What did Brexit ever do for us?
Here are OVER FIFTY BREXIT BENEFITS to consider!
Just click on the photo to be taken to a detailed and referenced explanation of each Brexit benefit
#55 Brexit allows the UK to ban the import of Foie Gras made from force-fed Geese
On 4th June Labour announced it would follow suit on a promised but undelivered Conservative pledge, to ban the sale in the UK of imported Foie Gras made using the traditional method of force-feeding Geese. Such a ban is impossible without leaving the EU Single Market.
#54 Leaving the EU allowed the UK to completely avoid the EU Migration Pact
The new EU Migration Pact mandates each member state takes its share of at least 30,000 asylum relocations a year, or pays €20,000 for each one refused. The UK share, 13%, would have been at least 3,900 a year - or €78m, but potentially 124,000 people or £2.5bn in 2022.
#53 Labour’s election pledge to apply VAT on independent school fees required Brexit
In summer 2024 Labour announced it would remove the VAT exemption for all UK independent schools. This would not be possible without Brexit, as EU law states educational establishments must be exempt from VAT.
#52 The UK no longer needs to pay £150m for EU parliamentary elections to take place
In June 2024 all EU member states undertook fresh elections for the EU Parliament. In 2019 it cost the UK taxpayer £150 Million. By leaving the EU the additional and repeated cost of electing 73 MEPs each representing some 900,000 people was removed.
#51 The UK is able to fully ban the domestic sale of goods such as wet wipes containing plastic
On 22nd April 2024, the UK Government announced its intention to ban wet wipes that contain plastic. This would not be possible without the UK having left the EU.
#50 Independent trade policy allows for UK artists to receive royalties on Australian resales
The UKs independent trade policy allowed the UK to secure an FTA with Australia, which included 5% commission on all sales of artwork by a British artist, being given to the artist in question when their work is resold.
#49 Outside the Customs Union, the UK is able to respond to UK business needs more effectively
Now outside of the EU Customs Union, the UK is able to review and approve UK business requests for the temporary cessation of tariffs for certain goods, where it makes sense for the UK economy to do so.
#48 Brexit allows for UK package holiday companies to avoid stifling and painful regulations
Upcoming changes to EU regulation around package holidays would see changes come into place that would hurt UK businesses, placing liability on the tour operator for things that have nothing to do with them.
#47 Defence procurement rule changes allow for cutting-edge weaponry rollout years earlier
Post-Brexit changes to UK defence procurement rules, have allowed the Royal Navy to accelerate the development and deployment of its new DragonFire laser weaponry by a full FIVE YEARS. The procurement changes were not possible due to EU procurement laws.
#46 Digitised shipping is saving UK importers thousands of pounds a week
The implementation of the Electronic Trade Documents Act allows for UK importers and exporters to benefit from fully digitised shipping documentation, which reduces overheads and speeds up processing time.
#45 Increasing maximum truck length increases freight efficiency and lowers emissions
Having left the EU, the UK was able to implement the positive outcomes of a trial using longer trucks for domestic haulage, which resulted in reduced costs for hauliers and reduced carbon emissions as well. Not possible within the EU.
#44 The UK no longer contributes more than it received from EU membership
The UK was a net contributor to the EU budget, which meant that it paid in more into the annual budget than it saw in returns. In 2024 the EU budget was €189bn, of which the UK gross contribution would've been around €24bn, net around €14-16bn.
#43 Public procurement can now be reserved for local businesses, not open to the whole EU
Changes to public procurement rules allow for tenders below a certain threshold to be reserved for application only by local producers - meaning SMEs in the local area have a greater chance of winning these tenders, keeping investment in the local area.
#42 Brexit allowed the UK to avoid an additional membership fee of over one billion a year
The EU introduced a plastic packaging levy in 2021, with each kilo not recycled resulting in an 80 cent fee. The UK is estimated to have not recycled 1.4 million tonnes of plastic packaging in 2021, so would’ve seen a fee of €1.1 Billion in 2021 alone.
#41 The rollout of a leaner and more efficient Subsidy Control Regime
The UK has rolled out its own bespoke Subsidy Control Regime, which takes into account feedback from UK industry and is able to move more quickly to facilitate decision-making - including a system of self-certification for subsidies below a given amount.
#40 Being outside the EU avoids 90 billion Euros of additional debt from the EU Covid Scheme
During the pandemic, the EU27 gave the EU the ability to take on its own debt, with the EU member states effectively acting as guarantors – and then took on €750bn of debt to give Covid loans to member states. The UK avoided being responsible for this.
#39 Empowered the Competition and Markets Authority to make merger decisions in UK interest
Leaving the EU has allowed the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) sole responsibility over investigations into significant mergers affecting the UK economy - no longer only being able to investigate where the EU isn't interested.
