By Africa Front Staff

EU Integration Strengthens as Britain Marks Ten Years Since Brexit Vote

Q: What is this africa story about?

A decade after the UK's referendum to leave the European Union, data suggests the bloc has grown closer while the British economy faces significant losses and ongoing political division.

Q: Who reported this story?

This report was originally reported and written by the Africa Front newsroom, published on June 24, 2026.

Q: What related topics does this story cover?

African Elections, African Technology, African Economy

June 24, 2026

EU Integration Strengthens as Britain Marks Ten Years Since Brexit Vote

Ten years have passed since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum that saw 52% of voters, or more than 17 million people, choose to exit. While the vote was intended to revitalize the UK by focusing on domestic priorities, the legacy of the decision continues to divide British society and political identity.

Economic data indicates that the UK economy is now smaller than it would have been had the country remained. Academic consensus suggests the hit ranges from 3% to 8%, with some research indicating the impact is roughly half of previous forecasts. Business investment has fallen, and trade with Europe has declined, with 2025 exports to the EU down 14% and imports down 10% compared to 2019 levels.

Small firms have been particularly affected by the "Long Brexit effect," facing red tape and paperwork that created delays and costs despite a zero-tariff deal. The impact is visible at the Channel Tunnel, where annual lorry journeys dropped from 1.64 million in 2016 to 1.16 million last year, representing a loss of nearly 30% of high-value cross-Channel traffic.

Public sentiment in Britain has shifted over the decade. Recent polling shows that 48% of people would support another referendum on EU membership, while only 9% believe Brexit is going better than expected. Conversely, 48% believe the process is going worse than expected.

In contrast, the EU appears to have grown more cohesive following the UK's departure. A Pew Research Centre survey indicates that 62% of respondents across the UK and seven EU member states now hold a positive view of the EU, an increase from 49% a decade ago.

Despite the economic frictions, the EU remains cautious about the UK's potential return. Michel Barnier has emphasized that the EU cannot compromise the single market to make special deals, arguing that such concessions could strengthen eurosceptic parties within member nations. While some UK politicians have discussed edging closer to Brussels economically, the EU maintains that significant deals would require a definitive understanding of what the British public desires.