Brexit facts and news - official sources in the UK and EU, 12-21 August 2018

Quick Brexit facts from official sources
Read by Ministers, MPs, MEPs, peers, ambassadors, journalists, and the public

BREXIT NEWS 12-21 August 2018

YES, YOU CAN RE-USE OUR MATERIAL

If you’re a journalist please get in touch if you would like to re-use any of our material. All we ask is prior contact and full attribution with a link. Likewise if you’re from another pro-Brexit organisation.

Best regards, the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team, 2018

EU HAS A £410 BILLION FUND

UK WILL RECEIVE JUST 3.6%

ISN'T THIS SOMETHING THE BRITISH PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

(Oh, and British Remainer MPs have
absolutely no say on how this £410 billion is spent)

Latest figures released by the EU yesterday, buried deep in its workings, show dramatic expenditures which will not appear in any British news reports or on other Brexit websites.

The Brexit Facts4EU.Org team produces thousands of factual reports showing what the EU is and what the EU does. Most of these reports contain actual figures, derived from the EU’s own data. They answer the public’s thirst for real facts.

THIS IS BIG

When it comes to an EU fund of £410 billion, we’re inclined to ask readers to sit back and think for a moment. This isn’t just another figure. It’s £410 BILLION POUNDS. In our book, that’s a lot of money. Put another way, it’s £410,000,000,000.

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY – EU's 'ESI' FUND

Put in UK terms, this EU fund is almost 3 times what we spend on the NHS each year
This £410 billion fund is only PART of taxpayer money that EU has to spend
UK receives just 3.6% of this enormous fund, despite being 2nd-largest member state

THIS WON’T BE ON THE BBC

Brexit Facts4EU.Org has been working on the latest figures for this 7-year fund, updated yesterday by the EU. The preliminary results of our analysis will shock many people.

We know from past experience that the BBC will not cover our findings. We do, however, have the possibility of getting this story into a major newspaper. And as ever we hope that other Brexit organisations will cover it.

WHAT WE WILL REPORT ON

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY – OUR SPECIAL REPORT

How Poland receives over 5 times what the UK receives
How even rich EU countries receive far more than the UK
How Germany & France each receive over 60% more than the UK
How the UK taxpayer is paying for EU countries to have better lives
How the UK is a massive loser from its EU membership

THE EU’S DASH TO SPEND UK CASH

We will also show how the EU is dashing to spend the UK’s cash earmarked for this £410 billion fund. We will show the huge rise in payments from this fund since the UK’s Referendum decision to leave.

We will demonstrate how the EU could have cut back, but instead has accelerated its spending, with Theresa May agreeing to keep paying the bills after Brexit even though the UK is under no legal obligation to do so.

OBSERVATIONS

What we are working on is dynamite. It will resonate with ordinary British voters. It can - and should - be used by every Brexit organisation out there, as well as being covered by the mainstream media.

We are the most prolific provider of real facts about EU membership and yet we are the poorest in terms of funding. Perhaps naively we think that punchy facts to inform the British public matter.

The majority of polls in recent months have shown a weakening of the Leave majority, despite one or two being positive. The Remainers have just received a £1 million boost in funding from a British businessman, on top of the funds they have received from a foreign billionaire in recent months.

We know that moves are being planned by [Removed], and by some of the MPs with whom we speak. Political campaigning and tours around the country are great, however we have always believed that some basic, punchy facts are needed as part of the mix.

We hate to repeat ourselves, but if you think some basic facts are important and you haven’t yet donated to keep us going, please do something for us today. Then tomorrow you will see another devastating report from us, opening people’s eyes to what the UK’s membership of the EU really involves. You will know that you helped to fund this important part of the Brexit debate.

Please check back tomorrow for our reports on the £410 billion EU fund which you are paying for.

[ Sources: EU Commission ] 06.55am, 21 Aug 2018

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READERS' COMMENTS

Submit your comment here

Please send us your comments and we will publish them here. You can of course use a pseudonym if you prefer, and it's always nice to know roughly where you're writing from. Please always state the headline of the article you're commenting on.

Name: Brexiteer, Braintree, Essex, UK Date/Time: 21 Aug 2018, 6.26pm

Message: The EU doesn't have any money of their own, the only money they have comes from contributions from member states. The UK being the second biggest contributor we pay this money to belong to the single market and customs union. If we leave the EU on WTO terms we can save all our contributions, still trade with them, but more importantly trade with the rest of the world. Prices on most things outside the EU are cheaper, we could buy most of our food from the Commonwealth countries. Anybody in any doubt just read the article by Martin Howe QC from Lawyers for Leave, "Leaving the EU on WTO terms: pulling down the barriers to world trade" a simple well researched article explains all in language you can understand. After you read that article there can be know doubt leaving the EU would prosper us all.

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PROJECT FEAR ON THURSDAY?

BBC's Economics Editor reports Chancellor's dire warnings, 23 May 2016 © BBC (screengrab)

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME

OFFICIAL DETAILED PREDICTIONS PROVED TO BE OUTRIGHT LIES

On Thursday the government will be publishing over 90 documents relating to the impact of leaving the EU in March 2019 on WTO terms.

Dressed as the government wisely planning for an exit without an agreement with the EU, we predict that these 93 documents will in fact be used by Theresa May as part of Project Fear Mark 3.

REMAINER MPs NEED TO READ THIS BEFORE THEY SPEAK

Before Remainer MPs jump on predictions of various new forms of Armageddon drafted by pro-Remain civil servants, MPs might be wise to consider what happened to the wild threats issued by these people ahead of the vote to leave the EU in June 2016.

As an example, Brexit Facts4EU.Org has chosen one of the most powerful and scary of HM Treasury’s many predictions of immediate catastrophe if the British people voted to leave. This is the issue of immediate job losses following a Leave vote.

For ordinary people, the threat of massive job losses resonated far more than many of the more arcane and complicated arguments about EU membership.

820,000 JOB LOSSES vs THE REALITY OF 651,000 JOB GAINS

Below is a Brexit Facts4EU.Org chart, showing HM Treasury’s threat compared to the reality of actual job numbers. As ever we have drawn the actual job numbers from official government statistics from the ONS, released last week.

As readers can see, not only did the Treasury’s claims prove to be false, the numbers of new jobs has risen dramatically, rather than falling alarmingly.

THIS WAS ALL ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF VOTING TO LEAVE

In May 2016 the Treasury produced a document about the IMMEDIATE impact of a vote to leave the EU. Coming from the Treasury this was ‘official’ and it did NOT relate to what would happen after the UK actually left. The long-term impact had already been described by them in a document 5 weeks earlier.

EXACTLY ONE MONTH BEFORE THE REFERENDUM

Excerpts from the then Chancellor George Osborne’s speech, launching
“HM Treasury analysis: the immediate economic impact of leaving the EU” :-

“But what about the immediate impact on our economy? What will it mean next month, next year? And what will it mean for you?

“Today the Treasury is publishing its detailed and rigorous analysis of the immediate impact of leaving the EU on growth, jobs, prices, wages, house prices and our nation’s finances.

“And the conclusion is that all would be hit.”

Talking of businesses and families he went on:

“They won’t take new people on; some will let existing people go.

“And what about families – how are they likely to respond? Families will also be uncertain about what is coming next.

“If you don’t know what’s going to happen to your job, your partner’s job, your pay or the fortunes of the firm you work for – it would make sense to delay spending on things.

“People will put off trying to buy a home, or starting their own business.

“Put together millions of individual decisions like that and there is real damage to the economy.”

THE TREASURY’S IMMEDIATE IMPACT DOCUMENT

In this document the Treasury published tables showing that between 520-820,000 jobs would be lost if the British people voted to leave.

“The central conclusion of the analysis is that the effect of this profound shock would be to push the UK into recession and lead to a sharp rise in unemployment.”

The opposite happened, as everyone now knows.

OBSERVATIONS

No-one in HM Treasury has lost their job as a result of the catastrophic ineptitude of the forecasts.

