Brexit: Extent of Benefits Delivered
| During the Brexit campaign, proponents argued that leaving the EU would bring immediate benefits. Some of the claims made included: | The extent to which these claimed benefits were achieved by the UK government after Brexit varies: |
| Regaining control: Brexit campaigners argued that leaving the EU would allow the UK to regain control over its laws, borders, and immigration policies from the EU on day one. | The UK did formally leave the EU on January 31, 2020, and entered a transition period during which it continued to follow EU rules while negotiating its future relationship with the EU. While Brexit technically allowed the UK to regain legislative autonomy, the extent of control gained has been influenced by the terms of the trade deal negotiated with the EU and ongoing regulatory alignment in certain areas. |
| End of financial contributions: They claimed that the UK would immediately stop paying large sums of money to the EU budget, freeing up funds for domestic spending. | The UK ceased its membership contributions to the EU budget after leaving the EU. However, it agreed to financial settlements as part of the Withdrawal Agreement, covering outstanding financial commitments to the EU, and it continues to contribute to certain EU programs as part of its trade deal obligations. |
| Trade deals: Some Brexit campaigners suggested that the UK could swiftly negotiate new trade deals with countries outside the EU, asserting that these deals would be beneficial and could be implemented quickly after Brexit. | The UK government pursued trade agreements with various countries and trading blocs post-Brexit. It secured trade deals with several countries, including Japan, Canada, and several others, as well as continuity agreements with countries with which the UK had previously traded under EU agreements. However, the process of negotiating and implementing these agreements has been ongoing and has taken longer than some proponents of Brexit may have initially suggested. |
| Customs independence: There were assertions that the UK would have the freedom to establish its own trade policies and customs arrangements with other countries from the day it left the EU. | The UK regained the ability to set its own trade policies and customs arrangements after Brexit. It implemented a new customs regime and border controls, including the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has introduced customs checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. |
| Boost to democracy: Brexit supporters argued that leaving the EU would restore sovereignty to the UK Parliament and enhance democracy by allowing British lawmakers to make decisions without interference from EU institutions. | Brexit supporters argued that leaving the EU would enhance the UK’s democratic governance by returning decision-making powers to the British Parliament. However, Brexit has also led to significant constitutional and political challenges, including debates over the distribution of powers between the UK Parliament and devolved administrations, particularly regarding areas of policy previously under EU competence. |
Overall, while some aspects of the claimed benefits have been realized to varying degrees, the post-Brexit landscape has been marked by complexities, challenges, and ongoing negotiations with the EU and other countries.
Financial Contribution: We substantially stopped them and could/should have gone further
Trade deals:
