Britain's exit from the European Union, commonly known as Brexit, has been a highly debated topic since the 2016 referendum. The promise of a brighter future, with lower food prices, a thriving economy, and more control over immigration, has been scrutinized by economists and experts.
One of the most significant promises made during the referendum campaign was cheaper food. However, economists agree that new trade barriers have added costs for importers and retailers, making food more expensive. This promise has been marked a 2 out of 10, as the benefits have not materialized.
The economy has also been affected by Brexit, with most major forecasters believing it is smaller than it would have been without the exit. While Britain avoided the immediate post-referendum recession, the economy has still suffered from the impact of Brexit. The country has lost up to £200 billion a year, equivalent to nearly 200 billion £1 scratchcards, according to some estimates. This has earned it a score of 4 out of 10.
Trade has also been affected, with exporting to the EU becoming more bureaucratic for many businesses. New trade deals have been signed, but they have not fully offset the extra friction with Britain's biggest trading partner. This has earned trade a score of 4 out of 10.
The promise of a £350 million-a-week Brexit dividend for the NHS has also been marked a 5 out of 10. While NHS funding has increased since 2016, it has not been the simple windfall many voters were told to expect. Staffing shortages and medicine supply issues have complicated the picture.
Red tape has also increased for many firms trading with Europe, despite the promise of Brexit cutting bureaucracy. Customs paperwork, checks, and regulatory requirements have all increased, making life more complicated for businesses exporting to the EU. This has earned red tape a score of 3 out of 10.
Farming has also been affected, with labour shortages, changing support schemes, and tougher trading conditions with Europe leaving many farmers wondering whether the trade-off was worth it. This has earned farming a score of 5 out of 10.
Immigration has been another hot topic, with the promise of greater control over immigration policy being ticked, but the record levels of immigration seen in recent years tell a different story. This has earned immigration a score of 6 out of 10.
The promise of 'levelling up' the economy has also been difficult to assess, with replacement funding arriving after EU regional grants ended, but no clear transformation happening. This has earned 'levelling up' a score of 5 out of 10.
Fishing has been one of the clearer successes of Brexit, with Britain regaining a larger share of fishing rights in its own waters. While the increase was smaller than some campaigners expected, it has been a tangible gain. This has earned fishing a score of 8 out of 10.
Perhaps the most significant promise of Brexit has been the idea of 'taking back control'. Britain has indeed left the EU, Parliament has regained full control over domestic law, free movement has ended, and trade policy has returned to Westminster. This has earned 'taking back control' a score of 10 out of 10.
The total score for Brexit is 52%, a mixed bag of successes and failures. While some promises have been delivered, others have not materialized as expected. The debate over Brexit is far from over, and this score will likely continue to be discussed and debated in the years to come.
