The front page of The Sun today reads "BeLeave in Britain, vote to quit EU on June 23". The corresponding article is riddled with myths and lies, and as a strong supporter of the EU I have decided to debunk them. I have also taken the time to backup all of my points with credible sources (i.e. not The Sun) so you don't have to bother looking up the facts yourself.
I'd like to begin by pointing out that The Sun is owned by Rupert Murdoch, an Australian right-wing billionaire who lives in New York and is NOTORIOUS for not paying taxes. The EU plans to stop tax dodging [1] so OF COURSE he wants you to vote leave. Please do not be fooled into voting leave solely to keep people like Rupert Murdoch rich.
Now we've cleared up how biased it is, on to the article itself.
The Sun states "Throughout our 43 year membership the EU has proved increasingly greedy". Calling the EU "greedy" completely ignores what we get out of being a member (spoiler: it's a lot). As someone from the North East, I benefit from grants from the EU. The EU gives grants to deprived areas such as the North East, Wales and Cornwall, totalling roughly £300 per person. These locations receive more money from the EU than any other country outside of Eastern Europe. [2] As a modern languages student at the University of Manchester I also benefit from EU funding to UK universities. The Erasmus exchange programme governed by the EU is the largest source of funding to UK students wishing to study or work abroad. [3] Furthermore UK universities have received more than £5 billion worth of funding for research from the European Framework Programme 7. This is approximately 12% of the EU research and development budget and the third largest sum received by any country in the EU. [4] Funding from the EU also directly benefits our economy as the EU invests almost £3 billion a year into the UK agricultural industry. [5] This obviously creates trade and upholds jobs. Finally, the EU provides financial aid after tragedies. After the 1996 bombing in Manchester our own government only pledged £450k to restore the city centre whilst the EU provided £21.5 million! [6]
The Sun then go on to make this rather bold statement: “Staying in will be worse for jobs, immigration, wages and way of life”.
I am not sure how they can claim that remaining in the EU would be worse for jobs when over 3 million British jobs are dependant on the EU, [7] including over 150,000 in the North East. [8] Many foreign companies such as Nissan are in the UK to reach the EU’s single market and it is highly possible that these companies would leave the UK if we left the EU [9] as it is unlikely we would still be allowed to access the single market after Brexit. [10] This could result in the potential loss of thousands of jobs. Furthermore the EU upholds loads of worker’s rights such as the right not to work more than a 48 hour week without overtime, equal pay legislation and the right to maternity leave and pregnancy protection [11] - the same rights that David Cameron is trying to scrap! [12]
Now on to immigration.
I personally believe in free movement but I understand a lot of people are scared of terrorism or immigrants taking jobs. Firstly, the EU gives us cross border policing to combat terrorism, human trafficking etc [13] so we are actually SAFER from terrorism in the EU because we can share information and resources more easily. Secondly, the concept of immigrants stealing our jobs is a big fat lie. Immigrants are not stealing YOUR job, they are coming to the UK and either starting their own business (which contributes to our economy), working skilled jobs in areas where there are not enough trained British people (such as the medical profession - around 26% of NHS doctors are immigrants [14], or working low-paid, unskilled jobs that British people have no desire to take. Most importantly, EU migrants have contributed more than £20 billion to our economy since 2000. [15]
I really don’t know what The Sun mean in saying that to remain in the EU will be “worse for our way of life”, but as well as aforementioned human rights the EU also gives us cheaper air travel [16] and the freedom to travel, work and live in Europe. [17] The Sun mention immigration yet again, claiming it “puts catastrophic pressure on our schools, hospitals, roads and housing stock”. This is a lie. Overflowing classrooms and hospitals and lack of available housing is due to Tory cuts to education, the NHS and housing building projects, not immigration. [18] George Osborne has said that house prices will fall after Brexit, and whilst at a glance this sounds like a good thing it could actually lead to even less available housing since if a vendor’s house value falls below the price of their mortgage they are unable to sell their house.
The Sun also claim that we are “the world’s fifth biggest economy” and say that “we should strike trade deals with the other 85% of the world”. That we are the 5th largest economy is not strictly true as based off Purchasing Power Parity (a better measure for accurately comparing economies) we are actually the world’s 9th largest economy, falling behind India, Russia, Brazil and Indonesia. [19] Furthermore, the EU combined market value is 1/3 of the entire world’s and being a member of the EU gives us easy access to this market. The EU also gives UK businesses preferential market access to over 50 countries outside of the EU including some of the fastest growing economies in the world such as South Africa and South Korea, and is also working on trade agreements with the United States and China. [20] Our trade opportunities are therefore stable and fruitful inside the EU.
