A decade on from the referendum, Britain is still deeply divided over Brexit.
Supporters argue leaving the European Union restored Britain’s sovereignty, gave governments greater control over laws and borders, and created new opportunities outside the bloc.
Critics say it has made the country poorer, complicated trade and travel, and piled extra pressure on public services without delivering many of the promises made during the campaign.
Europe: The Way Back
We’re campaigning to rebuild Britain’s future in Europe
As part of our Europe: The Way Back campaign, The Independent has published a series of debates exploring five of the biggest questions still shaping Britain’s relationship with Europe.
Below, we’ve rounded up the key arguments from both sides – along with some of the most thought-provoking comments from readers.
Has Brexit been a success?
The case for
GB News’s deputy political editor Tom Harwood argues Brexit should primarily be judged on sovereignty rather than economics, saying Britain has regained control over its laws and avoided being drawn into the EU’s commitment to “ever-closer union”.
He also points to employment remaining strong after the referendum, NHS funding increasing, and Britain’s ability to avoid regulations such as the EU’s AI Act, which he argues could hamper innovation.
Leaving has been successful… Britain is no longer treaty-bound to hurtle towards federal political union
The case against
PoliticsJoe’s political editor Ava Santina argues Brexit failed to solve the problems many voters hoped it would address, instead leaving Britain with slower growth, weaker investment and additional barriers to trade.
She says politicians should stop relitigating the referendum and instead focus on rebuilding closer economic ties with Europe.
People voted for change – but Brexit quite obviously did not fix the economic and social problems that drove that vote
Your views
“No [Brexit was not a success!] But could it have been a success? Maybe. The idea was great, the execution very questionable.” – Rasputin007
“Not yet, but it will be when we finally get a government that fully capitalises on Brexit.” – Kingswood
Did leaving the EU ruin holidays abroad for Brits?
The case for
The Independent’s global travel editor Annabel Grossman argues Brexit inevitably made travel more complicated, ending free movement and introducing passport validity rules, the 90-day limit in the Schengen Area and, soon, biometric entry systems and travel authorisations.
Stress-free travel was an inevitable casualty
The case against
Economics professor Len Shackleton argues Brexit has encouraged Britons to broaden their horizons, with increasing numbers travelling to destinations including Japan, Morocco, Croatia and Thailand instead of relying on traditional European holidays.
Our holiday choices are far greater than they were in the past
Your views
“Brexit has been a disaster generally but particularly when it comes to travel.” – InnocentBystander
“The EU bureaucracy wasn’t designed specifically for the UK… but encouraging long-haul flying is hardly a benefit.” – Geejay
What impact has leaving the EU had on the NHS?
The case for
The Nuffield Trust’s Mark Dayan argues Brexit undoubtedly created challenges for the NHS, particularly around staffing and medicine supplies, but says it also gave Britain greater flexibility over medicines regulation, recruitment and medical innovation.
Any change on this scale creates winners as well as losers
The case against
Resident doctor Dr Holly Smith says Brexit weakened one of the NHS’s greatest strengths by making it harder to recruit and retain European healthcare staff while the promised financial boost never materialised.
‘£350 million a week’ once travelled the country on the side of a bus, destined for our hospitals. Ten years on, that bus is yet to arrive
Your views
“Failing to capitalise on Brexit has damaged the NHS. Both the Tories and Labour are responsible.” – Kingswood
“Brexit removed a large pool of EU professionals from the NHS… Add austerity and social care problems and you have today’s staffing crisis.” – Herbacious
Has Brexit been good for Britain’s economy?
The case for
Economist Julian Jessop argues Brexit has allowed Britain to regain control over trade, regulation and taxation while saving billions in EU contributions. He believes long-term economic success depends on how governments use those freedoms.
Brexit has laid the foundations for a stronger economy
The case against
Regular Independent columnist Sean O’Grady argues the evidence increasingly points towards Brexit making Britain poorer, citing estimates that GDP is around six per cent lower than it otherwise would have been.
He argues barriers to trade and weaker investment have imposed long-term costs that new trade deals cannot fully offset.
We are poorer than we would otherwise be
Your views
“Brexit was an accident waiting to happen! There was no strategic planning put in place to help the transition from the EU to trading on the world market.” – Sharpfocus
“Its impact has been negligible compared to Covid, Ukraine and Iran. We’re still a top-five economy.” – LennyThunderhawk
Did Brexit let Britain ‘take back control’ of its borders?
The case for
Former diplomat Ameer Kotecha argues Brexit delivered exactly what voters asked for by ending free movement and allowing Britain to design its own immigration system.
He says record migration reflects political decisions made after Brexit rather than Brexit itself.
The UK took back control but chose not to exercise it.
The case against
Journalist Marie Le Conte argues Brexit technically increased Britain’s control over immigration but failed to satisfy those who wanted lower migration, while also making the small boats crisis harder to manage after leaving EU asylum arrangements.
The referendum… managed not to please anyone
Your views
“Many who voted Leave did want immigration to fall, but many did not. The whole issue was surrounded by confusion and perhaps not a little dishonesty.” – foreign field
“’Taking back control’ was only ever a slogan.” – Leftyandproud
Now have your say
Ten years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the debate remains as passionate as ever. For every argument that Brexit restored Britain’s sovereignty and opened up new opportunities, there is another that it has made the country poorer, less connected and more isolated.
Whether you believe Brexit has been a success, a failure or something in between, we’d like to hear from you. Join the discussion in the comments below and make sure to vote in the polls above.
Join the community
You can also sign up for our free Europe: The Way Back newsletter here or by using the form below:
What you will get by joining:
- A dedicated community: We are fully committed to the long haul, consistently campaigning to secure the absolute best deal for Britain within Europe.
- Free weekly newsletter: Every Wednesday, political editor David Maddox and political correspondent Millie Cooke will be in your inbox with exclusive reporting, analysis and insight on the biggest developments shaping relations between Britain and Europe. Each week, they will explain what’s happened, what it means, and what the key political figures, experts and decision-makers are saying about it.
- Essential continental updates: Stay informed with regular briefings on the biggest developments in European politics and the specific policies that could pave the way for closer EU relations.
There are even more benefits if you subscribe for just £1 for seven months:
- Exclusive content: Get the highest quality analysis, opinion and debate from political experts across the UK and Europe by subscribing to our premium service.
- The Brexit Effect: You’ll get exclusive access to extracts from Anthony Seldon’s major new book, The Brexit Effect, offering an unparalleled analysis of the 10 years since the referendum.
- Inform the debate: Receive exclusive invitations to live events, webinars, expert Q&As and podcast recordings.