Summary

  • BBC Reality Check gets to the facts behind the claims in the EU referendum campaign and beyond

  • The referendum took place on 23 June 2016 - the UK voted to leave the EU

  • On this page you will find all the checks the team has done so far

Live Reporting

  1. Would the UK face tariffs outside the EU?

    Reality Check

    Douglas Carswell saying: "If we were to leave there is no question whatsoever of us facing tariffs."

    The claim: Douglas Carswell, the UKIP MP and Leave campaigner said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme "If we were to leave the EU we would start from the position of tariff-free unrestricted trade and we could certainly build on that and improve on that".

    Reality Check verdict: How a new deal would look remains one of the biggest questions over a vote to leave the EU. The UK's current tariff-free, unrestricted trade deal with the EU would remain in place for at least the first two years of negotiations. No non-EU countries have negotiated tariff-free unrestricted trade with the EU without contributing to the EU budget and allowing unlimited EU migration.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  2. What have ratings agencies said about Brexit?

    Reality Check

    P.M. asking: "Have any credit rating agencies expressed a view on what effect a Brexit vote have?"

    The question: P.M. asks BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "Have any of the credit rating agencies (eg Moody's), expressed a view on what effect a Brexit vote would have on our credit rating?"

    Reality Check verdict: Standard and Poor's have said it would probably lower the UK's long-term credit rating. Fitch said it would review the UK's credit rating but did not now anticipate a downgrade in the immediate aftermath. Moody's said a vote to leave could lead to a negative outlook due to greater uncertainty and a weaker economy.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  3. How much will the referendum cost?

    Reality Check

    Julian asking: "How much has.will the EU referendum cost?"

    The question: Julian asks BBC Radio 4's PM programme "How much has/will the referendum cost?"

    Reality Check verdict: The estimated cost of the referendum is £142.4m, according to the written statement to Parliament by the Cabinet Office.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  4. How much UK law comes from the EU?

    Reality Check

    Pile of paperworkThinkstock

    The BBC's Clive Coleman looks into opposing claims about how much UK law comes from the EU.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  5. Would Brexit mean border controls for NI?

    Reality Check

    George Osborne saying: "There would have to be a hardening of the border imposed by the British government or indeed by the Irish government."

    The claim: Chancellor George Osborne says there would have to be a hardening of the border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland if the UK votes to leave the EU.

    Reality Check verdict: It's hard to predict what would happen to the border between the two countries at this stage. It would depend on the type of agreements the UK negotiates.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  6. How would Brexit affect EU-funded jobs?

    Reality Check

    Steven asks: "How would a Brexit affect the jobs currently part-financed by EU funds?"

    The question: Steven asks BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "In the event of a Brexit, how will this affect the various programmes and therefore the jobs which are currently part-financed by money which the UK receives from the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund?"

    Reality Check verdict: Leaving the EU could leave certain sectors vulnerable but Leave campaigners say an exit from the EU would allow funds to be redirected into local projects. A post-Brexit government would need to decide which projects to continue funding. 

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  7. Does Britain face extra EU costs?

    Boris Johnson saying: "It is a triple whammy of woe...the eurozone...the migrant crisis...and now a £20bn black hole."

    The claim: Britain's contribution to the EU will have to increase because the EU is "living beyond its means" and the European Parliament has asked for more money to spend on dealing with the migrant crisis. The UK will also be liable for additional payments to bail out eurozone countries.

    Reality Check verdict: The UK has a veto on the overall size of the EU budget and it's already been agreed that non-eurozone countries won't have to pay for future eurozone bailouts.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  8. Has the UK been a relatively unsuccessful exporter to EU?

    Reality Check

    Boris Johnson saying: 27 other countries not in the EU... have done better than the UK at exporting into the single market.

    The claim: Since 1992, 27 other countries have been more successful at exporting goods to the single market than the UK has. 

    Reality Check verdict: In terms of volumes of sales, the UK has done much better. If success is measured by the percentage increase in the amount exported then he is right. 

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  9. What role do unelected EU officials play?

    Linda asking: "What role do unelected EU officials play?"

    The question: Linda asks BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "We hear about unelected bureaucrats making decisions in the EU. Please could you explain how the role of these EU bureaucrats compares with that of our civil servants, who are also unelected, in supporting the UK government in its decision making. Also, how are these bureaucrats chosen in the UK and EU."

    Reality Check verdict: There are a number of different routes to becoming a civil servant in the UK. EU commissioners on the other hand are proposed by national governments and selected by the president of the European Commission. New legislation proposed by the Commission still has to be agreed by the member states and passed by the European Parliament, which is directly elected by EU voters. So it's misleading to say unelected bureaucrats make decisions in the EU. The 28 European commissioners are meant to carry out their responsibilities independently of their national governments. In that sense, they are similar to British civil servants - politically impartial and independent of the government.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  10. Will the UK pay for future Eurozone bailouts?

    Reality Check

    Euro coins

    The claim: The Vote Leave campaign is claiming that "UK taxpayers will keep paying for the huge bills caused by the euro crisis" and that "these bills will only increase".

    Reality Check verdict: The UK will not pay for future eurozone bailouts. This has already been agreed by EU leaders. In addition, the UK-EU deal from February, which will be implemented if the UK votes to stay in the EU, reinforces this and states that the UK would be reimbursed if the general EU budget is used for the cost of the eurozone crisis.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  11. Can UK deport EU jobseekers after 6 months?

