Three years after Brexit – Many Britons now regret leaving the EU

He sees absolutely no chance of a return to the EU, said the head of the German news agency’s “UK in a changing Europe” think tank. Even though polls show that a majority of Britons are now in favor of rejoining the EU, this is not a problem for politicians in London. Both the Conservative government and the Labor opposition want to end the Brexit debate and look to the future rather than the past, Menon said.

Trade with the EU collapsed by a fifth
According to a study, trade between the EU and the UK has fallen by 20 percent. The corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine have major short-term effects, but the consequences of Brexit are, in principle, long-term consequences.

“Leaving the EU has definitely hampered the UK economy, the uncertainty it has created has led to lower investment, new trade barriers have made doing business with the EU difficult. Broadly speaking, Brexit has meant that the UK economy has grown more slowly than it would otherwise. The British are therefore poorer because of Brexit,” says Thomas Sampson of the London School of Economics.

“I think it’s going to take 10 years and a new administration to make it work,” said Ray Yates, a former shipyard worker. When asked if Brexit was still a good choice, he replies: “Yes, I think so.” Keith Harrington, pensioner, is also convinced of this: “We will get there, the virus (corona, note) made easier, but when we get there, it will pay off.”

Only a third think leaving the EU is a good thing
However, many secretly regret voting to leave. According to a survey, only a third of Britons think that leaving the European Union is a good decision. So is Nimisha Raja, the founder of Nim’s Fruit & Veg Crisps, a Kent company that exported fruit and vegetable crisps to six EU countries before Brexit. Due to higher rates and complicated bureaucracy, her company has lost many customers.

And importing fresh goods from Spain or Italy has become risky – many spoil because the formalities take too long to get there. “After three years, the problems are still not solved. We’ll just tolerate it for now. Exporting to the EU is no longer the focus,” regrets Nimisha Raja.

‘Brexit makes it more difficult for us’
Emily Vermont (pictured), the Owner of the “Indirock Climbing Gym” in Southend-on-Sea in Essex, she had no idea Brexit could be a problem for her when she opened in 2021. But much of the equipment is manufactured in the EU and some companies are hesitant to complete UK customs formalities. “We noticed for the first time from the climbing holds how Brexit made it difficult for us,” she says.

When it comes to the handles on their climbing wall, most suppliers come from Europe. And because of Brexit, there is now a considerable backlog, she explains. “When we place an order for climbing holds, it takes three to six months for them to get to us,” says Vermont.

Sunak: Country has made ‘great progress’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Brexit on Tuesday. Britain has taken “great steps” over the past three years to “use the freedoms created by Brexit,” he said on the anniversary of its official departure from the EU. This is a “huge opportunity” for growth, jobs and social mobility, the head of government added. The country has “found its way as an independent nation with self-confidence,” Sunak said.

In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the EU. After long negotiations with Brussels, the United Kingdom withdrew from the Union of States at midnight on 31 January 2020.