Brexit, 10 Years Later: Lessons for Canada

In Wakefield, a town in Yorkshire, people are worried about the economy.
Ten years after the Brexit vote, the town is not doing well.
In 2016, 51.9% of people in the UK voted for Brexit. In Wakefield, almost two-thirds voted to leave the EU.
Many people who voted to leave the EU now regret it.
A man named John Welsby said Brexit did not control immigration as promised.
Since 2016, more people are coming to the UK from outside the EU.
Now, most new immigrants come from Asia and Africa, not the EU.
John Welsby thinks immigrants are taking advantage of the UK.
Studies show that EU immigrants helped the UK economy, but non-EU immigrants may have a negative impact.
Brexit did not deliver on its promises for 'leavers' or 'remainers'.
A woman named Donna Shaw said everything is more expensive now.
Donna Shaw sells artificial flowers in the market and did not vote.
Many people regret leaving the EU, especially older people.
A man said Brexit made no difference.
The UK and Spain have different views on migrants.
A young man named Scarlett Wright thinks Brexit had a bad impact.
Scarlett Wright said crime and prices have increased.
The UK's decline since Brexit is often called 'Broken Britain'.
A political scientist named Tim Bale said Brexit caused polarization.
Tim Bale said voters are looking for radical solutions.
Some people support non-traditional parties like the Greens or Reform UK.
Reform UK won many seats in local elections, while the Labour Party lost.
The UK had its sixth leader in seven years after Keir Starmer resigned.
The UK's economy is smaller than it would have been if it stayed in the EU.
Some sectors like tech and finance are doing well, but others are struggling.
Agriculture and transportation are facing worker shortages and higher prices.
A man named Wright said cheese prices have increased.
The promise of more money for the National Health Service was not kept.
A doctor named Linda Harris said her team is 'firefighting' health issues.
Experts say the UK's experience should be a warning for Canada.
Alberta is considering a referendum on separating from Canada.
Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney said separation would be bad for the economy.
Flags are symbols in the Alberta separation debate.
Alberta's situation is similar to the UK's Brexit experience.
A man named Ian Cooper said referendums can be divisive.
Ian Cooper warned that referendums can lead to polarization and division.
Cooper said voters may not understand the consequences of their vote.
Anand Menon said Brexit is about trade-offs and compromise.
Menon said every option has a cost, whether it's economic or political.
Some people thought a closer partnership with the US could replace EU ties.
But Menon said the US is not a reliable partner.
The world has changed since 2016, making Brexit less beneficial.
Many Britons now wonder if they should have a second Brexit referendum.
A recent poll showed 55% of Britons want to rejoin the EU.
The next prime minister may decide if the UK can rejoin the EU.
Andy Burnham, the front-runner, wants the UK to rejoin the EU.
Burnham won a byelection and may become the next prime minister.
The debate about rejoining the EU is still volatile.
Some parties want to return to the single market, while others oppose it.
A baker named Gary Foreman is cautious about another Brexit vote.
Foreman said they did not get what they were promised.
Foreman worries about the acrimony a second vote would cause.
Foreman thinks another vote would be close.
The UK's experience is a warning for Canada about the consequences of referendums.
Rejoining a union is harder than leaving it.