Perhaps the biggest lie in The Sun’s article is that “Remain is a bigger risk in every way”. The truth is, we have no way of knowing for sure what will happen if we leave the EU, and Nigel Farage has even admitted this. However it is far less likely that Germany, France etc would allow us to keep on reaping the EU's benefits without being a part of it. It is therefore a much, much bigger risk to vote leave.
Obviously there are many, many more reasons to vote remain, but these are just some I have highlighted based off The Sun’s misleading front page. If you are undecided about the EU or thinking of voting leave, I hope that this has cleared things up for you a bit. Please do not listen to The Sun and on the 23rd June, please vote remain for a better, secure future for all of us.
References
1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35426593
2) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/mapped-where-in-the-uk-receiv…/
3) http://www.universitiesforeurope.com/…/The-European-Unions-…
4) https://www.theguardian.com/…/why-the-eu-matters-for-univer…
5) http://farmsubsidy.openspending.org/GB/
6) http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/…/manchester-bombing-res…
7) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/Treasury-figures-show-more-tha…
8) http://www.sunderlandecho.com/…/julie-elliott-the-eu-is-cru…
9) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/Britain-must-stay-in-the-EU-sa…
10) http://www.theguardian.com/…/no-single-market-access-for-uk…
11) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/…/European_Convention_on_Human_R…
12) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/David-Camerons-plan-to-scrap-t…
13) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourserv…/…/displayFtu.html…
14) https://www.theguardian.com/…/nhs-foreign-nationals-immigra…
15) https://www.theguardian.com/…/eu-migrants-uk-gains-20bn-ucl…
16) http://europa.eu/…/citizens/travel/passeng…/air/index_en.htm
17) http://ec.europa.eu/…/borders-and-…/visa-policy/index_en.htm
18) http://ec.europa.eu/…/borders-and-…/visa-policy/index_en.htm
19) https://fullfact.org/…/uk-worlds-5th-or-9th-largest-economy/
20) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1080_en.html
I'd like to begin by pointing out that The Sun is owned by Rupert Murdoch, an Australian right-wing billionaire who lives in New York and is NOTORIOUS for not paying taxes. The EU plans to stop tax dodging [1] so OF COURSE he wants you to vote leave. Please do not be fooled into voting leave solely to keep people like Rupert Murdoch rich.
Now we've cleared up how biased it is, on to the article itself.
The Sun states "Throughout our 43 year membership the EU has proved increasingly greedy". Calling the EU "greedy" completely ignores what we get out of being a member (spoiler: it's a lot). As someone from the North East, I benefit from grants from the EU. The EU gives grants to deprived areas such as the North East, Wales and Cornwall, totalling roughly £300 per person. These locations receive more money from the EU than any other country outside of Eastern Europe. [2] As a modern languages student at the University of Manchester I also benefit from EU funding to UK universities. The Erasmus exchange programme governed by the EU is the largest source of funding to UK students wishing to study or work abroad. [3] Furthermore UK universities have received more than £5 billion worth of funding for research from the European Framework Programme 7. This is approximately 12% of the EU research and development budget and the third largest sum received by any country in the EU. [4] Funding from the EU also directly benefits our economy as the EU invests almost £3 billion a year into the UK agricultural industry. [5] This obviously creates trade and upholds jobs. Finally, the EU provides financial aid after tragedies. After the 1996 bombing in Manchester our own government only pledged £450k to restore the city centre whilst the EU provided £21.5 million! [6]
The Sun then go on to make this rather bold statement: “Staying in will be worse for jobs, immigration, wages and way of life”.
I am not sure how they can claim that remaining in the EU would be worse for jobs when over 3 million British jobs are dependant on the EU, [7] including over 150,000 in the North East. [8] Many foreign companies such as Nissan are in the UK to reach the EU’s single market and it is highly possible that these companies would leave the UK if we left the EU [9] as it is unlikely we would still be allowed to access the single market after Brexit. [10] This could result in the potential loss of thousands of jobs. Furthermore the EU upholds loads of worker’s rights such as the right not to work more than a 48 hour week without overtime, equal pay legislation and the right to maternity leave and pregnancy protection [11] - the same rights that David Cameron is trying to scrap! [12]
Now on to immigration.
