304. Erlanger, Steven (23 June 2016). "Britain Votes to Leave E.U., Stunning the World". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  305. Goodman, Peter S. (23 June 2016). "Turbulence and Uncertainty for the Market After 'Brexit'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  306. Hughes, Laura. "EU referendum results live: Brexit wins as Britain votes to leave European Union" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  307. Moeller, Joergen Oerstroem (21 February 2017). "Trump and Brexit: Some Lessons for Southeast Asia" (PDF). Perspective. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute (11): 2. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  308. "EU referendum results". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016.
  309. 1 2 3 "Local voting figures shed new light on EU referendum". BBC. 7 February 2017.
  310. "EU referendum: full results and analysis". The Guardian. 26 June 2016.
  311. "Who Voted for the Brexit?". The Atlantic. 25 June 2016.
  312. "BREXIT VOTING AND EDUCATION". 11 February 2017.
  313. 1 2 "how-britain-voted" . Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  314. 1 2 "EUFinalCall_Reweighted" (PDF). Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  315. 1 2 Sascha O Becker, Thiemo Fetzer, Dennis Novy. "Who voted for Brexit? A comprehensive district-level analysis". Economic Policy, Volume 32, Issue 92, 1 October 2017, pp.601–650. Quotes: "We find that fundamental characteristics of the voting population were key drivers of the Vote Leave share, in particular their education profiles, their historical dependence on manufacturing employment as well as low income and high unemployment. At the much finer level of wards within cities, we find that areas with deprivation in terms of education, income and employment were more likely to vote Leave. [...] A larger flow of migrants from Eastern Europe reaching a local authority area with a larger share of unqualified people or a larger share of manufacturing workers is also associated with a larger Vote Leave share".
  316. Noel Dempsey & Neil Johnston. "Political disengagement in the UK: who is disengaged?". House of Commons briefing paper. House of Commons Library, 14 September 2018. p.23
  317. "How did young people vote in the Brexit referendum?". Full Fact. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  318. Moore, Peter (27 June 2016). "How Britain voted at the EU referendum". YouGov. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  319. Kentish, Benjamin (17 September 2018). "Leave voters dying and Remainers reaching voting age means majority will soon oppose Brexit, study finds" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  320. 1 2 "How the United Kingdom voted on Thursday… and why". Lord Ashcroft Polls. 24 June 2016.
  321. Whitely, Paul; Clarke, Harold D. (26 June 2016). "Brexit: Why did older voters choose to Leave the EU?" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  322. Devine, Kevin (21 March 2019). "Not all the 'over 65s' are in favour of Brexit – Britain's wartime generation are almost as pro-EU as millennials". London School of Economics. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  323. "How Britain voted in the 2016 EU referendum" . Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  324. Worley, Will; Forster, Katie (24 June 2016). "Young people are gathering at Parliament furious at not being given the vote" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  325. "Brexit: How much of a generation gap is there?". BBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  326. Harding, Luke (24 June 2016). "Brexit vote sparks scramble for European passports". The Guardian . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  327. "Brexit vote sparks surge in Irish passport applications". ABC News. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  328. 1 2 Halpin, Padraic (27 June 2016). "Britons flood Ireland with EU passport queries after Brexit vote". Reuters. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  329. Agerholm, Harriet (26 June 2016). "Brexit: Wave of racial abuse and hate crime reported after EU referendum" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  330. "Hate crime is unacceptable in any circumstances say police". news.npcc.police.uk.
  331. "Essex Police reveal hate crime spike since EU referendum". 5 July 2016.
  332. 1 2 Micklethwaite, Jamie (26 June 2016). "Police probe 'racist signs distributed after Brexit vote in EU referendum'". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  333. "Anti-Polish cards in Huntingdon after EU referendum". BBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  334. Cooper, Goolistan (7 July 2016). "Polish centre graffiti 'not a xenophobic attack' after all?". getwestlondon.
