51Âþ»­

Some of the thorny issues involved in the EU referendum have been discussed and debated at a special Question Time-style event.

51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­) hosted the event as part of its Festival of Ideas lunchtime lecture series, which showcases the best work taking place at the university and runs until 15 March.

51Âþ»­’s award-winning politics team are running 100 Ideas for Europe, where students and staff canvass opinion from people across the city on the EU ahead of the Referendum on June 23.

More than 100 people were at the event on Thursday. Questions at the debate included the downside of remaining part of the EU, what would happen if Britain was to leave, the possibility of a second Scottish independence referendum and immigration.

On the panel were politics lecturer Alistair Jones, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law and economics expert Professor Cillian Ryan, Professor Estella Baker, Professor of European Law and Criminal Justice, Dr Irene Anotonopoulos, of Leicester De Montfort Law School and political economist Dr Tom Allen.

The debate was chaired by Professor Alasdair Blair, Head of the Department of Politics and Public Policy.

He said: “I thought the debate went very well. There were some good questions across a broad range of issues which showed the appetite out there among the public for facts and information not just rhetoric.”

Prof Baker tackled questions on EU laws and the perceived loss of sovereignty should Britain remain.

She said: “We stand to lose a very great deal if we pull out because there is a large body of legal rights built up that belong to all of us that we will lose.”

The panel was asked its view of what the future held for Britain’s trade should it leave the EU.

‘I don’t know of any club where non-members get in for less than members,” said Professor Ryan. “That’s just inconceivable. If people think they will get the privileges of membership for free…it simply won’t happen.”

Rachel Jeffries, first year politics, said: “It has been interesting to hear what they have to say and what their opinions are.”

Rob Sutton said: “I don’t know a lot about it, but it interests me – I’m doing the EU module next year.”

Office worker Dan Richards timed his lunch break so he could attend the debate. He said: “I was surprised at how pro-EU the audience seemed to be. I was expecting a Eurosceptic but maybe they were just not asking questions! It was a good lively event and I enjoyed it. I'm glad I came.”

51Âþ»­ Policy Commission, formed by the university’s award-winning Department of Politics and Public Policy and the university’s Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, has launched 100 Ideas for Europe to give young people a voice in the process and ensure they have their say in the future of the country.

100 Ideas for Europe will see our students hit the streets to canvass the opinions of residents, businesses, school children, workers and families about Britain’s membership of the EU.

They will then use those discussions to formulate 100 policy ideas into a document that will be presented to politicians ahead of the Referendum due to take place on June 23.