I personally believe in free movement but I understand a lot of people are scared of terrorism or immigrants taking jobs. Firstly, the EU gives us cross border policing to combat terrorism, human trafficking etc [13] so we are actually SAFER from terrorism in the EU because we can share information and resources more easily. Secondly, the concept of immigrants stealing our jobs is a big fat lie. Immigrants are not stealing YOUR job, they are coming to the UK and either starting their own business (which contributes to our economy), working skilled jobs in areas where there are not enough trained British people (such as the medical profession - around 26% of NHS doctors are immigrants [14], or working low-paid, unskilled jobs that British people have no desire to take. Most importantly, EU migrants have contributed more than £20 billion to our economy since 2000. [15]
I really don’t know what The Sun mean in saying that to remain in the EU will be “worse for our way of life”, but as well as aforementioned human rights the EU also gives us cheaper air travel [16] and the freedom to travel, work and live in Europe. [17] The Sun mention immigration yet again, claiming it “puts catastrophic pressure on our schools, hospitals, roads and housing stock”. This is a lie. Overflowing classrooms and hospitals and lack of available housing is due to Tory cuts to education, the NHS and housing building projects, not immigration. [18] George Osborne has said that house prices will fall after Brexit, and whilst at a glance this sounds like a good thing it could actually lead to even less available housing since if a vendor’s house value falls below the price of their mortgage they are unable to sell their house.
The Sun also claim that we are “the world’s fifth biggest economy” and say that “we should strike trade deals with the other 85% of the world”. That we are the 5th largest economy is not strictly true as based off Purchasing Power Parity (a better measure for accurately comparing economies) we are actually the world’s 9th largest economy, falling behind India, Russia, Brazil and Indonesia. [19] Furthermore, the EU combined market value is 1/3 of the entire world’s and being a member of the EU gives us easy access to this market. The EU also gives UK businesses preferential market access to over 50 countries outside of the EU including some of the fastest growing economies in the world such as South Africa and South Korea, and is also working on trade agreements with the United States and China. [20] Our trade opportunities are therefore stable and fruitful inside the EU.
Perhaps the biggest lie in The Sun’s article is that “Remain is a bigger risk in every way”. The truth is, we have no way of knowing for sure what will happen if we leave the EU, and Nigel Farage has even admitted this. However it is far less likely that Germany, France etc would allow us to keep on reaping the EU's benefits without being a part of it. It is therefore a much, much bigger risk to vote leave.
Obviously there are many, many more reasons to vote remain, but these are just some I have highlighted based off The Sun’s misleading front page. If you are undecided about the EU or thinking of voting leave, I hope that this has cleared things up for you a bit. Please do not listen to The Sun and on the 23rd June, please vote remain for a better, secure future for all of us.
References
1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35426593
2) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/mapped-where-in-the-uk-receiv…/
3) http://www.universitiesforeurope.com/…/The-European-Unions-…
4) https://www.theguardian.com/…/why-the-eu-matters-for-univer…
5) http://farmsubsidy.openspending.org/GB/
6) http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/…/manchester-bombing-res…
7) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/Treasury-figures-show-more-tha…
8) http://www.sunderlandecho.com/…/julie-elliott-the-eu-is-cru…
9) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/Britain-must-stay-in-the-EU-sa…
10) http://www.theguardian.com/…/no-single-market-access-for-uk…
11) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/…/European_Convention_on_Human_R…
12) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/David-Camerons-plan-to-scrap-t…
13) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourserv…/…/displayFtu.html…
14) https://www.theguardian.com/…/nhs-foreign-nationals-immigra…
15) https://www.theguardian.com/…/eu-migrants-uk-gains-20bn-ucl…
16) http://europa.eu/…/citizens/travel/passeng…/air/index_en.htm
17) http://ec.europa.eu/…/borders-and-…/visa-policy/index_en.htm
18) http://ec.europa.eu/…/borders-and-…/visa-policy/index_en.htm
19) https://fullfact.org/…/uk-worlds-5th-or-9th-largest-economy/
20) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1080_en.html
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