Nigel Farage in north-west Essex on Friday night (Image: Reform UK)
has proven a watershed in the history of 21st century British politics, and the result of the referendum on June 23, 2016, continues to reverberate nine years later.
But the day after the fifth anniversary of the UK actually quitting the bloc, far from everyone is convinced – so today Express.co.uk readers are being asked: are you happy we severed ties with Brussels?
On January 31, 2020, the UK officially ended its 47-year membership in the , with 51.9% of voters voting to leave the bloc. The decision set in motion a process that has transformed the country in ways both anticipated and unforeseen.
The referendum itself was a seismic event, one that divided the nation and led to fierce debate over issues of sovereignty, immigration, and economic future.
The Vote Leave campaign, led by figures such as and Michael Gove, argued that Britain’s future would be brighter outside the EU, with the ability to set its own laws and borders. Meanwhile, the Remain camp, including then-Prime Minister David Cameron and other political leaders, warned that leaving would harm the economy, disrupt trade, and diminish Britain’s global standing.
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Years later, the debate rages on. In a clip uploaded to X, Steve Baker, the former Tory MP who was a leading figure in the aftermath of the referendum, had no doubt.
He said: “Yes, it was worth it, it really was worth it, and it is going to make possible doing those difficult things, which are just going to prove necessary to make sure that we can have a much brighter future of economic growth and prosperity.
“And it will be a future outside the , and I hope that we will show the whole of Europe the way to save themselves by following our example.”
Reform UK leader , previously leader of the Party, likewise has no doubt the decision was the correct one – but, posting on X on Friday said: “Another anniversary, yet still has not been properly delivered.
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Sir Ed Davey campaigned hard against Britain leaving the EU (Image: Getty)
“The time has come to let those of us who started in 2016 finish the job. Reform stands ready to do just that in 2029.”
However, others vehemently disagree.
Sir Ed Davey, the europhile leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “We must repair the trading relationship with our neighbours that was so badly ruined under the . Their deal has been an utter disaster for our country – for farmers, fishers and small businesses – caught up in red tape.
“So far the Labour government has failed to show the urgency and ambition needed to fix our relationship with Europe. Ministers must be in a parallel universe if they think we can grow the economy without boosting trade with our nearest neighbours.
“A new UK-EU customs union deal will unlock growth, demonstrate British leadership and give us the best possible hand to play against President Trump.”
The period after the referendum was characterised by angry demonstrations (Image: Getty)
The Green Party went further, with Ellie Chowns, MP for North Hertfordshire and a former MEP, saying: “The Green Party is very clear that people and planet would benefit from much closer relationships between our country and the .
“We will continue to press the Labour government to be braver and bolder in overcoming the negative impacts of .
“Full membership of the EU remains the best option for the UK, and we are in favour of pursuing a policy to re-join as soon as the political will is present.”
A poll published by YouGov to coincide with the anniversary suggested three in ten Britons (30%) now say believe it was right for the UK to vote to leave the EU, compared to 55% who say it was wrong for the country to vote for in 2016.
The figure represents the lowest proportion of the public saying that Britain was right to vote to leave since YouGov began asking the question in the aftermath of the referendum.