Leave campaigners promised voters a Brexit wonderland, and were rewarded with victory on polling day. In turn, three of their number – Boris Johnson, David Davis, and Liam Fox – have been charged with making a success of Brexit. This will surely involve following through on their campaign’s 19 biggest promises, listed below.
(1) More money for the NHS
Vote Leave’s battle bus said: “We send the EU £350 million a week. Let’s fund our NHS instead”
“Instead of sending £350 million per week to Brussels, we will spend it on our priorities like the NHS and education.” – Vote Leave briefing
“After we Vote Leave on 23 June, the Government should use some of the billions saved from leaving the EU to give at least a £100 million per week cash transfusion to the NHS.” – Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, and Gisela Stuart
(2) More money for farmers
“The UK government will continue to give farmers and the environment as much support – or perhaps even more – as they get now.” – George Eustice, Minister for Farming, Food and Marine Environment
(3) More money for scientists
“If we Vote Leave, we will be able to increase funding to science and still save billions” –Vote Leave
(4) More money in your pocket
“Wages will be higher for working people outside the EU… because pay will no longer be undercut by uncontrolled migration.” – Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, and Gisela Stuart
(5) And scrapping VAT on fuel bills and tampons
“In 1993, VAT on household energy bills was imposed… When we Vote Leave, we will be able to scrap this unfair and damaging tax.” – Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, and Gisela Stuart
‘After we Vote Leave… We will need a carefully managed negotiation process and some major legislative changes before 2020, including taking real steps… to abolish VAT on fuel and tampons” – Chris Grayling
(6) No EU beneficiaries left worse-off
“There is more than enough money to ensure that those who now get funding from the EU – including universities, scientists, family farmers, regional funds, cultural organisations and others – will continue to do so… We will continue to fund EU programmes in the UK until 2020” – Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, and Priti Patel (amongst other signatories)
(7) And no short-term economic disruption
“After we Vote Leave, there won’t be a sudden change that disrupts the economy.” – Boris Johnson, Gisela Stuart and Michael Gove
(8) We’ll get brand new trade deals all over the world
“We would immediately be able to start negotiating new trade deals… which could enter into force immediately after the UK leaves the EU” – Chris Grayling
(9) There’ll be no damage to trade with the EU
“There is a European free trade zone from Iceland to the Russian border and we will be part of it… Britain will have access to the Single Market after we vote leave… The idea that our trade will suffer because we stop imposing terrible rules such as the Clinical Trial Directive is silly.” Vote Leave
(10) Or our cooperation with the EU
“We will negotiate a UK-EU Treaty that enables us 1) to continue cooperating in many areas just as now (e.g. maritime surveillance), 2) to deepen cooperation in some areas (e.g. scientific collaborations and counter-terrorism)” – Vote Leave
(11) Guaranteed in a treaty which we’ll sort out before 2020
“It will be possible to negotiate a new settlement with the EU, including a UK-EU free trade deal, by the next general election in May 2020” – Vote Leave
(12) Which won’t have any obligation to follow EU laws
“The supremacy of EU law and the jurisdiction of the European Court over the UK will come to an end” Vote Leave
(13) We’ll cut immigration
“I wouldn’t set a time limit for it but the ambition would be to bring it down to tens of thousands.” – Michael Gove
(14) With a new system in place by 2020
“By the next general election, we will create a genuine Australian-style points based immigration system.” – Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Priti Patel and Gisela Stuart
Want more InFacts?
Click here to get the newsletter
(15) That doesn’t favour EU citizens
“Those seeking entry for work or study should be admitted on the basis of their skills without discrimination on the ground of nationality.” – Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Priti Patel and Gisela Stuart
“[We will introduce a bill to] end the automatic right of all EU citizens to enter the UK by the next election” – Vote Leave
(16) But which gives Irish citizens total free access
“The right of Irish citizens to enter, reside and work in the UK is already enshrined in our law. This will be entirely unaffected by a vote to leave on 23 June.” – Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Priti Patel and Gisela Stuart
(17) And stronger border controls
“There is one absolutely clear-cut dividend from leaving the EU. That is our ability to regain control of our borders, including far stronger powers over who we can deport, and proper preventative checks at the border.” – Dominic Raab
(18) But no controls on the Northern Irish land border with the EU
“There will be no change to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.” – Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Priti Patel and Gisela Stuart
(19) And the union with Scotland will be stronger than ever
“If we vote to leave then I think the union will be stronger… I think when we vote to leave it will be clear that having voted to leave one union the last thing people in Scotland wanted to do is to break up another.” – Michael Gove
Corrected 31/08/2016: Vote Leave’s battle bus promised £350m a week to the NHS, not the EU.