Key facts
- Britain is preparing for its seventh prime minister since the 2016 Brexit referendum.
- The UK voted 52%-48% to leave the European Union a decade ago.
- Brexit's consequences continue to impact the UK's economy and political landscape.
- Leading Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson secured a trade deal but was later ousted.
- Recent polls indicate a majority of Britons would now favor rejoining the EU.
- Political parties and public trust have been significantly fractured by the Brexit fallout.
A decade after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, the country's political landscape remains deeply fractured and unstable. Britain is on track to have its seventh prime minister since the June 23, 2016 referendum, a decision that has had lasting consequences on its economy and society.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation Monday, citing a sluggish economy, a malfunctioning government, and a divided electorate—all legacies, at least in part, of Brexit. Academic Chris Grey noted that the "subterranean trace of Brexit" continues to permeate British politics.
The "leave" campaign promised to restore control over laws, economy, and borders, appealing to sentiments of nostalgia and opposition to immigration and EU regulations. However, the realities of implementing Brexit led to acrimonious divorce talks and a trade deal that left UK-EU relations strained.
Several prime ministers, including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak, have grappled with managing Brexit's fallout. Johnson secured a trade deal but was later ousted, while Truss's tenure was exceptionally short. Starmer, while promising a "reset," ruled out rejoining the EU's single market.
Brexit has also fractured the major political parties. The Conservative Party saw pro-EU members pushed out, while Labour faces internal divisions. Millions of voters have shifted allegiance to smaller parties, with Nigel Farage's Reform UK, focused on an anti-immigration message, currently leading in opinion polls.
The economy has struggled, facing new trade barriers with the EU, though other global events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have also contributed to low growth. Public trust in politicians has declined, and cynicism has grown, with some observers noting an erosion of the boundary between conventional politics and street violence, a trend that may have begun with Brexit.
Polls suggest a growing sentiment of "Bregret," with a majority of Britons now favoring rejoining the EU. However, politicians remain hesitant to revisit the issue, fearing a "minefield." Until the legacy of Brexit is directly confronted, Britain faces a persistent "undertow of low-grade crisis."