January 31 marked the third anniversary of Britain’s exit from the European Union, which is known as “Brexit” for short, and the same date coincided with the 50th anniversary of Britain’s accession to the European Economic Community. And with the advent of the third anniversary of Britain’s exit from the European Union, it seems that there is remorse on the part of most of the British people following taking this historic step, as life is no longer the same, and the country has been subjected to economic calamities that it did not expect.
And a new poll showed that nearly two-thirds of Britons now support a referendum on returning to the European Union, at a time when Britain faces difficult economic challenges, following separation from its main trading partner, and there is growing disappointment among the population regarding the promises made by supporters of Britain’s exit. from the European Union.
This was reflected in the latest poll, which showed that nearly two-thirds of Britons want a second referendum, and the vote is now expected to go in favor of returning to the EU.
Another poll revealed that the number of those who want a second vote rose to 65%, compared to 55% a year ago. For the first time, this poll also shows that a majority (54%) believe Brexit was the wrong decision, up from 46% the year before. Officially, 45% believe Brexit is going worse than they expected, up from 28% in June 2021.
The numbers look similar when asked regarding the impact of Britain’s exit from the European Union on their daily lives, as regarding 45% believe that Britain’s exit from the European Union has worsened the matter (unchanged since June 2022), compared to 37% who stated that it made no difference, and one of the respondents said Every 10 (11%) it has improved their lives.
When asked regarding the negative consequences of Brexit, increased barriers to trade between the UK and the EU come out on top, as mentioned by two in five (40%), up 13 percentage points from the last survey in March 2021. Also three in five Every 10 people say these barriers have put an end to freedom of movement (30%), and one in four say there is less international cooperation between the UK and the EU (26%).
On the other hand, when asked regarding the positive results, more than one in five stated that Britain has become in control of its laws and regulations (23%), its ability to respond to the “Covid-19” epidemic better (22%), and that it is able to make its own decisions in general (21%). However, nearly one in four (24%) say there are no positive results.
high cost
Brexit costs the British economy £100 billion a year ($124 billion), with implications for everything from business investment to the ability of companies to hire workers.
An analysis by Bloomberg Economics, three years following Brexit, paints a bleak picture of the damage done by the way the Conservative government carried out Brexit.
Economists Anna Andreide and Dan Hanson believe the economy shrank by 4%, with business investment lagging sharply as the shortage of workers from the European Union widens.
In a note published Tuesday, Andredi and Hanson ask, “Did the UK commit an act of economic self-harm when it voted to leave the European Union in 2016?” The single market may have affected the UK economy faster than we or most other forecasters expected.
These results refute what the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said that Britain’s exit from the European Union is a “great opportunity” for the United Kingdom, which has begun to materialize, as severing relations with the European Union allows Britain to create free outlets to stimulate trade, and reform financial services rules in the interest of Banks in the City of London.
“Whether we conclude trade deals with more than 70 countries or take back control of our borders, we have forged a course,” Sunak said in his statement, on Monday evening. Distinguished as an independent and confident country.
The idea of separation crystallized
The story of Britain’s exit from the European Union began long before 52% of voters decided in the June 2016 referendum to leave the bloc. Here is a brief look at the reasons for the UK’s exit from the European Union:
In 1973, the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community, and from the outset, public opinion and politicians were divided over the value of membership. The Guardian wrote in an editorial on January 1, 1973: “In this case, it must be admitted that a large part of the country is not happy with the result. The journey to Europe will be bumpy and contradictory.
Just two years later, in 1975, the United Kingdom held its first national referendum, on membership in the European Community. The Conservatives, led by the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, advocated staying in the Union. Thatcher declared a huge “yes” to Europe in the referendum, and wore a jacket in the shape of a euro. About 67% of Britons agreed to remain within the union, but that did not resolve the issue of the United Kingdom’s status within Europe. In the following four decades, the United Kingdom and Europe changed.
Then came the referendum.
In 2013, then British Prime Minister David Cameron promised that if his Conservative party won the election, he would hold a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union or leave. Cameron has succumbed in part to pressure from the right wing of his own party and the UKIP, the right-wing Brexiteer party.
Cameron won, he kept his word, and the United Kingdom held a Brexit referendum on June 23, 2016. There were two options: to leave the European Union or to remain in the European Union. Cameron supported staying, but other prominent members of his party did not. The famous former mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who later became prime minister, joined the campaign to vote out the bloc. And 17.4 million people voted to leave. Northern Ireland and Scotland preferred to stay, while the English and Welsh preferred to leave.
Economic crisis and the future of Britain
The financial crisis of 2008, and the economic crisis in the euro area that followed, increased doubts regarding the future of the European Union, as did the influx of immigrants from poor EU countries into Britain, and the arrival of refugees and immigrants from other places, such as the Middle East and Africa – the situation increased
Hate crimes once morest foreigners are on the rise
Brexit was followed by a sharp increase in the number of racial or religious offenses recorded by police in England and Wales following the Brexit referendum. In July 2016, the police recorded a 41% increase compared to the same month in the previous year, according to the Ministry of Interior report.
A former resident of the Plymouth area said that she left the UK following more than 20 years, due to harassment and hate crimes directed once morest foreigners. Simone James, who is of German origin, was forced to leave Britain, following she was living with her British husband there. She talked regarding the abuse she had personally experienced, so she moved away from the country she loved. Simone made the very difficult decision, left the UK permanently, and took a ferry to Santander for a new life in Spain.
“Dear Brexit voters, I have followed the instructions you have given me for the last few years – yes, I will go back to the EU,” she says. “I came here over 20 years ago from Germany, having met my British husband.” I worked nonstop hard, paid all my taxes, contributed to and integrated into the local communities and society, and spent my 16 years helping vulnerable and disadvantaged Brits get back on their feet.”
“I loved living here, I even voted for Britain to leave the European Union, but following the referendum I never felt welcome, not by everyone of course, but enough.” Simone continued, “It is sad to see what is happening to the country that I love, the increase in xenophobia, the fascist rhetoric, the Hitler salutes that I have personally endured. It hurts.”
About 45% believe that Brexit made things worse (unchanged since June 2022), compared to 37% who said it made no difference, and one in 10 (11%) said it had improved their lives.
With the advent of the third anniversary of Britain’s exit from the European Union, it seems that there is remorse on the part of most of the British people following taking this historic step, as life is no longer the same, and the country has been subjected to economic calamities that it did not expect.