UK young adults grapple with housing, jobs and unrest a decade after Brexit

Ten years after the 2016 Brexit referendum, many young people in the United Kingdom are facing a shortage of affordable housing and low‑paid employment. ARD correspondent Mareike Aden, based in London since January 2025, discusses these problems in the upcoming ARD documentary “Weltspiegel Doku: Großbritannien: Die Brexit‑Erben – Jetzt reicht’s!” which airs on 17 June.

Aden notes that the Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is unpopular, with rising living costs and a weak economy. Recent local elections have weakened Starmer’s position, prompting internal challenges and a possible leadership contest before the next election on 18 June. While large protests are not routine, a far‑right activist, Tommy Robinson, recently mobilised around 150,000 people in a rally, highlighting broader public discontent.

The interview also touches on the slim prospect of the UK re‑joining the EU and the broader social tensions affecting the younger generation.