Britain: divorced from the EU and disunited at home? The 2016 Brexit referendum and its consequences

Abstract

The Brexit referendum brought the regional and social divisions of the UK in the open. It put unresolved constitutional questions on the agenda and had a deep impact on the British party system. The referendum campaign provided room for protest, fake news and scare mongering. In electoral terms, the referendum gave a voice to the left-behinds. It is open to question whether the high hopes the Brexiteers created for a newly "independent" Britain will find support in the development of the country's external relations, but also with regard to the unity of the UK.