Question
What were the major arguments for Leave and Remain in the Brexit Referendum?
Answer
The Brexit referendum in 2016 was a pivotal moment in UK history, with the Leave and Remain campaigns presenting distinct arguments to sway public opinion.
Major Arguments for Leave
Sovereignty and Control: The Leave campaign emphasized regaining control over national laws and borders, arguing that EU membership compromised UK sovereignty, particularly in areas like immigration policy (Atikcan, Nadeau and Bélanger, 2020; Trumm, Milazzo and Townsley, 2020; Martill and Rogstad, 2024).
Economic Independence: Leave proponents argued that exiting the EU would allow the UK to negotiate its own trade deals and reduce financial contributions to the EU, which they claimed could be redirected to domestic priorities like the National Health Service (NHS) (Atikcan, Nadeau and Bélanger, 2020; Höller, 2021).
Criticism of EU Policies: The EU was portrayed negatively, with claims that continued membership posed economic risks and increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks (Alkhammash, 2020).
Major Arguments for Remain
Economic Stability: The Remain campaign highlighted the economic risks of leaving the EU, including potential negative impacts on trade, investment, and the overall economy (Atikcan, Nadeau and Bélanger, 2020; Alkhammash, 2020).
Shared Values and Cooperation: Remain advocates stressed the benefits of being part of a larger community with shared values, emphasizing cooperation on issues like security and environmental policies (Alkhammash, 2020).
Countering Leave Narratives: The Remain side attempted to dismantle the Leave campaign’s narratives by pointing out the benefits of EU membership for British sovereignty and economy, although they struggled to present an emotionally compelling case (Atikcan, Nadeau and Bélanger, 2020; Alkhammash, 2020).
Conclusion
The Brexit referendum was characterized by contrasting narratives: Leave focused on sovereignty, economic independence, and criticism of the EU, while Remain emphasized economic stability and shared values. The effectiveness of these arguments was influenced by their emotional appeal and the framing of risks associated with each option.
References
Atikcan, E., Nadeau, R., & Bélanger, É., 2020. Framing Risky Choices. **. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1131gq8
Höller, M., 2021. The human component in social media and fake news: the performance of UK opinion leaders on Twitter during the Brexit campaign. European Journal of English Studies, 25, pp. 80 – 95. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825577.2021.1918842
Trumm, S., Milazzo, C., & Townsley, J., 2020. The 2016 EU Referendum: Explaining Support for Brexit Among Would-Be British MPs. Political Studies, 68, pp. 819 – 836. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321720904935
Martill, B., & Rogstad, A., 2024. A Debate of the Highest Order: The Brexit Referendum as Second-Order Role Contestation. Foreign Policy Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/orae013
Alkhammash, R., 2020. Discursive Representation of the EU in Brexit-related British Media. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 20, pp. 77-91. https://doi.org/10.17576/gema-2020-2001-05