#38 Brexit allowed the Uk Government to return equal treatment to those claiming benefits
Having left the EU, access to the UK welfare system has been equalised for all non-UK citizens present in the UK, irrespective of whether they happen to be from the EU or not. A change not possible as an EU member.
#37 Leaving the EU has allowed the UK to strengthen its border against fraudulent ID entry
In October 2021, the UK removed the ability for many EU/EEA/EFTA ID cards to be used at the border to gain entry to the UK - and in doing so massively reduced the chances of fraudulent documentation being used to get into the country.
#36 Ending Freedom of Movement allowed the UK to prevent EU criminals entering the UK
Under EU free movement we had to allow some foreign criminals into the country who would otherwise have been stopped and turned away. Implementing equal treatment of all criminals resulted in over 12,000 EU citizens being refused entry to the UK in 2023.
#35 Brexit returned democratic control over UK lawmaking, including powers transferred to devolved administrations
Leaving the EU allowed a core desire of the UK electorate to be realised – that its laws would be decided upon and enacted by those elected to do so within the UK, including 152 areas of policy now sitting with the devolved administrations.
#34 Brexit has allowed the UK to vastly improve the speed of rollout of new medical treatments
By leaving the EU the UK has been able to streamline the testing and approval of new medical treatments for use, without impacting patient risk and care. This is only possible due to leaving the EU and its EMA oversight.
#33 Leaving the EU allows the UK to improve standards in animal welfare
Transporting live animals over long distances for slaughter elsewhere has long been campaigned against in the UK – but was unable to be changed due to EU Single Market laws. The UK Government is seeking to change this with an Act of Parliament.
#32 Brexit allows the UK to escape from artificially inflated food prices – such as for bananas
In 2019 the EU refused to cut tariffs on Bananas. No longer bound by this, the UK is reviewing EU banana tariffs it rolled over and through CPTPP accession gave tariff concessions to Mexico and Peru. Leaving the EU is making bananas cheaper for all of us.
#31 Brexit allows UK entrepreneurs and innovators greater freedom to lead the world
The burgeoning "novel foods" or cultivated meats industry is set to grow massively in the coming years, leaving the EU means we now have the capability to take something to market in the UK without having to have the sign-off from every European nation.
#30 UK independence from the EU allowed for quicker and more robust aid for Ukraine
Brexit allowed the UK to take a leading independent role in supporting Ukraine through its conflict with Russia. Though EU member states have followed suit, they did so weeks later, which could well have been the difference between victory and defeat.
#29 While the UK from outside the EU has retained its corporate transparency, the EU has not
A 2022 CJEU ruling resulted in member states having to shut down open registers of corporate ownership, reducing transparency and increasing risk of corruption. As the UK is outside of the EU and CJEU, we continue with our own transparent approach.
#28 Brexit freedoms have helped encourage intra-Commonwealth trade and growth
Even before the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) was announced, the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) had already made improvements.
#27 Brexit returned powers to Westminster, and in so doing re-empowers the electorate too
BREXIT MEANS WE RUN OUR OWN COUNTRY AGAIN Summary: With the return of sovereignty to the UK for multiple areas [...]
#26 Leaving the EU allows better protection of our marine wildlife such as sharks
The Shark Fins Bill, which seeks to end the import and export of shark fins, received Royal Assent back in June 2023 and so is now UK law. This move to protect sharks from this ghastly trade is only possible because we left the EU.
#25 Brexit allowed the UK to foster an improved regulatory space for scientific advancement
As recently covered by The Spectator, a partnership on cancer treatment R&D between the UK Government and BioNTech is only possible due to the post-Brexit regulatory environment that we have been able to foster and develop.
#24 Being outside the EU allows the UK to offer a better targeted farming subsidies package
Outside of the EU CAP, which mainly benefitted very large landowners with subsidies, the UK system is being changed to encourage better stewardship of farmland as animal habitats, and will spread the subsidies better amongst smaller farms.
#23 Brexit allows the UK to remove pointless regulations on wine that the EU admits aren’t needed
Removing a regulation on the packaging of sparkling wine, that the EU itself says is pointless, will save consumers upwards of 5- 10% off an average bottle. Removing the need for a foil sheath will see up to 50p saved on manufacturing costs, per bottle
#22 Companies like Mazda are now shipping directly to the UK instead of via Rotterdam
Companies like Mazda are now shipping directly to the UK instead of to a central hub in Belgium - and in the process, providing more jobs to UK citizens, reduced lead times, more choice, higher reliability and better service to their customers.
#21 Ending Freedom of Movement has seen improved salaries and conditions for the lower paid
As reported by Reuters, those on the lower end of salaried work in the UK, such as in the hospitality and haulage sectors, have seen "a gradual improvement in employment terms since Brexit forced companies to work harder to find staff"
#20 Brexit allows for full-blooded freeports to be rolled out across the country
Leaving the EU allowed the UK to implement and roll out freeports across the country – not just in name only as before – providing tax & customs reliefs, simplified import & export procedures, enhanced trade promotion, and additional innovation support.
