Brexit: What are the pros and cons of leaving the EU
The arguments for and against membership of the European Union
On 23 June 2016, the UK settled the question that had been rumbling close to the surface of British politics for a generation: should the country remain within the European Union or go it alone.
Or so it seemed when just over 52 per cent of voters chose Brexit. Now, more than a year later, argument about the pros and cons of leaving the European Union continues.
How did we get here?
In 2015, the Tory Party's general election victory activated a manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.
David Cameron made the promise at a time when he was under pressure from Eurosceptic backbenchers and when the Tories appeared to be losing votes to Ukip.
Most political commentators agree that given a free hand, he would not have wanted a referendum.
Cameron then embarked on a tour of EU capitals as he sought to renegotiate Britain's terms of membership, but vowed to campaign with his "heart and soul" to keep Britain in the bloc.
However, several members of his own cabinet campaigned for to leave, which came to be known as "Brexit".
When Britain went to vote, all polls indicated the UK would stay in the EU. Even as the count was underway, Ukip's Nigel Farage said it looked as if "Remain will edge it".
However, the Leave campaign won, prompting Cameron to announce he would resign as prime minister.
