UK Witnesses Fifth Brexit Anniversary
The Facts
Friday marked the fifth anniversary of the UK officially exiting the EU on Jan. 31, 2020, ending its 47-year membership after having voted by a 52%-48% margin to leave in 2016.
According to recent YouGov polling, only 11% of UK adults consider Brexit more a success than a failure, with 55% saying the nation was wrong to vote to leave. 65% believe it has negatively affected the UK economy, while 52% believe it has harmed the UK's global reputation.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates that Brexit will reduce the UK's long-term gross domestic product (GDP) by 4% long-term compared to remaining in the EU, primarily due to increased non-tariff barriers in UK-EU trade.
The Spin
Left narrative
Brexit has delivered profound economic challenges, from disrupted trade to reduced productivity. Ex-PM Boris Johnson's disastrous deal has burdened businesses with costly red tape, stifling the UK economy at a time when growth is essential. While the government scrambles to reset relations with the EU, its unwillingness to consider a customs union or single market return keeps the UK from achieving real progress.
Right narrative
Five years on, Brexit has delivered key victories. Freed from the EU's bureaucratic grip, the UK now enjoys greater legal independence and control over its trade policy. While critics focus on short-term challenges, new agreements with dynamic economies like Japan and Australia, as well as talks with India and the US, position the UK for long-term success as it aligns with global growth leaders instead of a stagnant European economy.