#19 Brexit allows for independent adjustments to VAT in GB, such as removal on green energy goods
Brexit allows for the UK Chancellor to make targeted removal of VAT for specific goods, such as for sanitary products and green energy purchases – something not possible within the EU, due to EU-wide VAT minimum rates.
#18 The UK fishing sector is over £50 Million a year better off outside the EU
As found by the "Brexit Balance Sheet" report in 2021, the UK fishing industry as a whole is better off by over £50m a year, than it was when inside the EU. With this figure increasing with each year that passes, as more quotas are returned.
#17 Brexit allowed the UK to roll-out a fully digitised trading solution with Singapore
BREXIT MEANS BETTER TRADE Summary: Brexit allowed the UK to develop fully digitised international trade solutions with like-minded countries such [...]
#16 Brexit has allowed the UK Government to reduce the administrative burden on non-EU importers
BREXIT MEANS BETTER TRADE Summary: The UK has rolled out an Advance Valuation Ruling Service (AVRS), giving importers legal certainty [...]
#15 The UK is a more important defence partner from outside the EU, than it was from inside
BREXIT STRENGTHENS OUR DEFENCES AND OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD Summary: A former advisor to the US President — ”Brexit [...]
#14 UK soft power from outside the EU, is second only to the USA
BREXIT STRENGTHENS OUR DEFENCES AND OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD Summary: Since leaving the EU, the UK has improved its [...]
#13 EU departure allows the UK to be a more attractive destination for highly skilled workers
BREXIT MEANS WE CONTROL OUR OWN BORDERS Summary: The new points-based migration approval system resulted in the UK having a [...]
#12 EU departure allows the UK to have a truly fair and meritocratic immigration system
BREXIT MEANS WE CONTROL OUR OWN BORDERS Summary: Leaving the EU has allowed the UK to offer a truly fair [...]
#11 Outside the EU, the UK is now a world leader in services trade openness
BREXIT STRENGTHENS OUR DEFENCES AND OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD Summary: In 2019, as a member of the EU, the [...]
#10 The UK outside of the EU now has fewer trade barriers and is freer to trade with the world
BREXIT MEANS BETTER TRADE Summary: As a direct consequence of leaving the EU, the UK has been able to independently [...]
#9 Brexit has allowed the UK to more than double the number of tariff free import categories
BREXIT MEANS BETTER TRADE Summary: By summer 2023, Brexit had allowed the UK to remove tariffs completely on 47% of [...]
#8 Brexit allows the UK to provide aid through trade with the new Developed Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)
In 2023 the UK Government introduced its new Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)to provide aid through trade with 65 developing nations – going further than EU schemes. This would not have been possible inside the EU as member states cannot have their own tariff rates.
#7 The UK has been able to reduce trade barriers with LATAM better from outside the EU
In the FY ending March 2023, in just the LATAM region, the UK was able to remove 34 trade barriers to UK exporters - with 24 of these having been forecast to be worth £1.3 billion to the UK economy. These changes would not be possible from inside the EU.
#6 Leaving the EU allowed the UK to eliminate trade barriers costing billions a year
In the year to March 2022, the UK trade department managed to resolve 192 tariff barriers across 79 countries. Just 45 of those 19 barriers were estimated to be worth an extra £1 Billion a year to UK businesses (around 0.03% of GDP in 2022).
#5 The UK can now trade in Swiss equities again, thanks to leaving the EU
EU members cannot trade in Swiss equities, due to a ban put in place in 2019. The UK was able to return and expand this trading, which is worth about £1.6bn a day, and so about £8m a day to HMRC. That's just over £2bn a year in additional tax revenue.
#4 Brexit means that 100% of customs revenue goes to HMRC, not to the EU coffers
As an EU member state, 75% of *all* customs revenue (it was 80% when UK was a member) goes to the budget of the EU. Now outside of the EU, the UK HMRC gets 100% of that revenue to spend on public services, currently around £2-3bn extra a year.
#3 Brexit has allowed the UK to join the geostrategically important CPTPP trade agreement
With Brexit, the UK has been able to realign with those markets projecting the highest growth over the coming decades, instead of being tied to a bloc projected to see a decline in relevance - with accession to the 11-nation CPTPP as an example of this Indo-Pacific tilt.
#2 Brexit allows the UK to have better and more trade deals than possible in the EU
The UK has improved rolled over deals with Japan, Singapore & Ukraine — and is in progress with Mexico, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey & South Korea. Brand new deals with Australia & New Zealand, and is also in progress with India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
#1 The UK has the EU’s trade deals, but doesn’t have to pay the EU for them anymore
The UK previously had access to around 43 active trade deals as part of EU membership – a membership that, as one of the largest net contributors it paid billions each year for. The UK has replicated all but 3 of these (Bosnia, Montenegro, Algeria)