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Brexit benefits
A selection of 50 Brexit benefits, checked and sourced
There are many more than fifty. These are the ones we have checked so far: every benefit below is in force or signed, with a date and a primary source. Filter by topic, or show only the changes that were impossible inside the EU.
The list
- 1
EU law is no longer supreme in the UK
The principle that EU law overrides Acts of Parliament was abolished. UK courts now apply UK law first.
- 2
The European Communities Act 1972 is repealed
The Act that gave EU law direct effect in the UK no longer exists.
- 3
The European Court of Justice no longer rules on Great Britain
Final legal decisions are made by UK courts.
- 4
UK courts can depart from old EU case law
Higher courts can now move away from past rulings of the European Court of Justice.
- 5
EU 'general principles' removed from UK law
These can no longer be used to strike down UK legislation.
- 6
Over 2,000 EU-derived laws revoked or reformed
Parliament and ministers are reviewing rules that were written for 28 countries.
- 7
The UK has its own seat at the World Trade Organization
The UK negotiates and votes for itself in global trade talks.
- 8
An independent UK sanctions regime
The UK can impose sanctions quickly and on its own terms, as it has on Russia since 2022.
- 9
Membership of CPTPP
The UK is the first European member of the Indo-Pacific trade partnership, covering about 15% of world GDP.
- 10
A free trade agreement with Australia
The first trade deal negotiated from scratch by the UK since 1973.
- 11
A free trade agreement with New Zealand
Tariffs removed on almost all UK exports to New Zealand.
- 12
A trade agreement with India
A deal with one of the world's fastest-growing large economies, cutting Indian tariffs on UK goods such as whisky and cars.
- 13
A digital trade deal with Singapore
Rules for data, e-commerce and digital services with a leading Asian hub.
- 14
A trade deal with Japan that goes further on digital
The UK–Japan agreement goes beyond the EU–Japan deal on digital trade and data.
- 15
A financial services agreement with Switzerland
A first-of-its-kind deal recognising each other's financial rules.
- 16
A simpler, lower UK tariff
Almost half of UK tariff lines are zero, against 27% in the EU's schedule. Nuisance tariffs below 2% were scrapped.
- 17
A more generous deal for developing countries
The UK's own trading scheme cuts tariffs and simplifies rules for 65 developing countries.
- 18
Lower US tariffs on UK cars than on EU cars
UK car exports face a 10% US tariff on up to 100,000 cars a year, against 15% for EU cars.
- 19
British beef and lamb back on sale in the US
Long-standing US bans were lifted after talks led by the UK.
- 20
Trade agreements with 73 countries
Existing EU deals were rolled over and new ones agreed, many improved on the originals.
- 21
One immigration system for the whole world
Free movement ended. EU and non-EU arrivals are treated under the same points-based rules.
- 22
A visa for the world's top graduates
The High Potential Individual route lets graduates of leading universities work in the UK.
- 23
Tougher deportation rules for EU criminals
EU nationals arriving after 2020 face the same deportation rules as everyone else, not the stricter EU test.
- 24
Electronic Travel Authorisation for EU visitors
The UK knows who is coming before they travel.
- 25
The 'tampon tax' scrapped
The 5% VAT on sanitary products was abolished. EU rules then required a minimum rate; they changed later.
- 26
Zero VAT on solar panels, heat pumps and insulation
Cuts the cost of making homes cheaper to heat.
- 27
Alcohol duty based on strength, with lower duty in pubs
Draught relief means a lower rate on beer and cider served in pubs, which EU rules did not allow.
- 28
Duty-free shopping on trips to the EU
Travellers from Great Britain to the EU can again buy duty-free alcohol and tobacco.
- 29
Freeports with UK-designed tax and customs incentives
Special zones to attract investment to ports such as Teesside, Humber and Plymouth.
- 30
A UK subsidy system
Replaces EU state aid rules with faster, simpler UK rules on public support to business.
- 31
Simpler public procurement
New rules make it easier for small firms to win public contracts.
- 32
UK control over financial regulation
Retained EU financial law can be replaced by rules written for the UK market.
- 33
Insurance reforms to free up investment
Solvency UK replaces EU Solvency II rules, freeing insurers to invest more in UK infrastructure.
- 34
The EU bankers' bonus cap scrapped
UK regulators removed the EU cap on bonuses.
- 35
Less paperwork on working hours
Employers no longer need detailed daily records of every worker's hours.
- 36
Simpler wine rules
Reforms include ending mandatory foil caps and mushroom stoppers on sparkling wine and allowing new products such as piquette.
- 37
Faster approval of new medicines
The MHRA can approve medicines already cleared by trusted regulators such as the US FDA.
- 38
Modern clinical trial rules
New UK rules to speed up approval of clinical trials.
- 39
A UK-led Covid vaccine programme
The UK chose not to join the EU's joint vaccine purchase and was the first country to approve a Covid vaccine.
- 40
Gene-edited crops allowed
Precision breeding can produce hardier, more nutritious crops. EU rules treat these as GMOs.
- 41
Farmers paid for looking after the land
The Common Agricultural Policy paid by area. The UK now pays for environmental work.
- 42
The UK is an independent coastal state
The UK controls access to its waters and sets its own fishing policy.
- 43
A bigger UK share of fish in UK waters
25% of the EU's quota in UK waters was transferred to the UK fleet by 2026.
- 44
Live animal exports for slaughter banned
Ends the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain.
- 45
Sandeel fishing closed to protect seabirds
Closed in English North Sea waters and all Scottish waters, helping puffins and other seabirds.
- 46
Bottom trawling banned in protected areas
Bans in offshore protected areas such as Dogger Bank, previously held back by EU fisheries rules.
- 47
A UK carbon market
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme is designed for UK industry and targets.
- 48
Simpler data rules and fewer cookie pop-ups
The UK reformed its data law, including allowing some low-risk cookies without consent banners.
- 49
Free from the EU AI Act
The UK regulates artificial intelligence through existing regulators, with a pro-innovation approach.
- 50
UK-designed digital competition rules
The UK's regime targets problems case by case, rather than fixed rules for all large platforms.
- ★
Bonus: Faster access to new technology
Apple held back Live Translation on AirPods, iPhone Mirroring and some Maps features from EU users because of the EU's Digital Markets Act. UK users got them at launch.
We only list changes that are in force or signed, with a date and a primary source. "Only possible outside the EU" means EU law or EU exclusive powers would have blocked it. "Made easier by leaving" means it was possible in principle but faster or simpler outside. For a longer list, see 75 Brexit Benefits by Gully Foyle (2025), whose "bonus benefit" on faster access to new technology inspired our last entry. Apple's Live Translation reached EU users later, once Apple had changed it to meet EU rules.
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