Friday marks five years since Britain left the European Union on Jan. 31, 2020. People and businesses are still wrestling with the economic, social and cultural aftershocks.

Summary

Five years after Brexit, its economic and political effects are still unfolding.

Trade with the EU has become more expensive and complex, with mid-sized businesses struggling the most.

UK economic growth is projected to be 4% lower long-term, and new trade deals haven’t offset EU losses.

While public opinion has turned against Brexit, rejoining the EU remains unlikely.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer aims to improve relations but won’t re-enter the single market, as both sides cautiously rebuild ties.

  • @[email protected]English
    56•1 month ago

    It was fucking stupid then, we said it was fucking stupid then, it;s still fucking stupid. Rejoin now

    • @nogooduserEnglish
      22•1 month ago

      Going back to the EU with our tail between our legs isn’t going to go down well with anyone so won’t be happening anytime soon.

      We’d not be able to reject the Schengen area or Euro so I’d imagine that most remain voters wouldn’t even agree to it.

      • @[email protected]English
        19•1 month ago

        Schengen would be fucking great. It also gets rid of the small boats “crisis” as well. The Euro is a small price to pay

        • @nogooduserEnglish
          14•1 month ago

          I would also happily accept both to go back into the EU personally.

        • ShadowedcrossEnglish
          7•1 month ago

          Yea, schengen is not a deterrence but rather something I’d actually like.

        • madjoEnglish
          5•1 month ago

          But Reform UK needs that “small boats crisis”! It’s its only raison d’être.

        • @[email protected]English
          1•30 days ago

          The fact that it completely nixes that completely synthetic crisis is one of the reasons this won’t happen in the near future

      • @GoofSchmooferEnglish
        12•1 month ago

        Going back to the EU with our tail between our legs isn’t going to go down well with anyone so won’t be happening anytime soon.

        “we would rather the people of the UK continue to suffer economically than be embarrassed on the international stage for a few years.”

        That’s is strong leadership /s

        • @nogooduserEnglish
          1•1 month ago

          I don’t think that it’s only a leadership thing.

          I think that there’d be enough voters who would be too proud to lose the pound that any referendum to rejoin would lose even if opinion polls showed that most people thought that it was a mistake (I don’t actually know what opinion poles say about this topic).

      • OptionalEnglish
        6•1 month ago

        While I wish it was an option but, barring some kind of catalyzing event, it isn’t. Not in anyone-here’s lifetime.