Despite widespread regret over Britain’s exit from the European Union, a significant cohort of voters remains steadfast in their belief that leaving the bloc was the correct decision. For these individuals, the core motivations—reclaiming sovereignty, halting supranational influence, and regaining democratic autonomy—continue to resonate a decade after the landmark 2016 referendum.
“The arguments for Brexit endure just as they did then: sovereignty, democracy, and taking back control,” asserts Professor Robert Tombs, a prominent Brexit advocate from the University of Cambridge. He notes that Britain’s unique identity, shaped by ties to English-speaking nations rather than continental Europe, has historically set it apart from the EU’s institutional framework.
Control over immigration was a pivotal rallying cry for pro-Brexit campaigns. However, critics argue that freedoms promised by leaving the bloc have not always translated into expected outcomes. Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s government saw net migration skyrocket from 224,000 in 2019 to over 906,000 by 2023, a trend dubbed “Boriswave.” David Goodhart of Policy Exchange acknowledges partial success in regaining control but emphasizes that expansionist policies undermined the original intent.
“We used our freedom to expand [immigration],” Goodhart admits, blaming fragmented political leadership and competing priorities such as post-pandemic recovery and Ukraine warfallout for stalled progress. Many Brexit supporters feel abandoned by governments failing to deliver on promises, despite surviving predicted economic collapse.
Contrary to “Project Fear” forecasts of recession, job losses, and talent drain, the UK has largely avoided economic catastrophe. Proponents cite untapped opportunities in deregulation and innovation, such as fintech advancements and gene-editing liberalizations. Economist Kristian Niemietz contends that timid policy responses—not Brexit itself—prevented the anticipated boom, attributing delays to a lack of market-friendly reforms.
Looking forward, Tombs highlights the EU’s shifting political landscape, noting French President Emmanuel Macron’s rare concession that France might support an exit referendum if given the chance. This leaves many Brexiters pondering whether other EU nations harbor latent “Brexit envy”—a sentiment rooted in Britain’s unprecedented electoral choice to leave the bloc.
Recommended Stories
Troubled union
From the UK’s 1970s entry into the European project through Brexit, tensions have defined the relationship. Key crises—from Conservative party divisions to the 1992 “Black Wednesday” financial turmoil and Maastricht Treaty battles—highlighted enduring friction. The UK’s Atlanticist identity, long criticized as “shutting itself in” by figures like Charles de Gaulle, further complicated ties.
Missed opportunities
Pro-Brexit advocates argue that failures to capitalize on regulatory freedoms stem from political inertia rather than the referendum outcome itself. Trade deals and gene-editing deregulation—blocked within the EU—represent modest progress for some. Yet critics stress that deeper structural changes remain unrealized, leaving the UK caught between nationalist ambitions and global economic realities.
Amid ongoing debates, the enduring legacy of Brexit remains a testament to Britain’s unresolved identity crisis—a nation aging in a European landscape while clinging to an Atlanticist past.
