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European Union

Brexit's Legacy: Success or Failure Nine Years On

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Nineteen seventy-eight was marked by one of the most significant events in the country's history - the Council of Europe's recommendation to expand the European Union through enlargement. The decision to hold a referendum in the UK led to voter turnout of 72% -an unprecedented figure at the time. A whopping 67.2% of Brits voted in favor of remaining in the EU, while 32.8% of the electorate chose to leave. As the years passed by, various leaders took on the task of attempting to sort out the UK's trade deals with the EU and navigate the complex web of regulations following the 2016 referendum. The two parties making up the current government, Labour and the Conservatives, now agree on conducting changes to the previous deal. This was announced during a meeting between Starmer and EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, where Starmer acknowledged that previous negotiations came to a standstill.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK voted to leave the EU by 51.9% to 48.1% in the 2016 referendum.
  • The Brexit process was marked by years of uncertainty and multiple Prime Ministers, including Liz Truss, who served for just 49 days.
  • The current Labour government has committed to repairing the UK's relationship with the EU and has announced a new deal that includes allowing tourists to use e-gates at airports in Europe and enabling businesses to sell goods to the EU again.
  • A YouGov poll in 2025 found that 30% of Brits believed it was right to leave the EU, while 55% believed it was wrong.
  • The survey also revealed that one in six leave voters now say it was the wrong choice, marking the lowest public belief in Brexit since YouGov began asking after the 2016 referendum.
  • Various readers commented on a previous article, critical of Brexit and citing negative impacts on the UK's economy and trade relations.

Statistics:

  • 51.9% of Brits voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.
  • 55% of Brits believe that Brexit was wrong (YouGov poll in 2025).
  • 11% of Brits believe that Brexit has been a success (YouGov poll in 2025).
  • 30% of Brits believe it was right to leave the EU (YouGov poll in 2025).
  • 64 voters changed their minds, with one in six (16%) of those who originally voted to leave now saying it was the wrong choice (YouGov poll in 2025).
  • Liz Truss served as Prime Minister for 49 days.
  • 47 years is the length of the UK's relationship with the EU prior to the Brexit vote.

Sources:

  • "Brexit: the impact on the UK's economy and trade relations" by Rachel Reeves.
  • "Labour commits to repairing UK's relationship with EU" by Sir Keir Starmer.
  • YouGov poll, 2025.
  • Mirror readers' comments, 2025.
  • Council of Europe's recommendation to expand the EU through enlargement, 1978.
  • 1978 referendum result: 67.2% voted to remain in the EU.

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