In fact the only person to lose his job as a result was the former Chancellor George Osborne whose Department produced the wild claims. However, he was able to replace his job with six new ones.

THIS WASN’T A SLOGAN ON THE SIDE OF A BUS

It’s important to note that the forecast of massive job losses wasn’t a slogan on the side of a bus, suggesting something which could be done after the UK left.

This was official analysis of what would happen immediately. It was the result of detailed ‘macroeconomic and fiscal modelling’, from the government department that is supposed to know how to do this stuff.

The contrast between the truth, and the deliberate lies of the government, David Cameron, George Osborne, and the civil servants aiding and abetting them could not be more stark.

The government’s partner in crime, the BBC, then produced a video on the subject and you can see a screengrab of this above. Its economics editor Kamal Ahmad took the bizarre and deliberate propaganda of HM Treasury, made a film, and the whole story was widely reported on the BBC and across all media.

Most ordinary people are not in the position of a George Osborne, able to summon up several new jobs after being made redundant. The threats of Osborne, the Treasury, and the government were very worrying indeed to normal voters and without doubt influenced many to vote Remain.

REMEMBER THIS ON THURSDAY

We suggest that readers – and Remainer MPs - may want to remember this article when the government publishes its 93 papers on Thursday, on the impact of exiting the EU on WTO terms.

We confidently predict that these new papers will be designed to encourage people to support Theresa May’s ‘Wet Remain’ Chequers Plan, for fear of the repercussions of exiting without a special agreement with the EU.

Given that the same people producing these papers will also have worked on the government’s first version of Project Fear, we suggest that Remainer MPs might want to think twice before ‘weaponising’ any of the content.

They may very well be left with egg on their faces if they do. (Assuming eggs are still available in a post-Brexit UK, of course....)

[ Sources: HM Treasury Short-Term Impact Paper | Speech by George Osborne, May 2016 | Office for National Statistics - jobs figures ] 06.15am, 20 Aug 2018

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READERS' COMMENTS

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Name: SibeliusFan, West Midlands, UK Date/Time: 20 Aug 2018, 10.16am

Message: I don't think "Brexit-The Movie" was shown on BBC TV or any other channel in the run-up to the referendum. If it had been, I'm convinced that more people would have had more idea of what the EU actually gets up to and how it spends our money, and the Leave vote would have been even bigger. Well, BBC TV - there's still time make a good old-fashioned objective documentary about the workings of the EU...
BBC Radio Four has done a bit better in the past, (unfortunately for a very much smaller audience of course.) Way before the referendum, at the height of the Greek debt crisis, Alan Little did a brilliant, impartial 3-part radio documentary "Europe's Choice" in the "Crossing Continents" series that explained how the EU became what it now is. It's still available and, for what it's worth, I can recommend all 3 parts as background info in the Brexit debate.

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AN UNEASY PARTNERSHIP
OF UNEQUALS

HOW THE EU ISN’T WHAT IT SEEMS

A common thread running through all Remainer thinking is that the United Kingdom is lined up against 27 countries of equal standing. This is wrong.

With 1 against 27, the argument goes, the UK should know its place. This argument is based on a total lack of understanding of the composition of the EU. There is almost no understanding of the relative size and importance of the 28 member states.

Here we try to redress the balance a little.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org has looked at the latest information about the EU’s member states in the broadest terms. Below we give 3 principal facts which show how the EU is an uneasy partnership of unequals.

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY
– BASIC DIFFERENCES IN THE EU -

The 28 economies
The 28 populations
Other forms of power

1. THE 28 ECONOMIES

Below is a chart showing the relative size of the economies of the 28 nation states making up the EU. Just 4 countries dominate, with 62.6% of total EU GDP.

EU COUNTRIES AND THEIR GDPs

$1,500+ bn - Germany, UK, France, Italy

$500-$1,500 bn - Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland

Under $500 bn - Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, Malta

Just over one-third of the EU’s total economic output comes from the combined total of 24 member states.

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY – EU ECONOMY DOMINATED BY 4 COUNTRIES

Just 4 countries produce 63% of the EU’s total economic output
The smallest 20 countries COMBINED produce only 19% of the EU’s economic output
With Brexit, the EU’s economy will drop by over 15% - overnight

Economic output as measured by GDP is of course only one measure of a country’s importance, but it’s a significant one. What the above figures show is the extraordinary imbalance in the economies of the EU28.

This also shows the massive impact on the EU of the departure of one its 4 economic powerhouses: the UK. The United Kingdom accounts for 15.2% of the EU’s total GDP.

2. THE 28 POPULATIONS

As might be expected, there is a similar story for the overall population of the EU.

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY – EU's POPULATION

Over half the EU’s total population live in just 4 countries out of the 28
The EU’s total population will drop from 512.6 million to 446.4 million, after Brexit
That’s a 13% drop, overnight

3. OTHER FORMS OF POWER

1. Military Power

There are many competing methods for measuring military power by country. They involve different weightings for different attributes. To keep life simple, here we present just a few key measures.

UK has highest defence budget in the EU
One of two major military powers out of the 28 member states
Number of EU’s nuclear powers will be halved on Brexit
UK is only major country in the EU spending NATO minimum of 2% of GDP on defence
Germany is currently spending little over half of this

2. Diplomatic Power

Number of EU’s permanent members of UN Security Council will be halved on Brexit
UK has second-highest number of diplomatic missions worldwide, after France
FCO retains global reputation for quality and extent of its diplomatic work

3. Overseas aid

UK is biggest donor of international aid in the EU
UK gives bilaterally to countries
It also gives to the EU for the EU to spend and claim as its own international aid

OBSERVATIONS

THIS EU IS AN UNEASY PARTNERSHIP OF UNEQUALS

Above we have tried to summarise some key facts which highlight the UK’s relative power in comparison with many EU member states.

The UK is not leaving a union of 28 broadly similar countries. The UK’s departure is nothing short of dramatic for the EU. The EU’s economy will plunge by over 15% overnight, and its population will fall by over 13%. These are big numbers.

In this article we haven’t even mentioned the fact that the UK pays far more than its fair share into the EU budget and into the EU’s ‘off-the-books’ funds. Without Germany and the UK, the EU would be bankrupt in an instant. Putting aside Germany, make no mistake that just without the UK and its taxpayers’ money the impact on the EU is huge.

So far the EU has perpetuated the myth that it’s the UK who is the supplicant in the Brexit negotiations. This is simply nonsense and is a consequence of the weak and feeble attitude of Theresa May and her government.

THE UK’S APOLOGETIC APPEASERS

The UK suffers from a disease affecting many western countries. It has endured decades of propaganda in classrooms and lecture halls which has had the effect of more than a generation of British people being brought up to believe that the UK is somehow an inferior country – or at least far less significant than reality shows.

Whilst the brainwashing of the young has happened across the western world, in the UK we suggest it has been particularly bad.

It is not in the British nature to blow our own trumpet. ‘Self-deprecating’ or ‘understated’ are words often used internationally to describe us. These are qualities which we have no desire to see altered.

Nevertheless when it comes to Brexit, the apologetic and defeatist mentality about the United Kingdom and its place in the EU and in the world has been highly damaging.

Had the Prime Minister stood up straight and looked and talked confident, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Her recent proclamation that she is now in charge of the Brexit negotiations would be a joke, if it weren’t so very serious for the country.

We repeat our urgent call for her to be replaced, without a 3-month leadership contest. Thanks to this Ditherer-in-Chief, the country no longer has time to mess about.

If you could possibly support our important work, we really need your help.

[ Sources: International Monetary Fund WEO Database | NATO | Eurostat ] 07.15am, 19 Aug 2018

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Name: Alan Bucknall, Northern Ireland, UK Date/Time: 19 Aug 2018, 5.27pm

Message: (Off topic) I sent this to the editor, Broadcasting House. 'Dear Editor. In the absence of the Andrew Marr programme, I turned to Broadcasting House for news and comment, including on Brexit. It was a revelation! The comment was openly advancing a pro-Remain, anti-leave position. No alternative comment was given a hearing and when the use of 'Boris' as a pejorative was briefly questioned the presenter was rapidly directed back to negative 'Boris' comments.
This morning's Broadcasting House amply fulfilled allegations of BBC bias in favour of Remain. The BBC is thereby demeaned.

AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY

RESULTS OF LONG-TERM PROJECT BY FACTS4EU.ORG TEAM REVEAL

FACTS DON'T RESEARCH AND WRITE THEMSELVES

The latest pieces of work from the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team have been met with a variety of reactions from world leaders, ranging from celebration to incredulity to resignation to abuse.

Alas none of us are hedge fund managers... or married to one. The Team (and one member in particular) has donated as much as it can. Can you please help fund our work?

Unlike many Brexit websites, we write our own content and create our own graphs, by researching deeply into official UK and EU official sources. Unfortunately we barely make it from one week to the next and we rely 100% on voluntary contributions - small or big.

We really could use your help in working for a clean and true Brexit.

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WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL TO OUR SUPPORTERS.

UNFORTUNATELY WE ONLY RECEIVE A QUARTER OF WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE. CAN YOU HELP?

(Anonymity respected completely if you prefer to remain private)

Best regards, the Facts4EU.Org Team, 2018

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
WITH THE SOUND OF REMAIN

AND THERESA MAY IS ON HOLIDAY… AGAIN

Our Prime Minister is currently on her second summer holiday with her husband.

Her first summer holiday was spent in the Italian Lakes region, before returning to the UK for a week in her constituency.

For this second holiday she and Philip are spending a week walking in the Swiss alps.

A HOILDAY WOULD BE NICE

The Brexit Facts4EU.Org team are not on holiday. The biggest change for the nation in most people’s lifetime is supposedly happening in just 31 weeks’ time, and the government still has an unworkable quasi-Remain version of leaving the EU, which no-one wants.

We have this strange idea that perhaps holidays are a luxury if you’re in the business of delivering Brexit, when everything is in a complete mess.

If you can support us financially to keep us going, we would really appreciate it.
Links are below.

08.50am, Saturday 18 Aug 2018

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WHEN UK LEAVES, EU WILL HAVE

UNDER 14% OF WORLD’S EXPORT MARKET

16% DROP IN EU’S SHARE OF WORLD EXPORT MARKET,
EVEN WHILE THE UK IS STILL A MEMBER

A Brexit Facts4EU.Org analysis of the latest figures available from the EU’s official statistics agency Eurostat shows how rapidly the EU’s share of the world export market in goods has plunged in the last 15 years.

There have been studies of the EU’s share of the world economy, but here we bring you yet another original and exclusive Brexit Facts4EU.Org chart, showing how the EU’s goods exports are dropping, as a percentage of world exports.

Crucially, we have also analysed how the EU’s share of world export markets for goods will drop even further following Brexit.

EU’S FALLING SHARE OF WORLD EXPORTS FROM 18.5% TO 15.6% IN JUST 15 YEARS

It is worth noting that in this timeframe, the EU grew from 15 member states, to 25, then to 27, and finally to 28 when Croatia joined in 2013.

Despite this, the EU’s percentage share of world goods exports fell by nearly 16%. In 2002 the EU was responsible for 18.5% of world exports. By 2016, 15 years later, its share was just 15.6%. That's almost a 16% drop.

This information comes directly from the EU’s Eurostat statistics agency and is based on the latest figures they have available. In other words it’s incontrovertible by Remainers, as readers have come to expect from us.

AND WHAT IF YOU EXCLUDE THE UK?

The UK’s economy is principally involved in services, not goods. Notwithstanding this, when the UK leaves it will result in a huge drop in the value of the total EU exports of goods outside the EU.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org looked at what would happen to the EU’s share of global goods exports when the UK’s figures are excluded.

As you can see, without the UK the EU’s share of total world goods exports in 2016 – the last year for which the EU publishes these figures – plunges from 15.6% to just 13.9%.

OBSERVATIONS

We would suggest that Remainer MPs continue to live in a world of wishes and dreams. On this site we aim to provide simple facts.

It is an uncomfortable truth for Remainer politicans that the facts regarding the UK’s membership of the EU sit very uneasily with their bland and unsupported claims.

In this article we have once again used official EU data. We don’t like using EU data because we have come to distrust it over the years. Nevertheless, in doing so we are providing facts which come from the body which all Remainers seem to prefer over the facts from their own country’s government.

As such, these facts are indisputable by Remainers. Politics is one thing. Facts are more powerful.

Only 15.6% of world's exports now come from the EU

After Brexit this will fall below 14%

DO YOU WANT MORE?

What appears to be a simple article with two simple charts, understandable by everyone, takes an enormous amount of time to research and produce. We could write an opinion piece – such as you read every day on other sites – in a tiny fraction of the time.

We believe that when push comes to shove, it’s essential to have facts to fall back on. If you agree, perhaps you would consider becoming part of the wonderful small band of supporters who donate to keep us going. Links are below.

[ Sources: EU Commission | Eurostat ] 06.55am, 18 Aug 2018

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Name: Brexiteer, Braintree, Essex, UK Date/Time: 18 Aug 2018, 11.38am

Message: Presumably if other EU countries just trade with countries inside the single market and are happy with that fine. Yesterday you showed a graph of the UK trade inside the single market, the lowest of any country. That fact alone is the reason why the UK should leave the EU. The mantra from Remainers that we need the single market is patently untrue. The UK share of single market trade has declined since the inception. Outside of the EU the UK can focus on trade expansion to the rest of the world. We have nothing to lose, if we stay our trade inside the single market will not increase, but the EU share of world trade will continue to decline.

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‘BENEFITS’ OF SINGLE MARKET

BLOWN APART

BY LATEST EU TRADE FIGURES

SINGLE MARKET COSTS THE UK £97bn TRADE DEFICIT
- EU FIGURES RELEASED LATE YESTERDAY

WHERE ARE THE SINGLE MARKET BENEFITS?

Yesterday the EU Commission released the latest EU28 trade figures, for the 12 months to June.

They show the UK is bottom of the list when it comes to benefiting from the Single Market, out of the 28 member states.

In fact the UK is the largest net loser from the Single Market

Below we show, exclusively, how badly the UK is doing out of its membership of the Single Market.

Overnight Brexit Facts4EU.Org analysed the latest figures from the EU’s official statistics agency and looked at the balance of trade the UK ‘enjoys’ with the rest of the EU.

Statistical note: Clearly some results above are bizarre. For example the results for the Netherlands demonstrate the incongruity of the EU failing to report how so much of that country's imports and exports merely transit the country as a result of the use of its major ports. Belgium's figures are similarly flattered.

WHAT IS THE 'BALANCE OF TRADE'?

The balance of trade is the difference between the amount of a country’s exports, minus the amount of their imports. 'Trade' is normally quoted as the trade in goods, so this is what we have used. It is particularly relevant given that Theresa May’s Chequers Plan proposes that the UK effectively stays in the Single Market for goods.

As readers can see, not only is the UK in last place in terms of benefiting from being a member of the Single Market, but it is in effect the largest net loser from the trade between the EU’s member states.

OBSERVATIONS

How often have you heard from Remainer MPs that membership of the Single Market is essential for jobs and the economy?

Typically these statements come from lawyer-MPs such as Chuka Umunna, Dominic Grieve, Anna Soubry, et al. These are people who have never had to dirty their hands with the essential business of competing on the world stage, selling goods or services, and generating wealth for the UK.

We have.

CHALLENGING THE REMAINER MYTHS

Regrettably the vast majority of TV presenters haven’t got a clue about trade either, so are unable to put these Remoaner MPs on the spot when they make their ridiculous statements. In most cases of course, the presenters are anti-Brexit in any case.

Facts like the ones we have presented above are not hard to understand. We would also like to think they are fairly fundamental.

Here’s a sound-bite for our Brexiteer MPs and for all you pro-Brexit campaigners out there.

Trade in the Single Market costs the UK a deficit of just shy of £100bn per year

The UK is the biggest net loser from trade in the Single Market, out of the 28

In the next article we analyse the export figures on their own – this is also an eye-opener.

