Brexit myths

The CELS #Brexit Myths podcast: January 14th 2019

In this exclusive podcast three academics from the Centre for European Legal Studies, University of Cambridge, give their verdicts on twelve common myths about the UK’s #Brexit from the EU.

We speak to Professor Catherine Barnard, Professor of European Union Law and a Senior Fellow in the UK in a Changing Europe Programme; Dr Markus Gehring, University Lecturer in Law at the Law Faculty and former Deputy Director of the Centre for European Legal Studies and a Fellow of the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law; Professor John Bell, Professor of Law, University of Cambridge.

In this two part #Brexitmyths documentary we ask them to tell you what is true and what isn’t when #Brexit is being discussed. First we speak to Professor Barnard and Dr Gehring and then Professor Bell to sum up his #Brexit myths at the end of each part. Below we give the questions we put to them and the approximate time codes for their answers so that if you want to dip into parts of this discussion it is easy for you to do so.

We hope you enjoy the listen and learn much from it.

Producer: Boni Sones OBE

#Brexit Myths Part One

  • 0.00 The Withdrawal Agreement itself – it’s a bad deal?
  • 7.15 The EU got everything it wanted from the UK and took us for a ride?
  • 11.15 The NI backstop will keep the UK in a customs union indefinitely?
  • 14.49 May’s deal or No-Deal are the only two options?
  • 19.30 Trading on WTO terms will be good for the UK as we do more trade outside the EU than in it?
  • 23.43 The Political Agreement leading to a trade deal is too vague?

#Brexit Myths Part Two

  • 0.00 We have 2 years to negotiate a trade deal when everything else will stay the same?
  • 5.15 The economy will dip but can make up ground later?
  • 12.00 By leaving the EU migration into the UK will reduce significantly?
  • 14.45 A Canada plus or EEA option will be able to deliver the government’s objectives?
  • 18.25 We have to reach a deal by 29th March 2019 or “crash out” of the EU and go it alone?
  • 19.45 We can’t revoke Article 50?