  335. 1 2 Micklethwaite, Jamie (26 June 2016). "Police probe racist graffiti smeared on Polish centre after Brexit vote". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  336. Staufenberg, Jess (25 June 2016). "Brexit: Welsh Muslim told to 'pack bags and go home' after campaigning for Remain" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  337. Lyons, Kate (26 June 2016). "Racist incidents feared to be linked to Brexit result". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  338. Sherwood, Harriet (27 June 2016). "Cameron condemns xenophobic and racist abuse after Brexit vote". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  339. Townsend, Mark (8 October 2016). "Homophobic attacks in UK rose 147% in three months after Brexit vote". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  340. "Why are some trying to turn life into one big hate-crime?". Coffee House. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  341. "Polish man killed with 'superman punch'". BBC News. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  342. 1 2 Gayle, Damien (8 September 2017). "Teenager who killed Polish man with a punch sentenced to three years". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  343. 1 2 "Polish ex-MP: Juncker right to raise Essex 'hate crime' murder". Sky News. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  344. BBC Newsnight (1 September 2016), Harlow: A town in shock over killing of Arkadiusz Jozwik – BBC Newsnight , retrieved 27 September 2017
  345. "Nigel Farage 'blood on his hands' controversy: Media monitor blasts 'sensationalist' BBC" . Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  346. Farage, Nigel (19 September 2017). "The BBC's slur has caused my family misery" . The Daily Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  347. "Second EU referendum petition investigated for fraud". BBC News. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  348. York, Chris (26 June 2016). "Second EU Referendum Petition Started By Leave Voter William Oliver Healey". HuffPost. Verizon. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  349. Coleman, Clive (30 June 2016). "Can the law stop Brexit?". BBC News. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  350. Marker, Christina (26 June 2016). "Brexit Redux? Petition for Second EU Vote Hits 3 Million Signatures". NBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2016. In an ironic twist, it emerged Sunday that the petition's creator was in fact in favor of so-called Brexit. In a message posted to Facebook, William Oliver Healey sought to distance himself from the petition, saying it had been hijacked by those in favor of remaining in the EU.
  351. Hume, Tim. "Brexit: Petition calling for second EU vote was created by Leave backer". CNN. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  352. Hooton, Christopher (24 June 2016). "Brexit: Petition for second EU referendum so popular the government site's crashing" . The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  353. Boult, Adam (26 June 2016). "Petition for second EU referendum attracts thousands of signatures" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  354. "Parliamentlive.tv". parliamentlive.tv. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  355. Cooper, Charlie (27 June 2016). "David Cameron rules out second EU referendum after Brexit" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  356. "Theresa May's Tory Leadership Launch Statement" . The Independent. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  357. "Brexit: Petition for second EU referendum rejected". BBC News. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  358. "New Tory leader 'should be in place by 9 September'". BBC News. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  359. "Labour 'Out' Votes Heap Pressure on Corbyn". Sky News.
  360. Asthana A; Syal, R. (26 June 2016). "Labour in crisis: Tom Watson criticises Hilary Benn sacking". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  361. "Jeremy Corbyn's new-look shadow cabinet" . The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. 27 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  362. "Jeremy Corbyn Loses Vote of No Confidence". Sky News. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  363. Holden, Michael; Piper, Elizabeth (28 June 2016). "EU leaders tell Britain to exit swiftly, market rout halts". Reuters. Retrieved 28 June 2016. the confidence vote does not automatically trigger a leadership election and Corbyn, who says he enjoys strong grassroots support, refused to quit. 'I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60 per cent of Labour members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning,' he said.
  364. "UKIP leader Nigel Farage stands down". BBC News. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  365. "Nigel Farage steps back in at UKIP as Diane James quits". BBC News. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  366. "EU referendum: Sturgeon says Scotland sees its future in European Union". BBC Scotland. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  367. Jamieson, Alastair (24 June 2016). "'Brexit' Triggers New Bid for Scottish Independence". NBC News .
  368. Carrell, Severin (24 June 2016). "Nicola Sturgeon prepares for second Scottish independence poll". TheGuardian.com .
  369. "Nicola Sturgeon says second Scottish referendum 'highly likely' – as it happened". The Guardian. 24 June 2016.
  370. Wintour, Patrick (19 July 2016). "Liberals, celebrities and EU supporters set up progressive movement" . Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  371. Shead, Sam (24 July 2016). "Paddy Ashdown has launched a tech-driven political startup called More United that will crowdfund MPs across all parties". Business Insider UK. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  372. "Corbyn ballot challenge ruling & Boris Johnson in Paris talks". BBC News.
  373. McGeever, Jamie (7 July 2016). "Sterling's post-Brexit fall is biggest loss in a hard currency" . Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  374. "Pound plunges after Leave vote". BBC News. 24 June 2016.
  375. Sudip Kar-Gupta (4 July 2016). "FTSE 100 rises to build on post-Brexit recovery". Reuters. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  376. "Rand slumps more than 8% against dollar". Reuters. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  377. 1 2 3 Kuo, Lily; Kazeem, Yomi (24 June 2016). "Brexit will be terrible for Africa's largest economies". Quartz. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  378. Evans, Pete (24 June 2016). "Loonie loses more than a penny, TSX sheds 239 points after Britons vote to quit EU". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  379. "King Says Carney Calm Will Guide U.K. Through Brexit Uncertainty". Bloomberg. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  380. 1 2 Inman, Phillip (5 January 2017). "Chief Economist of Bank of England Admits Errors in Brexit Forecasting". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  381. Swinford, Steven (6 January 2017). "Bank of England Admits 'Michael Fish' Moment with Dire Brexit Predictions" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  382. Rajeev Syal (1 September 2016). "Electoral reform campaigners slam 'dire' EU referendum debate". Guardian newspapers. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  383. 'DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 SUPERVISORY POWERS OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER MONETARY PENALTY NOTICE (9 May 2016).
