What happened (and what the data claims to show after Brexit)
The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union (Brexit) is often assessed against two major promises: controlling net migration and improving UK trade performance. A 2026 analysis-style data piece evaluates these promises by comparing pre- and post-Brexit trends and by considering the timing alongside major shocks such as COVID-19 and the post-Ukraine-invasion energy-price period.
The analysis also highlights political context: since the 2016 Brexit referendum, the United Kingdom has had an unusually rapid turnover of prime ministers. The analysis treats this political volatility as context for interpreting whether Brexit produced the promised outcomes.
Migration: “Take back control” versus the post-2021 net migration trend
Key migration claims made in the analysis are as follows:
- EU free movement ends in January 2021 (as described in the analysis).
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