sovereignty = the authority of a state to govern itself, supreme power, independence
have sovereignty / give up sovereignty / claim sovereignty / undermine sovereignty / a loss of sovereignty
adj = sovereign, e.g. a sovereign nation
democratic / undemocratic / anti-democratic / democratic deficit
a manifesto = a public declaration of policy promises – political parties publish manifestos before elections. A manifesto contains a set of promises, such as “if we get into power we will raise the minimum wage”.
backbenchers = senior members of a political party who are not in cabinet positions but who have a lot of influence over the general direction of the party. They tend to sit on the back benches of the House of Commons.
rhetoric = persuasive language or persuasive speaking. E.g. political rhetoric – the language used by politicians to persuade people.

Eurosceptics / a sceptic / to be sceptical of something (in North American English it’s skeptic)
Brexiteers
European commissioner
proponent / supporter of the EU
proponents / supporters of the leave campaign
opponents
those who are for or against
A seat i
MPS members of Parliament
politicians / politics / political / policy
bureaucrats / bureaucracy / bureaucratic
Legal Details

a treaty / treaties = agreements between nations which are formally concluded and ratified
laws / legislation / controls / rules
a summit
regulations – binding, must be directly applied as law
directives – set binding goals which must be achieved, but it’s up to the nation state to enact their own laws
to comply with regulations / to be subject to regulations
the Working Time Directive
to opt-out of something
to opt-into something
to get concessions / to make concessions
free trade
backstop: to keep an open border on the Ireland Island  (Northern Ireland, but not the rest of the UK, would still follow some EU rules on things such as food products.)
trade agreements
a free trade block
withdrawal agreement: negociations between the UK and other EU countries
transition period: length of time to allow the UK and E.U countries to agree a trade deal
goods, services and people
tariffs (tariffs are imposed on exports and imports)
manufacturers
the gateway to Europe
risk
confidence
investments
finance
hedge-funds
a tax haven
a safe haven
Immigration

the workforce
the welfare state
benefits
housing
education
the NHS: National Health Service
unemployment
illegal immigrants
economic migrants
open door policy
security
intelligence networks
home-grown terrorism