United Kingdom ten years after Brexit: public sentiment and economic fallout

Ten years after the 2016 referendum that saw the United Kingdom leave the European Union, opinion polls show a clear shift in public attitude. A YouGov/The Times survey finds that 57 % of Britons now consider Brexit a mistake, while only around 30 % still support the decision. Economically, analysts note that Britain's growth has slowed and its gross domestic product is lower than it would likely have been had the country remained in the EU. The promised boom never materialised, yet the economy has not collapsed as some opponents predicted.

The decade has also been marked by political turbulence, with six prime ministers taking office since the vote and the recent resignation of Labour leader Keir Starmer adding to the turnover. Issues such as immigration, fisheries and higher administrative costs for small businesses remain contentious. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, the self‑styled “father of Brexit”, continues to enjoy heightened political influence, with his Reform UK party polling strongly.

External shocks—including the COVID‑19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz—have further complicated the economic picture, but the overall assessment is that Brexit has not resolved the underlying challenges it sought to address.