A Decade After Brexit: Ongoing Divisions and Economic Impact

WHO:

AP News - U.K. voters, Brexiters, Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham

AP News - Jonathan Portes, professor at King’s College London

WHAT:

AP News - The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum.

AP News - 52% of voters, or more than 17 million people, voted to leave the EU.

AP News - Experts estimate the British economy is between 4% and 8% smaller than it would have been had the country voted to remain in the EU.

AP News - Brexit campaigners promised an extra 350 million pounds ($468 million) a week for the National Health Service.

AP News - Net migration from Europe has fallen sharply, while net migration from non-EU countries has increased.

AP News - Net migration fell from more than 900,000 in 2023 to 171,000 last year.

AP News - The number of small boat crossings peaked at 46,000 in 2022 and reached 41,000 last year.

AP News - Polls indicate that 52% of people in the U.K. would like to rejoin the EU, while 33% are against it.

AP News - 48% of respondents believe Brexit is going worse than expected, while only 9% think it is going better.

AP News - 48% would support another referendum on the U.K.'s EU membership, against 27% who oppose it.

WHERE:

AP News - United Kingdom, European Union

WHEN:

AP News - Brexit became a reality on June 23, 2016.

AP News - The Labour government was elected in 2024.

AP News - A summit with the EU is expected next month.

WHY:

AP News - Brexit was driven by frustration with the EU and the global financial crisis of 2008.

AP News - The promise of taking back control over policy levers, including migration, was a key motivation for Brexit supporters.

HOW:

AP News - The process of completing Brexit took nearly five years.

AP News - Changes in visa rules were introduced to address labor shortages in sectors like elderly care.

(UPDATED June 22, 2026 03:32 UTC)

The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, known as Brexit, was solidified when 52% of voters, or more than 17 million people, chose to exit in a referendum. Since then, experts estimate that the British economy is now between 4% and 8% smaller than it would have been had the country voted to remain, while public sentiment shows that 52% of people in the U.K. would like to rejoin the EU. Additionally, a summit with the EU is expected next month, as discussions continue around the implications of Brexit and the future of U.K. immigration policies.