Ten years after Brexit: the unfulfilled promises and economic costs of leaving the EU
By
Joe Connor
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
As Britain approaches the ten-year anniversary of the 2016 Brexit referendum, the article examines the promises made by the Leave campaign against the economic reality. Key Leave pledges—such as £350 million per week for the NHS, trade deals, and economic prosperity—are shown to be unfulfilled. The UK economy is now 6-8% smaller than it would have been inside the EU, business investment is 12-18% lower than comparable countries, and the annual cost is estimated at billions. The piece attributes responsibility to key Leave campaign figures for what it calls one of the biggest political deceptions in modern British history.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledOn 23 June 2026, Britain will mark ten years since the referendum that changed everything.
A decade since 17.4 million people voted Leave on the basis of promises that were, in almost every measurable particular, false.
The economy is between 6% and 8% smaller than it would have been had we stayed.
Business investment has been between 12% and 18% lower than comparable countries.
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