Please support our work if you can. We really do have an influence on the debate, even if our work is not often credited.

[ Sources: EU Commission | Eurostat | Office for National Statistics ] 06.55am, 17 Aug 2018

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Name: AshleyGreatBritain, South Bucks, UK Date/Time: 18 Aug 2018, 09.49am

Message: Once again this shows us how deep and deceitful this whole this whole thing is. What makes me intently angry is how the eu and our government know all about this,and that's just the way they like it. They have always plundered our country and tax system to make personal profit and gain.they have also found us to be very useful to prop up and pay for other eu countries, while the uk suffers and goes to ruin.
The treachery is of the highest order, and plain to see. I am ready for the long term fight!
Are you!?

Name: Liz F, Kent, UK Date/Time: 17 Aug 2018, 11.38am

Message: What an eye-opener! I've written about this to my MP Greg Clark and the BBC, as naturally such information doesn't appear anywhere on their website (plenty of negative Brexit articles though). I'll let you know if I receive a reply. Don't hold your breath.

Name: Brexiteer, Braintree, Essex, UK Date/Time: 17 Aug 2018, 09.31am

Message: This means the UK spends £8billion a year membership fee to belong to a market club that we don't sell to. If that is correct that is the economics of the madhouse. No wonder the EU wants to keep the UK inside the single market. If we leave the EU the UK taxpayers save £8billion, and only a minimal loss to trading within the single market, that sounds like win win! We would also benefit from tariffs if we traded on WTO rules with the EU. Plus most food stuffs outside the EU customs union are cheaper on the world markets. What on earth are we waiting for, please tell me are there any benefits of EU membership?

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WHO EXPORTS MOST INTO THE SINGLE MARKET?

LATEST EU FIGURES REVEAL
UK IS VERY POOR RELATION

Continuing our overnight analysis of the latest trade figures released by the EU late yesterday, Brexit Facts4EU.Org asks a simple question:

As a proportion of their size,
which EU countries export most into the EU’s Single Market?

This is a unique and exclusive insight into the true position of EU member states and how they rely on the Single Market. We looked at the size of each member state’s exports within the EU and then compared it to the overall size of their economies.

The results are startling.

The chart shows each country’s exports into the Single Market, expressed as a percentage of their overall GDP.

As readers can see at a glance, once again the UK is at the bottom, beaten into last place only by tiny Cyprus. The Cyprus economy is 121 times smaller than that of the UK and has a heavy reliance on tourism. The UK is therefore effectively last once again, when it comes to industrialised nations.

OBSERVATIONS

It should be remembered that the costs of UK products have become much cheaper for EU27 countries, as the pound has fallen in value, partly as a result of the doom-monger Chancellor Philip Hammond and the doom-monger Canadian Head of the Bank of England Mark Carney talking down the UK economy for the last few years.

The fall in the value of the pound should have resulted in a substantial increase in exports to the EU27 and a corresponding fall in the UK’s trade deficit with the Single Market. Certainly exports to the rest of the world have increased substantially partly as a result of this.

Unfortunately, however, sales to the EU's Single Market have barely changed.

As an indication of this, Spain - with an economy exactly 50% the size of the UK’s - managed to export more to the rest of the EU as a proportion of the size of its economy than did the UK.

If that doesn't make Chuka Umunna, Anna Soubry and their like shut up about the benefits of the Single Market, then they simply aren't interested in facts. (To be honest we had rather gathered that, over the last few years.)

NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION

Most readers understand that the smart part of what we do is not the many hours of research involved in each article, but the distillation of the information into easy-to-understand facts and a chart or two.

Writing the kind of 3,000 word essays frequently found on other sites is easy. Ironically the work in producing punchy summaries which resonate with ordinary people is much harder and takes much more time.

Please support our work if you can. We really do have an influence on the debate, even if our work is not always credited.

[ Sources: EU Commission | Eurostat | Office for National Statistics ] 06.55am, 17 Aug 2018

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WHY AREN’T WE
ALREADY OUT?

HERE'S ONE OF THE KEY REASONS

Sir Jeremy Heywood KCB, CVO © Parliament

“The Civil Service did its job”
– Blog by Sir Jeremy Heywood, Head of Civil Service, 2016

“Oh no it didn’t”
– The Facts4EU.Org Team, 2018

WHY HASN’T THE UNITED KINGDOM ALREADY EXITED THE EUROPEAN UNION?

Almost two years ago, and nearly three months after the Referendum, one of the key answers to this question was delivered by the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Sir Jeremy Heywood KCB, CVO.

Below we present excerpts from Sir Jeremy Heywood’s evidence to the Public Administration & Constitutional Affairs Committee of the House of Commons in September of 2016, as well as from his ‘blog’ in November 2016.

We suggest that this evidence from the Head of the Civil Service be viewed against the backdrop of the public statements of numerous ministers, including the Prime Minister David Cameron, the Chancellor George Osborne, and the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (now Chancellor).

Prior to the Referendum they all clearly stated that a Leave result would be implemented without delay. The Prime Minister even promised that Article 50 would be initiated ‘the next day’.

Here is what the Civil Service did – or rather - didn’t do about the possibility of Brexit.

THE APPROACH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE TO BREXIT

On pre-Referendum activity Sir Jeremy said: “…to carry on business as usual and reflect the position of the government of the day on EU membership”.

Yes, that’s exactly what they did. With no attempt to make any balanced assessments of the Leave position, which in the end was the majority opinion and decision of the country they serve.

Heywood continues: “...while doing whatever useful preparatory work we could against the possibility that the referendum outcome went against the Government’s position.” Note the first instance of the word ‘against’ which we’ve underlined. Clearly a possible Leave vote was a ghastly prospect and therefore the Civil Service wanted to prepare ‘against’ such an outcome.

This may sound like pedantry, but the distinction is highly significant and indicates the bias. If Heywood and his thousands of mandarins were truly impartial, they would have been preparing “for” something, not “against” it. You don't normally “prepare against” something unless you’re actively fighting it...

Heywood went on: “The question has still been asked: ‘What was the Civil Service doing before the referendum? Where is the Brexit plan?’ This shows little appreciation of the constitutional and propriety framework in which we operate...”

In other words, we’re all stupid. Where have we heard that before?

WHAT HEYWOOD SAYS THEY DID

Heywood claims the Civil Service were very busy running the country. Nevertheless “we used the time available to do important work… to understand the possible alternatives to EU membership, such as the requirements for membership of the European Free Trade Association; the sort of trade agreements reached by other countries outside the EU; what Brexit might mean for the economy...”

1. So, his first example is that they worked to understand “the requirements for membership of the European Free Trade Association”? EFTA comprises only Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The Vote Leave campaign specifically excluded the possibility of having a post-Brexit deal like any of these countries. In any event EFTA has a website, Mr Heywood, and it doesn’t take long to read it.

In fact this seems at odds with his evidence to the Select Committee on 14th Sept, when Heywood said “Obviously there is no particular model that the Prime Minister is looking to adopt. We want a British model, not a pre-existing model that does not work for us.”

2. His second example: “the sort of trade agreements reached by other countries outside the EU”. Really? The Civil Service didn’t already know how the rest of the World works?

3. His third example: “what Brexit might mean for the economy”. Well, we all know what that meant to the Civil Service - it was encapsulated in the now thoroughly-discredited Treasury Report.

Finally, in his evidence to the Select Committee we begin to see the reality of the ‘work’ which the Civil Service did. He referred to it as “the policy thinking that we started to do in our heads”.

Preparing in their heads? Dear God...

OBLIGATIONS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE

The Civil Service has a duty to be above politics. “During the official referendum campaign, we were scrupulous in making sure that all documents issued were factually correct and objective.”

Er, no you didn’t, Sir Jeremy. What about the infamous 202-page Treasury Report claiming every family would be £4,300 worse off?

Even the pro-Remain Chancellor Philip Hammond admitted in 2016 in evidence to a select committee, that “Some of those assumptions [in the report] have already proved to be invalid… The Government’s position is that we will not be seeking to pursue any of these modelled outcomes”.

