Brexit leaves lasting scars on British politics a decade after historic vote

TLE DESK: Ten years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Brexit continues to cast a long shadow over the country’s politics, economy and public life, with the United Kingdom now preparing to welcome its seventh prime minister since the landmark referendum.

The June 23, 2016 vote, in which 52 per cent of voters backed leaving the EU and 48 per cent supported remaining, triggered one of the most turbulent periods in modern British political history. Then-prime minister David Cameron resigned the day after the result, having campaigned unsuccessfully to keep Britain in the bloc.

A decade later, Labour leader Keir Starmer has become the latest premier to fall amid political instability, economic challenges and public frustration that many analysts link, at least partly, to Brexit.

Political observers argue that Brexit fundamentally reshaped Britain’s political landscape. What began as a referendum intended to settle Britain’s relationship with Europe instead deepened divisions within major parties and transformed electoral politics.

Supporters of Brexit promised greater control over laws, borders and trade. However, the process of leaving the EU proved far more complex than many voters anticipated. Years of difficult negotiations, political infighting and economic uncertainty followed.

Theresa May resigned in 2019 after failing to secure parliamentary backing for her Brexit deal. Her successor, Boris Johnson, won a large majority on a pledge to “get Brexit done” and completed Britain’s departure from the EU, though relations with Brussels remained strained.

Subsequent prime ministers, including Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Starmer, have all struggled to address the political and economic consequences of the split.

Analysts say Brexit also accelerated the fragmentation of Britain’s traditional two-party system. Support for smaller parties has grown significantly, including the environmentally focused Green Party of England and Wales and the right-wing Reform UK led by Nigel Farage.

Farage, one of Brexit’s most prominent advocates, remains a powerful political force. His party currently leads several opinion polls, reflecting continued voter dissatisfaction with the political establishment.

The economic impact of Brexit remains heavily debated. While factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and recent Middle East tensions have also affected growth, businesses continue to face additional trade barriers with European markets compared with the pre-Brexit era.

Immigration, one of the central issues of the 2016 campaign, remains politically contentious. Despite promises that Brexit would reduce migration, net migration reached record levels in the years following departure from the EU before declining more recently.

Public opinion has also shifted. Recent surveys suggest a majority of Britons now believe leaving the EU was a mistake, with many expressing support for closer ties with Europe or eventual re-entry into the bloc. However, mainstream political leaders remain reluctant to reopen the divisive debate.

With another leadership transition looming in Westminster, many analysts believe Brexit remains an unresolved issue at the heart of Britain’s political challenges, continuing to shape public debate long after the referendum itself faded from the headlines.