#YEAR11PROBLEMS

The EU explained for young people

The dreary and disengaging world of politics is not something young people particularly enjoy. But that doesn’t mean we’re not interested in and intrigued by what’s going on in our world, which is why I’ve dedicated #YEAR11PROBLEMS this week to giving you a neutral view of the European Union and whether we should leave it or stay in.

1. Immigration

In: Immigration contributes hugely to the economy as well as our NHS. With the number of GPs in Britain falling, we employ many doctors within the EU and without them, our NHS would collapse overnight. The Office for Budget Responsibility, which is independent, says the economy relies on migrant labour and taxes paid by immigrants to keep funding public services like the NHS and education.

Out: The European Union has control of all immigration within the EU, meaning that Britain has the power to control only non-EU immigration. This means that EU citizens can obtain a Visa and can automatically work here. It is also argued that the current immigration policies are responsible for the 298,000 people coming to the UK each year. UKIP claims that leaving the EU will give Britain control of its own borders.

2. Jobs

In: Global manufacturers would move to lower-cost EU countries as well as business headquarters who contribute to tax. Millions of jobs would be lost and Britain’s car industry would be particularly at risk as it is claimed our EU membership makes us an attractive place to run a business in.

Out: It is claimed that there would be a ‘jobs boom’ if we left the European Union as we would be free from the restrictions and ‘red tape’ (conformity to strict rules). Campaigners wanting to leave the EU also say that jobs are not based on political union, but trade, and there is little suggestion that trade with Britain would fall, meaning that jobs would not be lost.

3. The economy

In: The London School of Economics (one of the best universities in the UK), said that there could be a 6.3% to 9.5% reduction in GDP which is a loss similar to the global financial crisis – and Britain’s recession – in 2008-2009.

Out: According to Open Europe, the UK would be better off by 1.6% GDP per year by 2030 if we managed to strike favourable deals with the right people and businesses. This means the economy on a whole would actually benefit from leaving if we approached trade deals correctly.