Hartz 1

Michael Hartz
Mrs. Zimmerman
AP Literature
10/17/2016
Brexit is a very complex situation that will have many changes and complications over
the course of the next 3 years. A lot of issues must be raised in this peaceful independent
movement of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. There are many upsides and
downsides to Brexit. A lot of rights of the European Union will be given up for the freedom of
the United Kingdom to regulate itself. From the current outlook, the risks and loss of leaving the
European Union outweigh the gains the United Kingdom could possibly have. Although the
United Kingdom initially joined the European Union in 2007 and has been spaced differently
from most European Union countries. An example would be like the United Kingdom still using
the pound instead of the European Union euro (Bernanke). However, the amount of integration
they have gone through while with the European Union ties them together in such a way that
leaving proves to be a huge legal undertaking.
To first analyze the effects of Brexit, we need to first talk about what Brexit actually is.
Brexit is best explained by giving the United Kingdoms background in relation to European
Union. The United Kingdom first joined the European Union in 2009. (Kenyon) Many people
still remembered the United Kingdom as a top dog of Europe before they joined the European
Union. Taking care of themselves and only themselves. Even when the United Kingdom was
apart of the European Union, it still viewed itself as somewhat separate in various ways. A key
example of this would be how they kept the British Pound as their monetary value instead of
switching to the Euro like other European Union members. Another recent example would be the
outcry of the people against European Union regulations. Many people began to question why
bureaucrats in other countries were allowed to rule them.

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The true root behind this recent call for separation would stem from the xenophobia of
terrorism. Due to many recent attacks in Europe, the people became fearful and full of unrest.
Even with all of these attacks in France and Belgium, the European Union has had a sudden
failure to look into the peoples fear of terrorism and the amount of refugees entering the
European Union. The citizens of the United Kingdom are fearful of attacks. A strong rise in a call
for tighter border control arose that started to cause a division among the people. Since the
European Union has strict free borders and trade laws that wouldnt allow the United Kingdom
to have any screening of European Union members, citizens began to question the European
Union interests vs the interests of countries. Asking themselves if staying in the European Union
would threaten their lives.
The politicians who jumped on the peoples fears for power then did something that
changed the course of the United Kingdom. Brexiteers had kept it simple. They persuaded the,
mostly white, working class that they should no longer be governed by remote bureaucrats they
had never voted for promising them that once out of the European Union, the glory days of
Pax Britannica would come again (Ricketts). This promise spurred a call for a referendum of
the people to decide if the United Kingdom should leave the European Union. The ballot would
be simple. One question. Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union
or Leave the European Union?(Kenyon). Now it is important to mention that the referendum, in
no way, has no binding legal power. According to the European Unions Article 50 regarding the
leaving of the European Union, Leaving the European Union is subject to the United Kingdoms
constitutional arrangement of the country(Ricketts). So Parliament still has final word of
invoking Article 50. However, most politicians feel the referendum is giving the voice to the

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people they represent and should therefore be the final say on the subject. To go against the will
of the people would not look good for the politicians.
With the Ballot set the country split into two camps. Leave and Remain.The leave camp
kept it simple. Promised the net migration to the U.K. of 333,000 in 2015 can only be lowered
to the promised 100,000 their elected prime minister built his campaign on of 100,000 could only
happen if a Brexit happened(Kenyon). Even though these numbers seem crazy. The data behind
immigrants to the United Kingdom is an astounding argument for the vote to remain. Although
the leave camp has the common fear that immigrants will take jobs, there is no evidence that
British-born workers experienced high unemployment or lower wages in counties with above
average numbers of European Union immigrants(Dhingra). This is because there are regulations
in place that employers can only employ out of country members if the employee can prove that
no motherland applicant is as viable an option as the immigrant employee. Immigrants have
actually proven to be beneficial to the government funding. Proven to pay more in taxes then
they take up in government services(Dhringa). With the same kind of rigor we see from the
average american citizen, the average leave voter didnt care much for facts about immigration
and casted their vote out of fear of these immigrants and for a better control of the Britain border.
Remain took a strong stance on the economic values of being in the European Union. Members
of the European Union also enjoy open trade borders with each other. Meaning no taxes on
transporting products across countries. Making the surrounding countries of the United Kingdom
significant role players in the economy for the United Kingdom. Many economists banded
together to address to the people that leaving the European Union would cause a significant
downturn. 197 of Britains business leaders from of Britains largest companies banded
together to write a letter telling the readers of the United Kingdoms The Times newspaper that

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exiting the European Union would deter investment and threaten jobs (Business Leaders: EU
Exit Risks UK Economy). The leave camp came back with the argument that they wont adhere
to European Union trade agreements. Freeing up the United Kingdom to become a single global
entity to trade with whatever it wanted to trade without being hindered by the European Union.
Although this may be true, the European Union is still currently the United Kingdoms largest
purchaser of United Kingdom goods. Such a hole cannot be filled easily.