We can’t think of any output whatsoever from the Civil Service
which presented the Leave case impartially.

SIR JEREMY’S DEFENCE

Heywood’s argument, in his blog and in his evidence to the Select Committee, is that the Referendum wasn’t like a General Election, where the Civil Service conduct detailed preparations for each possible outcome.

“...we did not have the equivalent of a manifesto commitment that we could plan against as you would have in a general election period. We did... in that last 28 days, look at what was being said by people advocating Leave and try to understand what were the issues—the policy issues—that were likely to immediately arise on 24 June in that case.” (Evidence to Select Committee)

Really? We and a huge number of others, including the official Vote Leave campaign and the Leave.EU campaign prepared vast quantities of material. The Rt Hon John Redwood MP and colleagues even produced a Brexit budget.

However Heywood’s team were supporting the Government’s position, which they agreed with anyway,and so it seems they weren’t interested. If they had been, it was all there.

OBSERVATIONS

At the start of his blog, Heywood says: “It is difficult to exaggerate the historical importance of this decision. At the same time, its full implications and impact on the political, economic and social life of the country and the UK’s role in the world will probably only become clear from the perspective of future decades.”

But in his evidence to the Select Committee he said: “We did not do the equivalent of what we would do at the time of a general election, and we did not develop our own plan because I do not think that is the Civil Service’s job.”

In other words, in his blog Sir Jeremy admits the Referendum was far more important than any General Election, and yet in his evidence to the Select Committee he admits the Civil Service did virtually nothing to prepare for one of the two possible outcomes, and claims that it wasn't their job.

IMAGINE A GENERAL ELECTION...

Imagine a general election where the result is a change of government. Imagine Labour getting in at the next election. Corbyn and his ministers arrive at work the next day, only for the Civil Service to tell them that they'll need a couple of years to get their heads around Labour policies and the work they'll need to do.

One of the excuses which is trotted out for the appalling incompetence of the senior echelons of the Civil Service is that they were under no duty to prepare for a Leave result. Well as far as we're aware, when the next election is called, the Prime Minister of the day will not have to tell the Civil Service to prepare for a Labour victory as well as for a Conservative one, 'just in case'. The Civil Service will do this automatically.

And yet for what Sir Jeremy admits was the biggest political change in anyone's lifetime, there was no serious preparation by the Civil Service whatsoever.

OFF WITH THE HEADS

Two years ago we called for the firing of the Heads of Department of the Civil Service, including Sir Jeremy, and we feel the same way today. We would exempt Jon Thompson, head of HMRC from this, but the rest are well past their sell-by date.

Naturally we don't expect their deputies to be much better, but at least it might give them a wake-up call.

THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT TURNS SLOWLY BUT CONTINUOUSLY AGAINST BREXIT

The Head of the Civil Service is always given a peerage when he retires. It's worth noting that all of Sir Jeremy's predecessors in the Lords have actively worked and voted against Brexit, since the Referendum. Remoaners to a man. Sir Jeremy isn't allowed to express a preference as he is still (inexplicably) in his job, but we would bet some serious money that he will be no different from his Establishment-minded, remoaning predecessors.

If by any chance we get a pro-Brexit Prime Minister in the next month or two, he or she will have to deliver the sternest-possible instructions to the Civil Service if the country is going to have any chance of a true, clean, and successful Brexit.

[ Sources : Heywood's Blog | Heywood's Evidence To Select Committee | The Chancellor's Evidence to the Treasury Committee ]
06.30am, 16 Aug 2018

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Name: J Slater, Essex, UK Date/Time: 19 Aug 2018, 5.29pm

Message: Sack the lot of them! Admitting to not doing the job properly, as Head of the Civil Service, amounts to a sackable offence. Sir Jeremy Heywood should be stripped of his title, his job, and no Peerage for him. Discredited, the Civil Service must be made to learn that they are Servants of the People. The Sit Com years ago, Yes Minister, exposed the rot all those years ago. The truth was made into a comedy in the 1970s but this reality is extremely damaging for the Democracy of this Country today. It leaves me incandescent with rage that people like Heywood have been employed to damage a Democratic Vote. We are now only just learning the full extent of this villainy, thanks to the Facts4EU Team.

Name: Brexiteer, Braintree, Essex, UK Date/Time: 16 Aug 2018, 09.09am

Message: Steve Hilton, David Cameron's chief of staff, recently wrote an article for Fox News where he outlined what Tony Blair had told him after Cameron won the 2010 General election. Blair said about the civil service: "You cannot underestimate how much they believe it's their job to actually run the country and to resist the changes put forward by people they dismiss as 'here today, gone tomorrow' politicians". You only have to see how eight former Cabinet Secretaries, now in the House of Lords, voted to try and overturn Brexit during the recent votes over the Withdrawal Bill. If the UK does ever truly leave the EU, it will be more by accident rather than design as far as the UK civil service are concerned.

Name: Patrick F, Kent, UK Date/Time: 16 Aug 2018, 07.33

Message: Professor Patrick Minford (who Remainers love to denounce, but can never refute) has written a report in the Economists For Free Trade website, www.economistsforfreetrade.com called "Civil Servants 'Totally misleading' public on cost of leaving customs union". More evidence of the bias we are up against.

“ARE YOU AN INDIVIDUAL?

OR ONE OF THE HERD?”

YOUNG BRITS DON’T FIT EU MOULD,
ACCORDING TO EU STATS

A fundamental part of the ‘narrative’ for young British people from the Remain organisations has been the question of ‘being part of Europe’. Or as we call it, ‘being part of the EU’, which is of course very different and which is the more accurate way to look at Brexit.

IF YOU’RE UNDER 30 YOU MIGHT FIND THIS INTERESTING

Young British people generally have a good reputation amongst their peers in the EU27 countries.

Whether it’s the attraction of cutting edge music, fashion, or just experiencing the independent spirit in the UK, the young of the EU27 flock to our country to imbibe our youth culture – as well as to find the jobs which simply aren’t available in their own countries.

Meanwhile young Brits have not been imbued with any sense that they might be part of a great country at all. Many believe that other EU countries have a lot to teach us. Naturally this stems from the education which has been provided to young British people over recent decades.

WE THOUGHT YOUNG BRITS MIGHT LIKE SOME FACTS

Sunday was International Youth Day and as usual the EU ‘went large’ on this. One of its initiatives was for its official statistics body (Eurostat) to look at aspects of living for young people across the EU.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org did some analysis of the results, which we show below.

The chart shows how an average 22 year old male in the UK has very different results compared to the EU average.

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY – AVERAGE 22-YEAR OLD BRITISH MAN IS :

67% more likely to have moved out of his parents’ home
81% more likely to be a graduate
28% more likely to be employed
44% more likely to be in permanent, not temporary, employment
30% more likely to use internet banking
60% more likely to buy travel or tickets for events online
120% more likely to buy music online

Compared to his contemporaries in the rest of the EU.

WHAT ABOUT YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT?

As usual, the EU is way behind the UK on dealing with youth unemployment. For years the EU did almost nothing useful on this. Eventually they were forced to act when the rates went over 50% in countries such as Greece.

The rate in the UK is now 11.3% whereas in the Eurozone it is 16.9%.

This means that despite the EU’s actions,
today you are almost 50% more likely to be unemployed
in the Eurozone than in the UK.

It’s worth pointing out that in several countries the situation for young people remains even more dire than the EU averages suggest. The latest figures from the EU, released just 2 weeks ago, show the following youth unemployment rates:-

Greece 39.7%
Spain 34.1%
Italy 32.6%
Croatia 22.7%
France 20.4%

OBSERVATIONS

‘COMMON VALUES’, SOLIDARITY’, UNITY’

Read any EU speech or document and readers will find the words ‘common’, ‘solidarity’, and ‘unity’ littered liberally throughout. Rarely will you find words such as ‘diversity’, ‘originality’, or ‘individuality’, which are themes more naturally associated with British youth.

