This weekend marks five years since the UK finally managed to “take back control” and leave the European Union.
The referendum vote to leave was on 23 June 2016. It took three and half years after that, of negotiations with Brussels, political and legal arguments at Westminster, and three British prime ministerial careers, before Boris Johnson delivered on his promise to “get Brexit done”.
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The referendum result was close. 51.89% voted to leave, 48.11% to remain – which is generally rounded to 52/48.
Within the overall UK decision, there were majorities in favour of leaving in England and Wales, and against in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Latest opinion polls consistently show that the public thinks Brexit was a mistake.
For this year’s fifth anniversary, YouGov asked: “In hindsight do you think Britain was right or wrong to leave the European Union?”
The result was “Wrong” 55% and “Right” 30%. A stunning three out of four of the 18 to 25-year-olds, who mostly did not have a chance to vote in the referendum, think leaving was a mistake.
There is a softening of support on the Leave side, but party divisions are still stark. 60% of Conservative voters at the last election, and 80% of Reform UK supporters, still think it was the right decision, while 80% of both Labour and Liberal Democrat voters say it was wrong.
Dire warnings from Remainers that the economy would immediately go off a cliff did not materialise but the UK has not prospered since it left the EU.
There are fewer Europeans in this country, but overall immigration has hit record-high levels in the years since Brexit.
‘Slow puncture’
It is difficult to separate the consequences of Brexit from other economic shocks such as COVID, Ukraine war-related energy prices, and higher inflation.
However, most accept…
