• The UK joined the European Union in 1973. It was then called the common market. The EU has since taken over control of many things that are nothing to do with trade, such as our borders, public services, and whether prisoners have the right to vote or not.
• When we joined there were just 9 member states. Now there are 28 with 5 more being considered for membership. If they are let in they will have the same rights as other member states. Although I would bet that Europe will come asking us for more money as a result.
• More than half the the migration into the United Kingdom comes from the EU, thats 250,000 per year, making a total of 500,000 per year.
• While we are in the EU, the UK can’t make trade deals on our own. This means we don’t have trade agreements with many countries such as Australia, New Zealand or the USA. If we want a trade agreement we need 27 other countries to agree it.
• The EU costs us £350 million per week. Thats enough to build a new hospital every week.
• You don’t have to be a member of the EU to trade with it. Switzerland is not in the EU and it exports more per person than we do.
• EU law overrules UK law. This stops the british public from being able to vote out the politicians who make our laws. EU judges have already overruled British laws on issues like counter terrorism, immigration, VAT and prisoner voting. Even the governments recent deal can be overruled after the referendum, its not legally binding.
• There are risks in voting either way. Experts, politicians and businesses are divided. People have to weigh up the facts, risks, and benefits of each course of action for themselves.

The majority of this text was taken from a leaflet received in the post from https://www.eureferendumfacts.org