New Settlement or Brexit? Key legal issues for the UK’s post-referendum relationship with the EU

The Bar Council’s three-part report identifies a range of laws that will be affected by either outcome of the EU Referendum on 23 June.

Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, said: “There is a lot of political wrangling over the referendum on EU membership. This report, however, provides a neutral legal and constitutional analysis of the various options, whether that be Brexit, or whether we remain in the EU under the New Settlement. The law underpins so much in the UK, including finance, business, employment, as well as, our rights and justice, that the impact of the referendum on all these aspects of our economy, irrespective of the outcome, carries huge importance.

“We keep hearing that the electorate want facts, not fiction, about Brexit. The Bar is well-placed to provide facts and this paper aims to provide a non-partisan view of the possible outcomes.”

The Bar Council paper covers three major aspects of reforming the UK’s relationship with the EU, or withdrawing.

• Executive summary

• Paper I “New Settlement or Brexit? Key legal issues for the UK’s post-referendum relationship with the EU”

• Paper II is entitled “Reform or withdrawal?  The legal impact on finance, business, work and free movement”.

• Paper III is entitled “Reform or withdrawal? Rights and justice”.

In addition, the report points to key areas of law which would be affected by withdrawal from the EU and require UK law makers to adapt or replace them. Consumer law, environmental laws, as well as employment and family laws are among those areas which would be affected.

The Bar Council is also hosting a debate on the EU Referendum on 13 June at Lincoln’s Inn with speakers from both sides of the debate:

Case for remaining:

• Dominic Grieve QC MP - Conservative Member of Parliament for Beaconsfield since 1997, Attorney General 2010-2014, barrister

• Joanna Cherry QC MP - Scottish National Party Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West and Shadow SNP Westminster Group Leader (Justice and Home Affairs) since 2015, advocate.

Case for leaving:

• Lord Howard of Lympne CH PC QC - Conservative peer, former Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe 1983-2010 and Leader of the Conservative Party 2003-2005, barrister

• Martin Howe QC - Chairman of Lawyers for Britain: barrister Ends

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