Myth Busting the EU


Myth 1 - The UK sends the EU £350M per week ▼

The Leave campaign told us that the UK sends £350 million per week to the EU, and that this money could be spent on the NHS instead.

In fact, the UK did not send £350 million per week to Brussels. EU membership cost less than half of that figure in 2015 as it didn't include what came back in EU spending or the British rebate.

Myth 2 - We need to take back our 'sovereignty' ▼

The UK decides our own laws and policies, and has ultimate sovereignty.

We chose to pool some of our sovereignty in the EU, to achieve things that we can't achieve on our own.

Myth 3 - We will have more control over our borders ▼

The Leave campaign told us that we had to leave the EU in order to secure our borders.

The UK could control our own borders, and being in the EU didn't change that. We also had the power to restrict EU migration and to deport foreign criminals, including those from the EU.

Myth 4 - We had unelected bureaucrats telling us what to do ▼

People all across the EU, including in the UK, directly elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

It is the European Parliament, consisting of those directly elected MEPs, that votes on all laws and decisions.

Myth 5 - there is no turning back ▼

While the UK officially left the EU in January 2020, this could be reversed if both sides agree.