Now we all know the current outcome that the United Kingdom elected to leave.
Repercussions were immediately felt. The monetary value of the pound dropped significantly
within the first day. Within weeks, German companies began advertising in the United Kingdom
cities for better job opportunities in Germany/the European Union. The most shocking
repercussion from the remain side would be when the current prime minister, David Cameron,
decided to resign. (Ricketts) This man wanted no part in handling a Brexit. The leave side was
sent reeling from their own leader as Boris Johnson, the leader of the leave campaign, was
actually shocked by the outcome and was quick to announce that he is not anti-Europe in
anyway. Such a strange thing to come from the man advocating leaving the European Union for
immigration reasons(Ricketts). Was this just a political power play in his eyes to gain the favor
of the people? Did he think his campaign would fail but just wanted to get his name out there and
recognized? Only time will tell. The country is now in disarray as Boris Johnson stepped down
from the Leave camp leader and they dont have a prime minister. For a couple days no one
knew who was to step in and give the country the Brexit it asked for. Parliament began a process
to elect a new prime minister to suit the situation. On June 30th, a week after the British public
voted to leave the European Union, Theresa May gave a speech launching her candidacy for
prime minister with the the hard minded statement that Brexit means Brexit(Dhingra). Giving

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the leave camp the promise of leaving the European Unions regulations just like they asked.
However, its good to know that May favored the remain side. She understand that the economy
is crushed without the European Union. This pro-remain camp member was the perfect choice
with her hard brexit stance. In the best of both worlds she can strengthen the United Kingdom
borders and keep European Union trade. However, this is the real world and such an event wont
happen. The European Union members have started with a harsh notion against anyone leaving
the European Union so as to deter any other members from leaving. France has already gone out
of limb to say if Britain wants to keep its membership of the single market it must accept free
movement of labour from the rest of the European Union, continue paying into the European
Union budget and observe all current and future single-market regulations without having any
say in making them. Such a position doesnt look good Britains hopes with a european trade
market(The Economist). The European Union will also withdraw any educational funding sent to
universities and lose the European Union collaborative research that comes with it. Such a loss
will be a major depreciation to the brain power of not only the European Union but also the
United Kingdom(Ricketts).
On October 2nd of 2016, Theresa May gave the date of enacting Article 50 by the end of
March 2017. Article 50 gives the United Kingdom a 2 year deadline to leave the European
Union. The only way to extend past two years is from a unanimous vote from the remaining
members of the European Union. Until that deadline is met, the United Kingdom can still enjoy
the benefits of the European Union. May also laid out her plan of the Great Repeal Bill. This act
would, translate existing European Union legislation into British law and then repeal the 1972
European Communities Act that gives legal force to European Union directives and
regulations(The Economist). The United Kingdom has been apart of the European Union for 7

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years. Adapting and adhering to the legislation for that time. The people are accustomed to the
European Union humanitarian laws and the European Unions way of legislation. Taking it out
and rewriting it would just be a headache to go through and fix things that arent broken.. The
Great Repeal Bill keeps all of that while just taking the European Unions right to change any
United Kingdom laws anymore. Theresa also went on to state that Britain should take full control
over immigration. Not adhering to European Union free movement.
The business sector now faces the consequences of the Brexit vote. London was
considered the business banking sector of Europe. Holding and transferring funds of many
European Union companies. Now these same companies face the pain of having the pound drop.
Now any United Kingdom to European Union money transfers dont carry the same weight as
they did 5 months ago.(Bernarke) This problem is only fixed by investors restoring the same
faith they once had in the pre-Brexit Britain. This solution only comes in time with the right
moves on Britains part. Other issues still arise. Nissan has one of its most cost-efficient
manufacturing plants stationed in Sunderland, England. If a company has a factory in United
Kingdom but the distribution centers are in the European Union, the company now will face 10%
import taxes under the World Trade Organization regulation compared to the free trade of the
European Union.(Dhringa) Now Sunderland isnt as attractive a manufacturing plant for all of
Europe if its a 10% tax to distribute.(Dhringa) Sunderland might become Englands Detroit if
Nissan bails out towards a better opportunity still in the European Union.
Companies will soon have to face the legal uptaking of their intellectual property
protection in the United Kingdom and European Union post Brexit. The patent will still protected
under the European Patent Convention. A coalition of all the countries in Europe set to have a
patent across the continent. However, European Union-wide rights such as the European Union

