Daily Junction.mobi portalLeave voters wanted less immigration, but immigration rose to record highs (745,000 in 2022). Brexit ended EU free movement, but the government replaced it with a points-based system that allows more non-EU immigration.
Polls show 55-60% of people now think Brexit was a mistake (2024), up from 48% who voted Remain in 2016. But 40-45% still think it was the right decision.
Technically yes, politically no.
Rejoining would require:
The EU would demand the UK:
This is politically impossible — no UK government would accept these terms, and no UK referendum would approve them.
Labour and Conservatives both rule out rejoining the EU. The UK is stuck with Brexit for a generation, even though most people now think it was a mistake.
Brexit cost the UK economy £100 billion (4% of GDP) by 2024 through reduced trade, investment, and productivity, with no measurable economic benefits. UK-EU trade fell 25% after Brexit due to customs checks, paperwork, and tariffs, while immigration rose to record highs (745,000 net in 2022) despite Leave promises. The UK regained sovereignty over laws, borders, and trade, but 90% of EU regulations remain in UK law and Northern Ireland still follows EU rules. Brexit delivered on: leaving EU institutions, ending free movement (replaced with points-based system), and independent trade deals (but none better than EU membership). Brexit failed on: economic growth (UK is slowest-growing G7 economy), immigration control (higher than pre-Brexit), and 'taking back control' (NI Protocol, Windsor Framework). Brexit was sold as an economic opportunity and a way to control immigration, but it has been an economic disaster and immigration has risen to record highs. The UK has regained sovereignty in theory, but not much has changed in practice. Most people now think Brexit was a mistake, but the UK is stuck with it for a generation. Rejoining the EU is politically impossible, so the UK must make the best of Brexit — but 4 years on, there is no evidence that Brexit has made the UK richer, more sovereign, or better off. It has made the UK poorer, more isolated, and more divided.