LONDON (AP) — The United Kingdom is set to have its seventh prime minister since the Brexit referendum on June 23, 2016, when 52% of voters chose to leave the European Union after more than 40 years of membership. David Cameron, the Conservative Prime Minister who called the referendum but campaigned to remain in the EU, resigned the following day. His successors have faced challenges in addressing the consequences of Brexit, with the latest being Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation after two years marked by economic stagnation and a divided electorate, issues partly attributed to Brexit.
Chris Grey, an academic who has studied Brexit's aftermath, noted that the effects of the decision continue to influence British politics. The Brexit campaign promised that leaving the EU would allow the U.K. to regain control over its laws, economy, and borders, while the remain campaign highlighted the potential economic drawbacks of leaving.
Boris Johnson, a prominent Brexit supporter who later became prime minister, stated before the referendum that it was a unique opportunity for the U.K. to move forward. However, Margaret MacMillan, a history professor, pointed out that Brexit was driven by various motives, including nostalgia for an imagined past and opposition to immigration and EU regulations.
The U.K. formally left the EU on January 31, 2020, after prolonged negotiations. Theresa May, Cameron's successor, resigned in 2019 after failing to secure an acceptable exit agreement. Johnson succeeded her, promising to finalize Brexit, but was ousted in mid-2022 amid scandals. His successor, Liz Truss, served for only 49 days, and Rishi Sunak has since worked to improve U.K.-EU relations without significant changes.
Starmer aimed for a political reset but did not consider rejoining the EU's single market. As he steps down, Brexit remains an unresolved issue. Historian Anthony Seldon remarked that Cameron's referendum did not settle the divisions within the Conservative Party, which have persisted. The Labour Party also faces internal divisions regarding its stance on the EU.
In the past decade, many voters have shifted away from the two major parties towards alternatives, including the Green Party and the hard-right Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, who has gained prominence since Brexit. The economic landscape has been challenging, with new trade barriers impacting growth, although other factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts have also played a role.