What would Brexit mean for everyday

life in the UK?

Much of the early debate in the EU referendum campaign has revolved
around economics. And while no one can know precisely the impact of
leaving the EU, it would be likely to have huge repercussions on many
other aspects of UK life

Sport and culture

The EU referendum on 23 June will take place in the middle of the

Euro 2016 football championships. By then England, Wales and
Northern Ireland will either be in the last 16, or out of the competition.
For a few days European sport and politics will dominate with the
question being the same: in or out? The EU has little direct role over
sports policy in member states, though it provides limited funding to
UK grassroots sport. But the rules in areas such as free movement and
broadcasting mean Brexit would have a big effect on the sport we
watch. The vice-chairman of West Ham United, Karren Brady,
warned that, if the UK left and was outside the EU’s free movement
arrangement, players from the EU would not be able to sign so easily
for UK football clubs. Two-thirds of European football players
currently playing in this country would not meet automatic visa criteria
once EU rules were swept away. The EU runs numerous cultural
programmes, including the European Capital of Culture (won by
Liverpool in 2008) and funds prizes for cinema, the creative industries
and architecture. For instance, theEuropean Union Prize for
Contemporary Architecture carries a prize of €60,000 with €20,000
for a special mention. All this would go with Brexit.

Travel and holidays

Would flight prices go up and the pound tank? These are some of the
fears raised by those who are against the UK leaving the EU.

What does seem likely is that air passengers might find it much harder
to hold airlines to account when flights were cancelled or delayed.

A significant piece of European legislation, the Denied Boarding

Regulation, allows passengers to claim up to €600 in compensation for
delays or cancellations on flights that originate in the EU.
After Brexit, it seems likely the protection of this legislation would be
lost. Stephen D’Alfonso, head of public affairs at the Association of
British Travel Agents, explained that in the EU there are two types of
legislation: regulations and directives. A directive is something that is
implemented in the UK, so in the case of the UK withdrawing from the
EU it is unlikely that such legislation would be affected unless
specifically repealed. Regulations, on the other hand, are bits of
legislation that are simply applicable in the UK as they are applicable in
all other EU countries. So, if the UK were to withdraw from the EU,
regulations technically would no longer apply in the UK.