The problem is that the EU (not ‘Europe’) is all about homogenising the peoples of the members states so that they fit into a common structure. To take an example from only yesterday, the EU moved to the next level in its actions against Poland. The Polish government wants its supreme court judges to retire at age 65. The EU won’t permit this and is taking legal action.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER? THAT’S FINE IF YOU DON’T MIND BEING TOLD WHAT TO THINK

If young people want another example, the EU has a ‘European Solidarity Corps’ for young people, for which you can volunteer to do a variety of projects around the EU. Sounds good, but in the small print you have to sign a form of oath of allegiance to uphold EU principles. You may agree with these principles, you may not.

But suppose in the future the EU changes its politics? (It’s happening right now across many EU countries, as you must know.) Suppose you don’t agree with those new EU policies or values? Why should that stop you volunteering? And anyway, since when did British young people like being told what to think?

SECOND OPEN LETTER TO YOUNGER VOTERS

Dear younger voter,

Yesterday we showed you how 99.5% of higher education students don’t use the EU’s Erasmus+ programme for studying in the EU. We also showed how 99% of working age British people do not use the EU’s freedom of movement for living in the EU27.

Today we’ve shown how young British voters are different from most of their EU counterparts – in living arrangements, education, and social life. And this all comes from official EU data.

We’ve also shown how disadvantaged you would be if you had the youth unemployment rates they have in the rest of the EU. These may have improved slightly in the last year but don’t forget, this has been a disaster for over 10 years.

Questions

The questions are these: Do you want your freedoms continuously curtailed by an increasingly totalitarian regime that you can’t vote out, and to be brought down to EU levels? Or do you want to retain your freedoms and your way of life, and to be able to vote for a government that best represents your views?

The EU is about making everything the same. If you don't believe us, spend a couple of weeks reading the EU's output for 12 hours a day and you'll soon see why we say this. Or you could look at the formal principles of the EU, such as 'ever closer union'. They don't make a secret of it.

We rather value individuality and personal freedom. We like the differences between countries as we travel around Europe. But that's not what the EU offers.

If the EU's whole uniformist ideology is for you, then fine, we will never persuade you to review the information you've been told at school or university. However if you want some variety, freedom, and the possibility to rebel, then perhaps you might take a look at the wealth of factual information about the EU on this site.

We have one final point. If you’re keen to share your world and to experience other cultures, why limit yourself? After Brexit you will still be able to travel and study abroad – people did this before the EU came along.

Would it not be interesting to open this up to the entire world of 200-odd countries, instead of limiting yourself to thinking about just the 27 EU member states?

Best wishes, the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team

[ Sources: EU Commission | Eurostat | Office for National Statistics ] 06.50am, 15 Aug 2018

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Name: Alison, Central Scotland Date/Time: 16 Aug 2018, 12.46pm

Message: For info, I studied on the continent, in Austria and France, worked in multiple European countries (and still do), speak the languages .. and I did all this when there were six, then nine countries in the EEC. There was nothing called 'Freedom of Movement', but I moved freely around Europe, with my passport. Many of my closest friends are French, Austrian, Swiss. On the other hand, more than one friend who worked at an EU institution were not allowed to raise substantive issues with the running of their departments, and were suspended and then sacked, after being sent to Coventry.

Name: Liz F, Kent, UK Date/Time: 15 Aug 2018, 4.13pm

Message: Another interesting, fact-based article, good stuff. It made me think about GAP years and which countries young people choose to visit during their year out. The ABTA website lists the following top 10 GAP year destinations for 2016 as follows: 1. Australia 2. Thailand 3. USA 4. Peru 5. Vietnam 6. New Zealand 7. Laos and Cambodia 8. Colombia 9. East Africa 10. India. Countries to look out for in 2017 were Japan and Indonesia Hmmm...so not the EU/Europe then? I wonder how many GAP year students voted remain and why?

WE THOUGHT WE COULD GO BACK TO OUR CAREERS
AND OUR LIVES AFTER THE EU REFERENDUM

Unfortunately this was wildly optimistic.
We've had to give another two years to this fight, and it isn't over.

It has never been more important for us to keep fighting, bringing readers well-researched facts from official sources, punchy bullet points, and simple charts.

Politicians, journalists and members of the public have come to trust us on Brexit as the definitive source of accurate analysis of data from official sources, presented in a user-friendly way. We inform the Brexit debate.

We really do make a difference.

Can you make a difference too, by supporting our work? We really need you.

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WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL TO OUR RECENT SUPPORTERS.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS REPRESENTS A THIRD OF WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE.
CAN YOU HELP?

(Anonymity respected completely if you prefer to remain private)

Best regards, the Facts4EU.Org Team

“IT'S OUR FUTURE,”

CRY THE YOUNG

“OUR POOR CHILDREN,”

WAIL OLDER REMOANERS

THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT,
AND STUDYING & WORKING IN THE EU

With the majority of young people having voted Remain, and with the majority believing Brexit will damage them, we thought they might like some simple facts.

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY – FREEDOM TO STUDY OR LIVE IN THE EU

99% of British people do not use freedom of movement for living abroad
99.5% of students do not use EU’s 'Erasmus+' studying programme

These facts come from the EU and from the recognised British educational organisations. We have all the detail to back up the facts, as with everything we publish.

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

99% of British people of working age do NOT live in another EU member state
Proportion of working-age Brits living abroad actually fell in 10 years before Brexit
Less than 10,000 higher education students study abroad, out of 1.84 million
99.5% of HE students do NOT use Erasmus+, the EU’s exchange programme

WOULD THE YOUNG HAVE VOTED REMAIN IF THEY HAD KNOWN THE FACTS?

Young people were more likely to vote for Remain in the EU Referendum. Figures vary, but here is the result of the YouGov poll after the vote:-

18-24 71% Remain, 29% Leave
25-49 54% Remain, 46% Leave
50-64 40% Remain, 60% Leave
65+ 36% Remain, 64% Leave

Broadly, the under 25s were almost twice as likely to vote Remain as the over 65s.

WHY DO THE YOUNG SUPPORT REMAIN?

Brexit Facts4EU.Org looked at what one Remainer campaign group is saying. Here are some excerpts from ‘Our Future Our Choice’, which is the ‘youth arm’ of the large Remain groups. It was set up for young people and has serious backing from three large Remain organisations.

'OUR FUTURE OUR CHOICE' (OFOC)

“We believe that there is no good Brexit deal for young people.”

“If it is a hard Brexit, we will be so furious with the wanton destruction inflicted on us that we will knock down any and all of the barriers imposed between us and Europe.”

“The outcome will impact us the most: we are losing our rights to live, work and study anywhere in our continent.”

- ‘Our Future Our Choice’ website – a Remain campaign group

‘Our Future Our Choice’ is funded by Best for Britain, Open Britain, and The European Movement. This means that indirectly they receive funding from the foreign billionaire George Soros.

OBSERVATIONS

THE YOUNG CARE ABOUT THEIR FREEDOMS

One common claim that is made by young people is that Brexit will limit their freedoms. As we have shown above, the simple facts are that the freedoms they wish to protect are barely used by British people – young and old.

And the ‘freedom to study’ could easily be replicated in a simple deal between the UK and the EU, in the same way that British students used to study abroad before EU membership as a result of bilateral deals with the individual countries in Europe.

None of this requires EU membership.

OPEN LETTER TO YOUNG PEOPLE

Dear young person,

It is self-evident that young people are the future of the United Kingdom. It grieves us that so many of you have had to suffer indoctrination throughout your education, up to and including university tuition.

The above chart gives you some idea. Now you may say that this just shows that highly-educated people back Remain, which means that staying in the EU is the right decision.

But wouldn’t you like to question whether your teachers and lecturers are in fact educated about the EU? We have yet to see a university lecturer who backs Remain who has anything like the knowledge about EU membership that we have. We’re talking about having facts, not rhetoric based on dreams and wishes.

Instead, you might question why it is that, pro-rata, 4 times as many higher education teaching staff use the EU’s Erasmus+ programme, compared to students? We would suggest that it’s the staff who are the ones getting the benefit, not you.

