https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGBlZKeilWk
Last week we were delighted to welcome one of Britain’s leading psephologists and political academics, Professor Rob Ford, for a CapX Live webinar about his new book Brexitland, which is garnering rave reviews from across the political spectrum.
In the book, Rob and co-author Maria Sobolewska show how Brexit was the culmination of decades of profound social change in Britain, thanks to a combination of mass immigration, rising ethnic diversity and the expansion of higher education. And while the process of Brexit may be drawing to an end, the referendum revealed new tribes and political identities which will continue to shape our politics for years to come.
In a fascinating hour, Rob began by setting out some of the data underpinning his book, including the shifts in demography and attitudes that realigned British politics and ultimately led to us leaving the EU. We then discussed the contours of the new identity he identifies, the particular challenges of Scottish politics and the chances of a Brexit-like event in Europe.
As we reflect on the decade since the EU referendum, one question is seemingly on everyone’s lips – was it worth it? I answer this with an unequivocal yes. Brexit has definitely been worth it. When I speak to people, the motivation behind this question often seems to be driven by a feeling that politicians […]
I was going to open this column by listing the soppy reasons I was a Remainer: the EU represented a model of tolerance, compassion and partnership that would contribute to a more peaceful world; Brexit was revolutionary, therefore unconservative; abandoning our closest trade partnership would harm the economy. These are all perfectly good arguments which […]
Ten years ago, the EU referendum created two new political tribes: Leavers and Remainers. As Sara Hobolt and I show in our new book ‘Tribal Politics: How Brexit divided Britain’, both tribes are very much still with us. Even today, about 60% of people in Britain identify as a Remainer or a Leaver, and people’s […]
