Ten years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, the nation continues to grapple with the fallout. The decision, which was supposed to restore sovereignty and unleash economic prosperity, has instead left a legacy of political instability, economic fragility, and broken promises. According to columnist Kelly McParland, the Brexit experience serves as a stark warning for separatist movements elsewhere, particularly in Canada, where talk of secession has gained traction in regions like Alberta and Quebec.
The revolving door of prime ministers
Since the 2016 referendum, the UK has seen six prime ministers—David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer—each grappling with the consequences of Brexit. McParland suggests that these leaders, spanning the political spectrum, could offer valuable lessons to Canadian separatists by sharing their experiences in the aftermath of the decision. The central topic: what happens when a government abandons established ties with its largest market and closest political allies, rejecting the benefits of size and integration that come with membership in a large, prosperous community.
The theory behind Brexit was that Britain, once a global empire, could thrive without easy access to a market of 450 million people across 27 countries. Proponents argued that the UK no longer needed the ability to live, work, or trade freely across borders without passports, visas, or regulatory hurdles. They dismissed the jobs, trade, income, and cultural exchange that membership in such a vast open community provided. Instead, they championed sovereignty and the right to set their own rules, free from the influence of faceless bureaucrats in Brussels.
The grim reality of Brexit
Ten years on, the results are clear. The UK's borders remain porous, the economy fragile, housing unaffordable, taxes high, social benefits under threat, and the National Health Service (NHS) on the brink of collapse. Finding a dentist has become a near-impossible task. A series of prime ministers have struggled to minimize the self-inflicted damage, working to rebuild ties, revive the economy, and clear the trade and business channels clogged by Brexit. None have made significant headway, and each was quickly replaced by a restive population impatient for the promised benefits that never materialized.
McParland notes that the revolving door of leaders—from Conservative to Labour—reflects the depth of the crisis. The most recent prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has now left office, and the betting is heavily on a newly elected MP named Andy Burnham, whose popularity rests overwhelmingly on the fact that he is not Starmer. His magic formula for curing the ills that flummoxed his six predecessors remains unrevealed.
A cautionary tale for Canadian separatism
McParland draws direct parallels to Canadian separatist movements, particularly in regions like Alberta and Quebec, where talk of independence has gained momentum. He suggests that the Brexit fiasco should serve as a warning: abandoning established economic and political ties with a larger community can lead to prolonged hardship, not the bright future promised by separatists. The UK's experience demonstrates that the benefits of size, integration, and global connections are not easily replicated by going it alone.
In Canada, separatist rhetoric often paints a rosy picture of independence, but the Brexit reality tells a different story. The UK's struggle to regain what it lost—stable trade relationships, economic growth, and political stability—offers a sobering lesson. As McParland puts it, "It's not a formula meant to be copied."
The path forward
With a new prime minister set to take office, the UK faces an uncertain future. The challenges remain immense: repairing trade ties, restoring economic confidence, and addressing the public's growing disillusionment. Burnham, if he takes the helm, will need a clear strategy to heal the wounds opened by Brexit. Meanwhile, separatists in Canada and elsewhere would do well to study the UK's ordeal before pursuing a similar path.