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Young people like you have a thirst for knowledge. We certainly did when we were young, and many of us would like to think we have retained this into adulthood and maturity.

We applaud young people for questioning ideas. The irony here is that we probably share a lot of the thoughts you have about being open to the outside world, and the opportunities this presents for travel and broadening the mind.

The difference between us is that we know how inward-looking and insular the EU has been in its lifetime, and we want the UK to be outward-looking and global.

We look at the EU and the world based on facts. And the facts show that what you’ve been taught is plain wrong.

All we ask is that you have an open, enquiring mind. Look at the thousands of facts on our site and compare with the platitudes you are given by the Remain side. Wouldn’t you prefer to decide based on reality, not fantasy?

Best wishes, the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team

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THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK

ADVANCE COPY OF 'BREXIT BATTLE PACK'

We would like to thank all those supporters who have commented on our 'Brexit Battle Pack'.

The feedback so far has been very positive and we've had some good suggestions which we've been incorporating before we launch it both to the public, and to all readers who haven't made a donation to our work.

Please keep your comments coming. We read everything. Thank you also to those readers who have already started using it and who have sent us examples of what they have sent to their MPs.

We are still open to sending a link to the advance copy of the Brexit Battle Pack and Toolbox to anyone who makes a donation to our work - links are below! This is all about ensuring a clean and full Brexit, using practical and easily-usable means to influence this. Scroll down to articles below to read more.

06.05am, 14 Aug 2018

THE MOST POWERFUL WOMAN MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF

THIS WOMAN SPEAKS AROUND THE WORLD FOR YOU AND 510 MILLION PEOPLE, BUT IS UNELECTED

Iranian MPs rushing to take selfies with
the EU's Foreign and Defence minister

At what point did you authorise this former communist to run our foreign & defence policy?

(She's the one in the head-scarf)

One year ago today, we ran an article which looked at the last week in the life of the most powerful woman in Brussels. It is as relevant today as it was a year ago.

When Remainers argue that the UK should have another referendum - with the clear intention of reversing the democratic decision made by the British people in 2016 - are they really happy to keep British foreign and defence policies in the hands of this unelected bureaucrat?

A week in the life of Federica Mogherini

Much of what happens in the European Union goes unreported by the British media. This is one of the reasons why the masquerade of the EU was allowed to develop for so long. The majority of the British public were blissfully unaware of what was happening and how powers were being handed over to such an undemocratic and dysfunctional institution.

Today we bring you a pictorial account of how one woman - unelected by you or anyone else, and whose name is known to only a tiny number of Britons - represented the foreign, defence and security interests of your country around the world last week.

Your 'High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy' and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini - the last week in pictures. Meetings with Iran, USA, Russia, China, Australia, Canada, and many other countries 5-12 August 2017 An Exclusive Facts4EU.Org Analysis

Bilateral meetings with Iran President Hassan Rouhani, as coordinator of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), discussed the state of implementation of the nuclear deal	Meeting with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, discussing lifting of economic and financial sanctions on Iran	"From trade to migration, from defence to counter-terrorism. Together we can make our two regions stronger" - Meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte & Foreign Minister Alan Cayetano

Adoption of new ASEAN-EU Plan of Action - traditional & non-traditional security areas, maritime security, counter-terrorism, etc	Signed major new EU-Aus Framework Agreement with Julie Bishop, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs	With South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to discuss North Korea

Meeting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for bilateral discussions on wide-ranging matters including Iranian sanctions and nuclear, Syria, and North Korea	Bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on Syria, Iran, North Korea and other matters	With Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi

Meeting with Foreign Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai to discuss further development of EU-Thailand relations	Meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, exchanged views on Partnership & Cooperation Agreement and Free Trade with EU	Expressed to Foreign Minister Vivian Bala the EU's commitment to continue working closely with Singapore

Meeting with Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, to discuss major international issues	Discussed global issues with Canadian Foreign Minister Freeland in the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum	At village of Sant'Anna di Stazzema, Tuscany, on the anniversary of a wartime Nazi atrocity
Photos are generally all © EU Commission

A BUSY WEEK

The above all took place between 5th and 12th August 2017, on different continents. Major international agreements were signed and significant discussions took place relating to the security and foreign interests of the United Kingdom.

ENDING IN ITALY

Ms Mogherini ended her week in the hillside village of Sant'Anna di Stazzema, Tuscany, on the anniversary of a wartime atrocity. On 12 August 1944, German troops of the 2nd Battalion of Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Regiment butchered 560 local villagers and refugees, including 130 children, and burned their bodies. The killings were carried out systematically using machine guns, grenades, and bayonets.

In 2005 ten former German soldiers were found guilty of the crimes by the Italian courts, but the German government refused to extradite them. They were sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia but none has served any time.

OBSERVATIONS

Regarding the last event in her calendar, on her personal Twitter account Ms Mogherini wrote “The duty of memory 70 years after the Nazi fascist massacre. Peace and reconciliation made with our European Union.”

We recognise the strength of feeling regarding this appalling massacre which took place 73 years ago, but it was not the EU which made peace possible. The EU did not even exist until the Maastricht Treaty of 1993, some 48 years after the end of WWII.

Even if you allow for poetic licence from Ms Mogherini, the EU’s forerunner, the EEC, did not start until 12 years after the end of the war. It has been NATO which has kept the peace, not the EU.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

Federica Mogherini was catapulted into her position as the most powerful woman in the EU administration after just 6 months ministerial experience in Italy.

The story behind her rapid rise to power is for another day.

We will simply leave you wondering how it is that so much of the foreign, defence and security policies of your nation came to be in the hands of this woman.

[ Sources: EU Commission | Tehran Times | Various other international papers ]
As usual, journalists and politicians can contact us for the list of links to the research.
Originally written 13 Aug 2017
Updated 06.15am, 13 Aug 2018

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READERS' COMMENTS

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Name: Patrick F, Kent, UK Date/Time: 13 Aug 2018, 4.31pm

Message: Off topic, but I would be grateful for comments.
Re the Brexit Battle Pack, I have thought is there something I can do to change the course of Brexit, that is not suggested. Today, I joined the Conservative Party.
Why? I have taken a punt that TM will be leader for another 3 months. If a leadership election is triggered after that period then as a member I will be eligible to vote in party elections. I hope that of the two candidates the Tories select that at least one will be a Leave candidate, who I would vote for
If TM stands again then I would vote for the other candidate, whether they are Remain, or Leave. I also feel (guess) that any communication with Tory MPs will have more weight if I can say "as a member of the Conservative party...."
The cost is £2.09 per month, or £25 per annum. I hope that for £10 I can vote TM out of office and help to get the Brexit we voted for and the leader we deserve.

Name: John Kapp, Hove, Sussex, England Date/Time: 13 Aug 2018, 4.01pm

Message: [Off topic] I am a lifelong Tory supporter, activist, and represented Hove Park on Brighton and Hove council from 1996-99. I supported Mrs May's Lancaster House speech, and the Brexit part of her manifesto, but am disgusted by her betrayal of those ambitions in her Chequers paper, that Barnier has already predictably rejected. I no longer support her, and hope that Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees-Mogg becomes leader, and delivers at least a World Trade Organisation relationship deal with the 27 other countries. Fear of 'no deal' is scaremongering.

Name: Brexiteer, Braintree, Essex Date/Time: 13 Aug 2018, 2.52pm

Message: Presumably Federica Mogherini was in Iran to try and stop the Iranian Foreign minister from releasing the names of the European leaders who received some of the $5billion bribes for signing the Iran Deal. As the US President Trump has imposed sanctions on Iran, and all organisations that trade with the country, the EU must be worried by any revelations from the Iranian Foreign minister that might reveal who the European politicians are who received monies. Already some major German exporters have realised that the American export market is more lucrative than Iran's, and complied with Trumps demands not to trade with the authoritarian regime. All this geo-politics by the EU could backfire and hit the already fragile economic growth of EU economies. The USA is a major importer of goods from the EU. Any sanctions by Trump on the EU would hit hard.