  384. "EU campaign firm fined for sending spam texts". Information Commissioner's Office. 11 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017.
  385. Election watchdog probes spending by EU referendum campaign groups, The Daily Telegraph (24 February 2017).
  386. Electoral Commission statement on investigation into Leave.EU, Electoral Commission (21 April 2017).
  387. 1 2 Carole Cadwalladr, 'The great British Brexit robbery: how our democracy was hijacked', The Observer (Sunday 7 May 2017).
  388. Jamie Doward, Carole Cadwalladr and Alice Gibbs, 'Watchdog to launch inquiry into misuse of data in politics', The Observer (4 March 2017).
  389. O'Toole, Fintan (16 May 2017) "What connects Brexit, the DUP, dark money and a Saudi prince?". The Irish Times.
  390. 1 2 3 Henry Mance, Brexit-backer Arron Banks to be investigated over campaign spending, Financial Times (1 November 2017).
  391. Holly Watt, Electoral Commission to investigate Arron Banks' Brexit donations: Watchdog to consider whether leave campaigner broke campaign finance rules in run-up to EU referendum, The Guardian (1 November 2017).
  392. Henry Mance, Arron Banks investigated for Brexit campaign spending, Financial Times (1 November 2017).
  393. 1 2 3 Maidment, Jack (19 December 2017) "Liberal Democrats fined £18,000 for breaching campaign finance rules relating to EU referendum". The Daily Telegraph.
  394. "What role did Cambridge Analytica play in the Brexit vote?". Deutsche Welle. 27 March 2018.
  395. Weaver, Matthew (11 May 2018). "Leave.EU fined £70k over breaches of electoral law". The Guardian . Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  396. "Leave.EU fined for multiple breaches of electoral law following investigation". The Electoral Commission. 11 May 2018
  397. "Campaigners and political parties fined for breaching political finance rules" [ permanent dead link ]. The Electoral Commission. 15 May 2018
  398. "Vote Leave fined and referred to the police for breaking electoral law" Archived 29 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine . The Electoral Commission. 17 July 2018
  399. Smout, Alistair (14 September 2018). "UK court rules against electoral watchdog in Brexit spending row". Reuters. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  400. Coates, Sam (15 September 2018). "Electoral Commission suffers High Court defeat over Brexit expenses advice". The Times. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  401. Pegg, David (18 February 2019). "Facebook labelled 'digital gangsters' by report on fake news". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  402. "Theresa May must investigate 'foreign influence and voter manipulation' in Brexit vote, say MPs" . The Independent. 18 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  403. 1 2 "EU referendum: Would Brexit make Putin happy?". BBC News. 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023.
  404. Chadwick, Vince (17 May 2016). "David Cameron: Putin and ISIL would be happy with Brexit". politico.eu. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023. "Who would be happy if we left?" Cameron asked the audience during a World Economic Forum event in London. "Putin might be happy.
  405. 1 2 3 Rosenberg, Steve (26 June 2016). "EU referendum: What does Russia gain from Brexit?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023.
  406. Watts, Joe (13 December 2016). "Highly probable' that Russia interfered in Brexit referendum, Labour MP says". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023.
  407. Kanter, Jake; Bienkov, Adam (23 February 2016). "Labour MPs think the government is hiding info about Russia interfering with Brexit" . Business Insider.
  408. 1 2 Syal, Rajeev (12 April 2017). "Brexit: foreign states may have interfered in vote, report says". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023.
  409. Cox, Joseph (24 October 2017). "Britain Requests Facebook's Russian Ad Data From Run-Up to Brexit, Election". The Daily Beast .
  410. 1 2 Kirkpatrick, David D. (3 November 2017). "Parliament Asks Twitter About Russian Meddling in Brexit Vote" . The New York Times.
  411. 1 2 "13,500-strong Twitter bot army disappeared shortly after EU referendum, research reveals". City. University of London Northampton Square. 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023.
  412. 1 2 Wright, Oliver; Fisher, Lucy; O'Neill, Sean (2 November 2017). "Watchdog starts inquiry into Russia Brexit links" . The Times.
  413. Holton, Kate; Sandle, Paul (13 December 2017). Addison, Stephen (ed.). "Facebook says Russian-linked accounts spent just 97 cents on ads over Brexit". Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  414. Cadwalladr, Carole; Jukes, Peter (10 June 2018). "Arron Banks 'met Russian officials multiple times before Brexit vote'". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  415. Sabbagh, Dan; Harding, Luke; Roth, Andrew (21 July 2020). "Russia report reveals UK government failed to investigate Kremlin interference". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023.
  416. Glancy, Josh (11 October 2020). "The Brexit data chancers fooled left and right alike" . The Times. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  417. Kaminska, Izabella (8 October 2020). "ICO's final report into Cambridge Analytica invites regulatory questions". Financial Times. Retrieved 23 January 2023.

Further reading