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Manifesto Referendum Mandate Prime Minister Opt-Out Clause Sovereignty
Manifesto Referendum Mandate Prime Minister Opt-Out Clause Sovereignty
Background Information
One of the items on the Conservative Partys winning manifesto at the 2015 General
Election was the so-called in-out referendum on the UKs membership of the EU before the
end of 2017. Because the Tories won the Election, they now have a mandate to carry out
the promises made in their manifesto.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has promised to renegotiate the terms of Britains EU
membership before the referendum. In particular, he would like to:
1. The Norwegian Model: countries such as Sweden and Finland form part of the
European Economic Area (EEA) but not the EU this gives them access to Single
Market (except in financial services) but means they do not have to apply EU rules on
justice, home affairs, fisheries and agriculture
2. The Swiss Model: Switzerland is neither part of the EU nor the EEA; instead it
negotiates trade treaties on a case-by-case basis to suit its own economy effectively
this would require a detailed Free Trade Agreement
3. The Turkish Model: This model would allow the UK to be part of a customs union
allowing free trade in manufactured goods but nothing else
4. The Clean-Break Model: the UK could completely abandon its relationship with the
EU, and simply rely on its membership of the World Trade Organisation to ease
trading relationships
Whilst political relationships are clearly an important element, most of the debate so far
has been concerned with the economic impact of staying in or leaving the EU.
Key Terms Glossary Activity
Research and note down the definitions / explanations of the key terms below (these terms
are in bold red font in the background information page).
Manifesto
Referendum
Mandate
Prime Minister
Opt-Out
Clause
Sovereignty
Eurozone
Red-tape
Bureaucracy
Chancellor of
the Exchequer
European
Economic Area
Single Market
Free Trade
Agreement
Customs
Union
World Trade
Organisation
Debate Activity
Each student or small group of students should be given one theme to explore in terms of
assessing whether the UK should leave or stay in the EU.
They should research and note down three arguments in favour and three arguments
against for their given theme. This is ideal for a research homework task.
In a follow-up lesson, students should present their 6 arguments to their peers, and decide
which arguments, in or out, are more persuasive. The rest of the class should note down
the key arguments on their debate summary sheet, and decide for themselves which of the
in or out arguments for that theme are more persuasive.
An optional extension activity would be for students to work on the following essay:
Students could either write the full essay, or a plan, or simply work on constructing
excellent opening paragraphs / concluding paragraphs.
UK and the EU: Better Off Out or In? BBC News website, 22/05/2015
The Economic Consequences of Leaving the EU A report by the Centre for European
Reform, 9/06/2014
The UK and Europe: Costs, Benefits, Options A report by Regents University, 2013
Should the UK Stay or Go? A blog analysis by the LSEs European Institute
Would Britain thrive outside the EU? Szu Ping Chan, The Telegraph, 25/03/2015
A Blueprint for Britain: Openness not Isolation Iain Mansfield, winner of the IEA Brexit Prize
2014
Should Britain stay in the EU or leave? Debate Summary Sheet