Many Britons believed the European Union failed to solve economic problems facing them. However, the major reason for Brexit was the increasing number of immigrants in the UK, as well as political elitism. Therefore, the move was driven by economic, identity and immigration problems.
Introduction
The European Union was formed to merge economic rules of the western and some eastern European countries. The union allowed its members to move goods, services, capital, as well as themselves from their country to other nations in the union. With this regard, the union has helped keep the European countries at peace and enhanced economic progress.[1]
Just like in a business partnership where partners suffer profits and losses together, EU members shared the benefits and downturns of this union. An example is the financial crisis in 2008 that increased unemployment and tax. The crisis triggered second thoughts in wealthier countries such as the UK as they felt they would need to help the less wealthy nations in the union. Also, the EU allowed members to migrate to other states. However, this did not settle well with countries such as Britain, which felt that immigrants were increasing and taking away their jobs.[2]
Brexit was brought to life on June 23, 2016 when many Britons of voting age voted in a referendum to decide whether UK should stay or leave the European Union.[3]
The leave vote won 52 to 48 percent. “England voted for Brexit, by 53.4% to 46.6%, Wales supported the withdrawal by 52.5% out 47.5%, whereas Scotland and Northern Ireland both backed staying in the EU”.[4]
The UK is expected to depart officially from EU on Friday 29 March, 2019. With this regard, the focus of the paper is to discuss the reasons that made UK to decide to leave the European Union.
Many British voted to leave EU and their reasons were based on economic issues and mostly on the issue of immigration in their country. There are three main factors that contributed to Brexit.
Immigration
The EU allows its members to move from one country to another in the union freely, leading to increased immigration in wealthy nations such as the UK. EU supports immigration as it believes it is morally right to help refugees. However, opponents view immigration as a national issue that affects the growth of a country.[5]
In 2004, the EU bloc increased through the addition of eight eastern European countries. The move triggered increased immigration to the UK, which strained public services. The net migration had risen to about 300,000 per year before the referendum.[6]
Britain’s economy in the past years had been growing at a steady rate than the euro zone. Accordingly, more people moved to Britain, both skilled foreign workers and university students. However, people who migrate to be with their families and do not contribute economically are the reason Britons are against immigration. When the referendum to vote UK out of EU was set, many Britons voted for leave because of their prejudice against non-natives, but still Britons who had made contact with foreigners voted remain.[7]Areas in the UK with fewer immigrants had the highest leave vote, due to the view that immigration was a symbol to erase their identity and bring social changes. Increased anxiety among the voters on the issue of immigration was also fueled by some media houses that were pessimistic on the issue.
Economic Issues
Economic status of the EU was another driving force for Brexit. EU opponents claimed that the union had failed to solve its economic problems, giving an example of the 2008 economic crisis that led to 20% unemployment in southern Europe.[8] Those who were voting for Brexit claimed that remaining in the EU would cause economic disaster for Britain. “They believed that remaining in the European Union would make Britain follow Europe’s lead”.[9]
The economy they were trying to salvage suffered greatly when the Brexit vote was taken. The value of the pound declined with more than 10% against the US dollar after the referendum. Also, shares worth 2 trillion dollars were wiped off following the vote. Prices of some items considered as safe investments spiked up after the vote.[10]
The economic consequences would be more if Europe decided to throw up trade barriers against the UK. The only economic benefit Britain could gain from leaving EU is that it would no longer contribute to the EU budget. Britons felt that such money, estimated to be around 350 million Euros, should be used by the government to improve the livelihood of citizens.[11]
Political Elitism
Britons voted against the British elite during the Brexit, believing that those in power, including politicians, intellectuals and business leaders, had lost control over the country. For this reason, a third party that opposed the views ofexisting political parties was formed to vote out UK from EU. “Two established parties wanted to remain in the EU, and a third faction, drawn from both parties, opposed this notion, whereby it considered both of the established parties as hostile to their interests”.[12]
The growth of political elitism is not only experienced in Europe, but in other nations such as the US.[13]
Conclusion
UK has seen some changes since the vote of Brexit. The economy has been affected most with the value of the pound against the dollar still low. The move will have serious implications on the politics of the UK. EU helped grow the economy of UK and hence, the use of poor economic state of EU as a reason to leave the bloc had no strong support. Immigration, however, had been increasing in UK since EU included other eastern European countries. The Britons need to have control over their country and reduce immigration was a valid reason but may be not a strong one to leave EU. Need for control over their country and over their economic state was among the main reason for Brexit. The Britons, however, may experience serious consequences if the negotiations with the EU are not in their favor.
