Splitting headache

Cutting ties with the European Union has failed Britons according to almost every parameter but a reversal is not on the cards anytime soon.

- ANDREW ANTHONY

It's hard to think of an issue in modern British history on which the UK was more divided than the question of whether to leave or remain in the European Union. Almost overnight, the country was evenly split between "Brexiteers" and "Remainers", a line that cut through families, friendships, political parties and the workplace.

The result of the referendum on June 23, 2016, was almost right down the middle: 51.89% of voters in favour of "Leave" and 48.11% wanting to "Remain". Nearly eight years on from that momentous decision, much of the passion and enmity has dissipated but the hangover has not gone away.

What has clearly changed is the level of support for Brexit. Buyer's remorse kicked in very soon after and for the past 18 months, polls have shown a consistent picture of solid regret, with around 55% of the population believing it was a mistake to leave the EU, and only 33% continuing to think it was the right decision (12% are unsure).

There are a number of factors that account for this collapse in support but almost all of them concern the conspicuous gap between what was promised and what has materialised. The Leave campaign's most vote-winning arguments were that Brexit would enable the UK to "regain" control of its borders and there would be pronounced economic benefits resulting from trade freedom and no longer having to contribute to the EU budget.

In both cases, the outcome bears no relationship to the pledge. In the first instance, Britain's borders have never appeared more porous or out of control. Brexit was sold as a means of stemming the flow of cheap foreign labour and raising wages to create a highly paid, high-productivity economy.