    Reality Check

    David Cameron saying: After 6 months, if you haven't got a job, you have to leave

    The claim: Prime Minister David Cameron says as a result of his negotiations in Brussels earlier this year - which has not come into effect yet but will if the UK votes to stay in the European Union - EU citizens who come to the UK but fail to find work will have to leave after six months.  

    Reality Check verdict: Existing EU rules allow states to deport citizens from other EU countries if they have become a burden on the welfare system of the state. UK law suggests this occurs after six months of unsuccessfully looking for work, but it is not clear how many people have been removed from the UK on this basis. The UK will have no additional powers in this area as a result of David Cameron's EU deal in February.  

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  12. Would Brexit put 400,000 jobs at risk?

    Reality Check

    George Osborne saying: In the services sector alone, 400,000 jobs could be at risk

    The claim: Chancellor George Osborne said during a "town hall" speech to JP Morgan's hub in Bournemouth: "Our analysis shows that in the services sector alone 400,000 jobs could be at risk." 

    Reality Check verdict: The 400,000 figure is an extrapolation from the Treasury's analysis of the effects of Brexit published last week, which is based on an economic model. Whether you believe its outcomes depends on whether you trust its assumptions. 

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  13. Would a points-based system work for the UK?

    Vote Leave saying: "We think this system will be fairer, more humane and better for the economy."

    The Claim: Vote Leave campaigners say if the UK left the European Union a points-based immigration system could be introduced.

    Reality Check verdict: The UK already has a points-based system for non-EU migrants and it is not clear why inventing a different system - with less flexibility - would be a good idea.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  14. Does the world invest £880 a second in the UK?

    David Miliband saying: "Our membership of the EU means the rest of the world invests £880 a second in the UK,"

    The claim: Our membership of the EU means the rest of world invests £880 a second in the UK and creates 10 new jobs an hour.

    Reality Check verdict: The UK's EU membership is not the only reason why foreign companies invest here.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  15. Does the EU control UK VAT rates?

    Reality Check

    Michael Gove MP saying: "We cannot lower VAT rates as long as we are in the European Union."

    The claim: Vote Leave says the UK cannot lower VAT rates as long as it is in the European Union. Michael Gove said the 5% rate of VAT on household gas and electricity bills could not be scrapped because of EU rules. 

    Reality Check verdict: EU rules mean the UK cannot reduce VAT on goods and services below 15%, the standard rate of VAT in the EU. The standard rate of VAT in the UK is 20%, so the government could reduce it by up to 5% today if it wanted. Domestic fuel is on a special list of pre-approved goods and services that are subject to lower VAT rates, and it would require the agreement of all other EU members to reduce it further. 

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  16. Could 250,000 refugees come to the UK?

    Reality Check

    Migration Watch saying: "Between a quarter and a half a million refugees and their dependants could come to the UK from 2020 onwards after acquiring Eu citizenship."

    The claim: The Migration Watch think tank says that between a quarter and half a million refugees and their dependants could come to the UK from 2020 onwards after acquiring EU citizenship.

    Reality Check verdict: We could not find clear evidence to support this figure. It is very difficult to predict what future migration flows will look like, as they depend on a number of factors. It can also take a number of years for refugees granted asylum in EU countries to acquire citizenship and apply for EU passports. We don't know how many people granted asylum in the stated period will go on to become citizens of another EU country.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  17. How would a Brexit affect UK laws?

    Reality Check

    Thandi saying: "How many laws that protect us are we likely to lose if we leave the EU?"

    The question: Thandi asks BBC Radio 4's PM programme "How many laws that protect us are we likely to lose?"

    Reality Check verdict: We really can't answer this. If the UK left the EU, there would be a very complicated process of "divorcing" the UK and the EU laws. We may want to keep some laws the same as they are now or we may decide to scrap some of them.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  18. Does the EU protect workers' rights?

    Reality Check

    Jeremy Corbyn saying: "It means workers across Europe have decent rights at work."

    The Claim: Speaking about the UK's membership of the EU, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "It means workers throughout Europe have decent rights at work, meaning it's harder to undercut terms and conditions across Europe."

    Reality Check verdict: Some of the UK's employment law comes from the EU. However, the impact a Brexit might have on workers' rights and protections depends on which existing laws the UK decides to keep or get rid of.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  19. Would the single market for services create 800,000 jobs?

    Reality Check

    Alan Johnson saying: if we complete the single market in services… it will create something like 700 to 800,000 new jobs over the coming years

    The claim: Completing the single market in services will create 700 to 800,000 new jobs over the coming years. 

    Reality Check verdict: This is an estimate of the impact of a whole range of extensions planned for the single market by 2030.

    Read the full Reality Check here.

  20. Would Brexit reduce VAT by 5%?

    Reality Check

    Charmi asking: "If we leave the EU, will VAT be reduced by 5%?"

    The question: Charmi asks BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "If we leave the EU, will VAT be reduced by 5%?" 

    Reality Check verdict: The standard rate of VAT in the UK is 20%. This could go down by 5% today, if the government wanted, because each member state is free to set the VAT rate above 15%, the standard rate of VAT in the EU. Some goods and services are subject to special rules - countries can set VAT rates below 15% on these without the agreement of other EU member states. But VAT rates cannot be taken below 5% without the agreement of all 28 member states.

    Read the full Reality Check here.