The EU underwent a significant transformation due to a landmark referendum on June 23, 2016. Following this event, the dynamics within the UK experienced considerable shifts, particularly concerning the interaction between citizens and the political landscape. In recent years, a growing sense of regret has permeated the British population regarding their decision. Brexit has become a factor in the political elites’ disconnect from the masses. Despite efforts by Brexit supporters to portray a positive outlook, dissenting opinions on the separation from the EU persist among British politicians. This article explores the impact of Brexit on the disconnect between the political elite and the general population.
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Half of the British want to rejoin the EU
In the referendum on June 23, 2016, the people voted for Brexit with 51.9% of votes. This process was completed on January 31, 2020, and the UK officially left the EU. But now, seven years after the Brexit referendum, the results of the YouGov poll show that only 32% of the participants in the survey agree with the continuation of the separation from the EU. The votes of 51% of the participants in the survey showed that if another referendum is held today, they will vote to return to the EU. Therefore, Brexit has led to the political elite’s disconnect from the masses, and its failure has led to people’s distrust of politicians. According to the latest polls, most Britons now believe their country is worse off than before leaving the EU.
Significant adverse trade effects of Brexit
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) also assumes that long-term productivity in the country will be four per cent lower than it would have been without Brexit. The OBR does not expect much from the new trade deals the UK government has struck with non-EU countries. It is said that they will rarely have an impact; in other words, they will hardly generate economic growth. Analysis shows that UK trade has declined due to Brexit. UK exports to the EU are 23% lower, and imports from the EU are 13% lower than when the country was still a member of the EU. From Germany’s point of view, the balance is negative. The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called Brexit an economic disaster for both sides of the Channel. While the UK was Germany’s fifth most important trading partner before Brexit, the UK is still in the top ten.
Broad political changes in the UK after Brexit
Years of falling real wages have left millions of Britons in dire straits. Inflation is higher than in many EU countries. The number of poor is constantly increasing. For Britons, Brexit has more than just economic implications. Leaving the EU has also changed the country politically. The most important political change concerns the political elites’ disconnect from the masses. Tim Bale, professor of politics at the Queen Mary University of London, has just published the book “The Conservative Party after Brexit“. He talks about the ideology and the attack on democratic institutions, and about the Conservative Party, he concludes that this party has become more populist. According to him, the Conservative Party has always flirted with populism, but after Brexit, they completely internalised populism.
Three-quarters of British people distrust politicians
The political elites’ disconnect from the masses can lead to a crisis of political legitimacy. Eight years after the Brexit referendum, three-quarters of Britons have lost confidence in their politicians. This is according to a survey by the think tank UK in a Changing Europe. The results of this survey show that 75% of respondents said: “I have lost trust in British politicians in recent years.” 74% believe politicians act more in their interest than the public’s. As the survey shows, a majority of 52% now believe that Brexit was not a success. Only one in ten people see it differently. Of those who voted for Brexit, only 15% regret it.
The regret of some politicians supporting Brexit
Nigel Farage, the ex-leader of the UK Independence Party and a strong advocate for Brexit, now expresses a pessimistic view of the project’s results. According to him, the economic benefits of Brexit are yet to materialise for his country, leading him to assert that Brexit has fallen short of expectations. Importantly, Farage does not question the fundamental principle of Brexit but attributes the project’s failure to the Conservative government. He lamented, “We’ve not delivered on Brexit, and the Tories have disappointed us very badly.”
Rishi Sunak’s insistence on the success of Brexit
Social welfare and charitable organisations find it challenging to address the increasing number of needy people adequately. The healthcare system, which Brexit was intended to improve, is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. Over the past few months, major British car manufacturers, including Ford, Stellantis, and Jaguar Land Rover, have cautioned the government about the potential cessation of production in the UK. These companies have indicated that such a decision may become necessary if London promptly secures a new trade deal with the EU. Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remains steadfast in his assertion that Brexit has been an overall success, insisting on allowing more time to realise the benefits of independence. When questioned about the critical accomplishments of Brexit, Sunak offered the perspective that items like beer and toiletries have become more affordable.
Lack of trust in politicians due to the failure to fulfil the promises made
All the promises made in the Brexit campaign have yet to be fulfilled in recent years. This issue has become a factor in the political elites’ disconnect from the masses. The statesmen had promised the voters that their country, freed from all the shackles of the EU, would experience extraordinary new growth and real national prosperity. Billions of pounds were to flow to the UK’s NHS instead of Brussels. The freeze on immigration for Europeans was supposed to lead to higher wages for low-income Britons and significantly reduce the cost of living in the UK after leaving the EU. But instead, the British went from one crisis to another. Five Prime Ministers came and went from the Conservative Party in seven years. Trust in politics has declined significantly, and economic growth is stagnating.
