Brexit 10 years on: economic damage clear but Leave voters remain defiant

Ten years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016, the legacy of Brexit remains deeply contested. While some businesses have flourished and sovereignty advocates celebrate regained control, economic data and voices from key regions paint a picture of unfulfilled promises and lasting division.

Economic toll

Economists now broadly agree that Brexit has inflicted significant damage on the UK economy. A study by Stanford's Institute for Economic Policy Research, comparing the UK's growth to similar countries, found GDP is about 8 percent smaller than it would have been without leaving the EU. A second method, analysing firms with high EU exposure, suggests a 6 percent hit.

There's a clear consensus that Brexit has done significant damage.

That translates into lower tax revenues and, on average, each Briton being up to 8 percent poorer. Goods trade, especially cars and agri-food, has been hit hardest by new paperwork and customs barriers.

Voices from the ground

In Boston, Lincolnshire, where 75.6 percent voted Leave, the mood is one of entrenched views. Café owner Michael Wood does not regret his vote but says Brexit "hasn't gone fast enough or far enough" and wants closed borders. Others, like independent councillor Christ Mountain, see a loss of trust in politics because "people were promised things and those things never happened."

In Sandwell, West Midlands, nearly 70 percent backed Leave in 2016, driven by a sense of being overlooked. A decade on, that clarity has faded. While some manufacturers note higher wages and more control over immigration, goods exports to the EU remain below pre-Brexit levels, even as services exports have grown.

Fishing and trade

For the fishing industry, a poster child of the Leave campaign, the reality has been bitter. Newlyn-based fisherman Phil Mitchell says the community is "probably worse off now than when we started." EU boats still access inshore waters, quota allocations were not realigned, and new export controls have made it harder to sell catch abroad.

The main point of having the Brexit is that we would get our territorial waters back for UK boats. Foreign boats are still fishing inside the 12-mile limit.

At Newhaven Port, manager Dave Collins describes the Brexit process as "a nightmare." Millions were spent on customs and inspection infrastructure, but the anticipated volume of checks never materialised. A £4.5m control post may become redundant next year.

Brothers in business

In Nottinghamshire, two brothers running separate haulage firms remain on opposite sides. Leave voter Nigel Baxter says his business has flourished with "no adverse effects" and wants more deregulation. Remain voter Ian Baxter, while also seeing growth, feels frustrated: "If people had grievances before Brexit, they have them double now."

Political legacy and next steps

The government now speaks of building a closer relationship with Europe. A UK-EU Summit is scheduled for 22 July 2026, aiming to boost trade and cut red tape. But in places like Boston, many feel the project was either mismanaged or never truly completed.

Britain is now outside of the European Union. That means it's a sovereign country and the buck stops with our own politicians.

Ten years on, the referendum has not settled the argument. It has reshaped Britain's economy, its politics, and its sense of itself, leaving a legacy that is still being written.