Bibliographies
Chang, Alvin. "Brexit:why Britain left the EU, explained with a simple cartoon." Vox.com. June 24, 2016. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/6/24/12025514/brexit-cartoon (accessed March !5, 2018).
Ford, Robert, and Matthew Goodwin. "Britain after Brexit: A nation divided." Journal of Democracy, 2017: 17-29.
Friedman, George. "3 Reasons Brits voted for Brexit." Forbes.com. July 5, 2016. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/johnmaudlin/2016/07/05/3-reasons-brits-voted-for-brexit/amp (accessed March 15, 2018).
Green, Harlan. "Why did Brexit Happen." Huffpost.
December 6, 2017. https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1071606 (accessed March 15, 2018).
Hobolt, Sara B. "The Brexit vote: a divided nation, a divided continent." Journal of European Public policy, 2016: 1259-1277.
Hunt, Alex, and Brian Wheeler. "Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU." BBC.com. March 3, 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887 (accessed March 15, 2018).
Lee, Timothy B. "Brexit: a short, simple explanation." Vox.com. June 24, 2016. https:/www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/6/24/12024560/brexit-a-short-simple-explanation (accessed March 15, 2018).
Lowe, Josh. "Why did Brexit happen? Hatred of immigrants drove British vote, study says ." Newsweek.com. June 22, 2017. https://www.google.com/amp/www.newsweek.com/brexit-eu-referendum-vote-prejudice-immigration-628353%3famp=1 (accessed March 15, 2018).
The Times. "Brexit explained: the progress so far and what happens next." The Times. March 6, 2018. https://www.the times.co.uk/article/brexit-explained-bfb5tfpkj (accessed March 15, 2018).
Wealthy Academy. ""Brexit"- Crisis or opportunity." Wealthy Academy. July 3, 2017. https://www.wealthacademyglobal.com/brexit-crisis-or-opportunity/ (accessed March 15, 2018).
[1] Robert Ford, and Matthew Goodwin, "Britain after Brexit: A nation divided." Journal of Democracy, 2017: 17-29.
[2] Alvin Chang, "Brexit:why Britain left the EU, explained with a simple cartoon." Vox.com.
June 24, 2016. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/6/24/12025514/brexit-cartoon (accessed March !5, 2018).
[3] The Times, "Brexit explained: the progress so far and what happens next." The Times. March 6, 2018. https://www.the times.co.uk/article/brexit-explained-bfb5tfpkj (accessed March 15, 2018).
[4] Alex Hunt and Brian Wheeler, "Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU." BBC.com.
March 3, 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887 (accessed March 15, 2018).
[5] George Friedman, "3 Reasons Brits voted for Brexit." Forbes.com. July 5, 2016. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/johnmaudlin/2016/07/05/3-reasons-brits-voted-for-brexit/amp (accessed March 15, 2018).
[6] Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin, Britain after Brexit: A nation divided, 17-29.
7Josh Lowe, "Why did Brexit happen? Hatred of immigrants drove British vote, study says ." Newsweek.com.
June 22, 2017. https://www.google.com/amp/www.newsweek.com/brexit-eu-referendum-vote-prejudice-immigration-628353%3famp=1 (accessed March 15, 2018).
[8] Timothy B Lee, "Brexit: a short, simple explanation." Vox.com. June 24, 2016. https:/www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/6/24/12024560/brexit-a-short-simple-explanation (accessed March 15, 2018).
9 Ibid.,4
[10] Sara B. Hobolt, "The Brexit vote: a divided nation, a divided continent." Journal of European Public policy, 2016: 1259-1277.
[11] Wealthy Academy. ""Brexit"- Crisis or opportunity." Wealthy Academy.
July 3, 2017. https://www.wealthacademyglobal.com/brexit-crisis-or-opportunity/ (accessed March 15, 2018).
[12] Ibid.,4
[13]Harlan Green, "Why did Brexit Happen." Huffpost. December 6, 2017. https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1071606 (accessed March 15, 2018).