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trademark or registered Community design will cease to be valid in the United Kingdom. Now if
any Intellectual Property rights are broken by someone stealing a logo design in the United
Kingdom and European Union, the infringement would have to be separately litigated in the
United Kingdom and the European Union (TFHC). When Brexit comes into effect, existing
European Union trademarks will no longer be a viable trademark in the United Kingdom.
Trademark owners wanting continued trademark protection in the United Kingdom will have to
obtain a national United Kingdom trademark in addition to their European Union
trademark(TFHC). This would mean that there are increased costs to make two applications for
trademarks compared to the current one European Union trademark needed right now. Although
the fees are small for big companies, its still a hassle of a hoop for them to jump through. This
exact situation will also affect the Registered Community designs. As mentioned before,
European Union law form a large part of United Kingdom law, whether via directly applicable
European Union Regulations or from European Union Directives that have been implemented
into United Kingdom law via domestic legislation.(TFHC) A large part of United Kingdom
legislation on intellectual rights comes from the European Union. This means that the government
might just give current European Union trademark holders in the United Kingdom an exemption from
having to get United Kingdom trademarks and Registered United Kingdom designs. If the
government would want to change the law behind the trademarks and designs, reviewing and
replacing all legislation related to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union would
take a significant amount of time. Because of this, the impact of Brexit on United Kingdom IP law
may not be felt immediately. It is likely there will be a gradual divergence of United Kingdom and
European Union law as legislation is reviewed and replaced over time and as United Kingdom
judges interpret this without the influence of European Union precedent. (TFHC)

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Overall the effect of Brexit will be felt on many different levels. A lot of questions will be asked
regarding power of the United Kingdom legislation and how it locks horns with the European Union.
Both rely on each other for some form of trade and have an undeniable bond that will stay through
history. The questions that have to be asked by the European Union and United Kingdom as they
move forward would probably include Is new United Kingdom law supreme to European Union law
now(Forsyth)? The United Kingdom and European Union will have to give and take here. This
question will come up with each form of legislation from both sides. Can the United Kingdom
manage its own trade deals(Forsyth)? The United Kingdom are going to need this if their economy
is supposed to stay afloat. Hopefully their new Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Boris Johnson, wont
jumpship like he did on the leave camp. Lastly, the true question for the referendum votes has to be
Will parliament get control of immigration like envisioned by voters(Forsyth)? This question will be
the hardest question when combined with the first. The European Union wont let the United
Kingdom get free trade again without the free movement of European Union citizens. This will be
quite the battle when article 50 becomes enacted. The true effects can only be seen 10-20 years
from now. Well have to wait to measure how well the Theresa May and the Parliament actually
handles this situation.

Dhingra, Swati. "Salvaging Brexit." Foreign Affairs. Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2016. Web. 03 Nov.
2016.
Kenyon, Peter. "A Guide To Britain's 'Brexit' Vote." NPR. NPR, June-July 2016. Web. 06 Oct.
2016.
"Theresa May Kicks off Brexit." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 02 Oct. 2016. Web.
06 Oct. 2016.
Ricketts, Rita. "Brexit: A Long March." New Zealand International Review 41.5 (2016): 2-6.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.
"Business Leaders: EU Exit Risks UK Economy." TCE: The Chemical Engineer 898 (2016): 18.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.

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Bernanke, Ben S. "Economic Implications of Brexit." Brookings. Brookings Institution, 29 Nov.
-0001. Web. 06 Oct. 2016
Traub, Florian, Iliana Haleen, and Andrew Clay. "Brexit - what next for intellectual property
rights?" The Licensing Journal Aug. 2016: 9+. Academic OneFile. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
Forsyth, James. "What Brexit Really Means Three Key Tests for Theresa May." The Spectator.
The Spectator, 27 July 2016. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.
Birchenall, Eric M., Mr. "Brexit." Personal interview. 7 June 2016.