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‘THE BIG BREXIT TOOLBOX’

SECOND COMPARTMENT AVAILABLE TODAY

The latest instalment of our Brexit Battle Pack is online this morning.

This addresses the anti-Brexit media, and how everyone can start to combat it,
with some useful tools. Please see below for more details.

06.15am, 13 Aug 2018

‘THE BIG BREXIT TOOLBOX’

PREVIEW COPY AVAILABLE TODAY

OF BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG’S

“BREXIT BATTLE PACK TOOLBOX”

Don’t get angry, do something!

Please see yesterday's article for full information. This weekend we are launching the preview copy of our “BREXIT BATTLE PACK”.

TODAY IT'S THE TURN OF THE 'TOOLBOX'

Full previews are available to supporters who would like to fight back against the Establishment’s attempts to dilute and thwart Brexit.

In 80 constituencies, if just 999 voters switched their votes to the second-place candidate, all other things being equal, 80 MPs would lose their seats.

The Brexit Battle Pack Toolbox contains the real meat of practical information and is designed to be used. You can read commentary about Brexit everywhere. This Pack is about taking action.

Supporters who have already made a donation to support our work can email us and request a link.

If you read us but haven’t yet got around to making a donation, don’t worry! You can still donate using the links below and you will receive the special advance copy of the pack if you request it.

All we ask is a donation of £5 or more to support our work, and you will then get a wealth of information to help ensure a true, clean Brexit.

If you’re frustrated, the Brexit Battle Pack is the perfect antidote!

07.15am, 12 Aug 2018

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READERS' COMMENTS

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We've received a very large number of emails, supporting the Battle Pack, and making suggestions. These are being incorporated and we will shortly be releasing the Pack to the public. In the meantime, here are a few examples of emails we've received. We're happy to publish more, but most emails we've received haven't been for publication.

Best wishes, the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team, August 2018

Name: Stuart, Burnley, UKIP Date/Time: 23 Aug 2018, 10.29am

Message: Just a thank you for all this information. Burnley voted 2 to 1 in favour of Leave, but our MP Julie Cooper has voted against the majority of our constituents in the House of Commons to frustrate the process. We will be using your information and holding street stalls along with leafleting to keep Burnley informed of her betrayal. One of our biggest problems is the BBC who consistently have biased unbalanced reporting and scaremongering guests.

Name: Michael Wood, London Date/Time: 23 Aug 2018, 10.10am

Message: More really great work. Thank you.
The fight for democracy transcends any party or tribal loyalty and we should all vote for the candidate who supports Brexit - irrespective of their party - e.g. If I lived in Vauxhall I'd vote Labour/Hoey although I've never voted Labour in my life. Don't just vote but tell your remainer candidate/MP that you are doing so and why. Join in by joining a political party. It's easier to influence from within. I just joined the Conservative party although I made it clear I will not vote Tory until May goes and they elect a Tory leader! Being a member I can now help on that. Where there is a tight race vote UKIP if they are in pole position. I'm convinced that the Tories wasted huge resources, in the last election, in stopping UKIP rather than winning in marginals. Their tribalism hurt them badly.People like May and Corbyn come and go - democracy should be for ever - once gone it's gone!

Name: Jax, Lancashire, UK Date/Time: 22 Aug 2018, 6.12pm

Message: I think your toolkit is wonderful and hopefully thousands of people will read it and take action. I certainly will. There is one problem as far as I can see. You don't include any ideas for what to do if your MP supports Brexit but you still want to let other MPs hear your voice. My MP is Andrew Stevenson. He is a really good MP who fully supports Brexit. I cannot see any purpose in going to him with my anxieties just to offload them. I will therefore be asking him if there's anything I can do to help him in other ways. I will also be giving him information about Brexit that will help him to make arguments with his colleagues in support of Brexit. These include your website and the details of others who write brilliant information about the EU and Brexit. I will also offer to send him summaries of future issues, together with references, if he wants them. That is three things someone can do if their MP supports Brexit but you people can probably think of more. I am not au fait with how things run in Parliament so I don't know if there are any other tactics I could use. How to help your Brexit-supporting MP is an addition you should think about seriously for your tool kit. Thanks for all the work you do on our behalf. Jax xx

Reply: Thanks for the suggestions, Jax. We'll be incorporating all ideas in our final edit before we release this to the public.

Name: Angela, Blackpool area, UK Date/Time: 22 Aug 2018, 5.40pm

Message: What a fantastic information package. Great ideas for the upcoming battle for democracy. Donation made.

Reply: Thank you very much, Angela, your support is invaluable!

Name: Chris Squirrell, Norwich, UK Date/Time: 18 Aug 2018, 11.38am

Message: Before the referendum I had never been a party member of any political party. I joined the conservatives soon thereafter in the belief that was the best way of getting it done. I have emailed my local MP to express my dissatisfaction with her support of the chequers 'plan'.
Now armed with the battle pack I shall be attending the meetings etc and writing letters to ensure the democratic voice is heard.
Thank you Facts4EU once again.

Name: Big Mach, Cheshire, UK Date/Time: 15 Aug 2018, 11.46am

Message: I agree that fear of the ballot box is by far the strongest argument to bring MPs round to our way of thinking. My MP is a staunch Leaver, so my two targets to date have been Theresa May directly and the Chairman of the constituency party, to whom I sent a letter on my own headed paper.
In my letter to the Chairman I said that he and other constituency Chairmen should don their grey suits and put pressure on May to stand down. Many will be reluctant to do so but if they are persuaded that Chequers will lose them the next election they may well see sense.
The other aim should be to swing 159 MPs behind a vote of no confidence. In the adjoining constituency the MP was a 'Remainer', who is probably now a fence sitter. I have encouraged friends to write to him and his Chairman to support a vote of no confidence in May. That has got to be the first step in changing the direction of the parliamentary party.
It is obvious that the electorate are less than impressed by Chequers, given that in the referendum they were voting for a straightforward free trade deal. I am, therefore, encouraged that ERG will be presenting their own proposal for a future relationship with the EU prior to the conference. I have no doubt that it will gain the support of the electorate and hopefully give fence sitting MPs pause for thought.

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‘THE BIG BREXIT BITE-BACK’
STARTS TODAY

“Packed lunch?”
Check

“Marching kit?”
Check

“Soppy attack dog?”
Roger that

PREVIEW COPY OF

BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG’S

“BREXIT BATTLE PACK”
IS LAUNCHED

Don’t get angry, do something!

Today we launch the preview copy of the “Brexit Battle Pack”, for supporters who would like to fight back against the Establishment’s attempts to dilute and thwart Brexit.

The Brexit Battle Pack contains practical information and is designed to be used. You can read commentary about Brexit everywhere. This Pack is about taking action.

If you have emailed us and requested a copy, and you have already made a donation to support our work, you will receive a link in an email today.

If you’re frustrated, the Brexit Battle Pack is the perfect antidote!

07.15am, 11 Aug 2018

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READERS' COMMENTS

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WE PROVIDE FACTS AND WITH YOU WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE We are a committed and determined team. You haven't given up fighting for a clean Brexit. Together we're up against a vast army of UK & EU propagandists. Brexit Facts4EU.Org is an influential pro-Brexit news organisation read by MPs, MEPs, mainstream journalists, eurocrats, MPs and Senators from the EU, USA, Australia and other countries. Do you still have the determination to get the Brexit you voted for? Or in fact more than ever before? To the right: Articles in the national press, all of which came from Brexit Facts4EU.Org.
We’re committed and tireless, but we wouldn’t be here to report and fight without our supporters. If you’re like-minded, please join our readership. If you're already 'in-the-club' we'd like to take the opportunity to send you a big thank you for all your support. All we have here are our honest tools - research, compelling daily content, simple charts - and our most important resource - YOU.

We badly need your help to keep going, fighting for a full, clean Brexit.

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Best regards, the Facts4EU.Org Team, 2018

NEWS ITEMS FROM EARLY AUGUST

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Please use the news archive menu at the top of the right-hand-column of this page to access those.

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