What is Brexit's legacy 10 years on? | ABC NEWS

Summary

Key Points

• The UK voted to leave the European Union in June 2016 with a slim majority, following a highly divisive campaign that led to Prime Minister David Cameron's immediate resignation. 0:55
• Brexit subsequently claimed the careers of two Conservative Prime Ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May, and fundamentally reshaped British politics. 2:00
• Ten years on, the country remains deeply split over the issue, with political battles now occurring within the established Leave and Remain blocs rather than between them. 2:39
• Many key promises of the Brexit campaign, such as significantly reducing migration, were not delivered, with net migration reaching record levels shortly after the UK left the EU. 3:21
• The anticipated major trade deal with the US, a significant promise, has not materialized, despite some smaller deals with countries like Australia and New Zealand. 3:45
• Brexit has not improved the UK's long-standing poor economic performance or provided more money for public services, contrary to major campaign pledges. 4:06
• Most mainstream economists attribute a significant negative impact to Brexit, estimating a 4-8% hit to the economy over the longer run, contributing to stagnant living standards and a record-high tax burden. 5:02
• Brexit has profoundly realigned British politics, creating distinct voting blocs where Leave voters predominantly support Reform and Conservatives, while Remain voters align with Labour, Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party. 5:38
• A key surprise was the Brexiteers' deliberate lack of a detailed plan for what Brexit would entail, leading to years of political debate and uncertainty about its implementation. 8:46
• The preoccupation with Brexit, followed by other global events, has distracted successive UK governments from addressing underlying domestic economic and public service problems. 10:04