British Exit (Brexit): The Real Reasons Behind It

On June 23, 2016, millions of British citizens took part in a historic referendum and voted to leave the European Union (EU). This momentous decision, known as ‘Brexit’, sent shock waves across the world and caused tremendous economic change and uncertainty in Britain.

Behind Brexit lies the controversy and divisiveness of the British people on immigration and immigration policies. Immigration has been an enduring issue in Britain since 2004, when the United Kingdom (UK) government first invited in citizens from Eastern and Central Europe as part of its commitment to freedom of movement within the EU. Many people within Britain saw this as a breach of their sovereignty, as the ability of other EU citizens to live and work in the UK was seen as a direct curtailment of the autonomy of the UK over its own immigration policies. This view is strengthened by the fact that even today the amount of immigrants coming into the UK greatly exceeds the amount going out.

In addition to immigration, there was an increasing concern among British citizens of the increasing power of the European Union and their feeling of having 'lost control' of their own destiny. The European Union, as an increasingly centralized government, is seen by many to be overbearing, and increasingly dictating the laws and regulations governing citizens of member states. This lack of control and identity was an appealing factor towards the Brexit campaign, which used the slogan "Take back control".

The economic benefits of being part of the European Union was another decisive factor behind the Brexit decision. In pre-referendum speeches and campaigns for the ‘Leave’ camp, the arguments that Britain would be has better economic prospects outside of the European Union, being free from the obligations of an increasingly complex network of laws and regulations, held great sway over many people.

Due to the significance of the issue, as well as the magnitude of the implications, it is important to be conscious of these major factors when considering the cause behind Brexit. It is clear that the immigration and immigration policies, the growing power of the European Union, and the supposed economic benefits of leaving the EU all played a major role in the decision of the British people to leave the European Union.