Brexit: A Story of Deception, Consequences, and Difficult Return

The Campaign of Deceptions

The 2016 Brexit campaign was based on a series of misleading claims and false promises. One of the most notorious was the red bus with the claim that Britain paid £350 million per week to the EU, which could instead be invested in the National Health Service (NHS). This figure was demonstrably false as it neither accounted for British rebates nor EU funding.

Politicians like Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson also spread fears about uncontrolled immigration and painted a picture of an EU undermining British sovereignty. They promised a „Global Britain“ that, freed from EU regulations, would strike new trade deals with the whole world.

The Bitter Fruits of Brexit

The reality after Brexit looks quite different:

Economic Consequences

• British GDP has grown significantly slower than comparable EU countries since Brexit
• Substantial decline in trade with the EU due to new customs bureaucracy
• Many companies have relocated their European headquarters from London to EU cities
• London’s position as a financial center has weakened

Social Impact

• Skilled worker shortages in many sectors, especially in healthcare and nursing
• Supply shortages for certain goods
• Increased cost of living
• Growing social division in society

Political Consequences

• Tensions in Northern Ireland due to border issues
• Growing independence movements in Scotland
• Loss of diplomatic influence in Europe
• Weakened international position

The Difficult Path Back

A return of Britain to the EU would be far more complicated today than remaining in 2016:

New Conditions

• No special rights or rebates as before Brexit
• Mandatory adoption of the Euro as currency
• Participation in the Schengen Agreement
• Full acceptance of EU legislation

Political Hurdles

• Required unanimity of all EU member states
• Skepticism from many EU countries regarding a British return
• Necessary fundamental change in British politics
• Overcoming still-strong Brexit supporters in Britain

Conclusion

Brexit exemplifies how populist promises and targeted disinformation can influence democratic decisions with far-reaching negative consequences. The British population bears the economic and social costs, while a return to the EU under current conditions seems hardly realistic.

The lesson must be that complex political decisions should not be made based on simplifying slogans and false promises. Brexit will long serve as a cautionary tale of the importance of fact-based political discussions and honest handling of the advantages and disadvantages of political decisions.