Five Years After Brexit: Extreme Immigration the Most Remarkable Result of UK's Departure from EU

london - High immigration levels in the UK post-Brexit prevent economic downturn, experts say.

High Immigration Levels Post-Brexit

The extreme influx of immigrants in the UK in recent years is the most remarkable result of Brexit, preventing a more severe economic impact. According to Jonathan Portes, an Economics professor at King's College, London, high immigration levels have helped maintain economic growth despite Brexit concerns.

'The Brexit Files' research, involving dozens of scholars, highlights the effects of Brexit five years after the UK's official departure from the EU.

Control over borders was a key factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum, leading to a significant decrease in immigration from Eastern European EU countries. However, the UK government under Prime Minister Boris Johnson expanded criteria for Asian and Commonwealth immigration, resulting in a record net immigration of over 900,000 in 2023.

Immigration isn't the sole reason for sustained growth in the UK. Experts admit to being overly pessimistic pre-Brexit, with concerns about London losing its financial hub status unfounded. Sara Hagemann, a Political Science professor at the University of Copenhagen, notes London's continued dominance in finance, though Paris has gained importance in recent years.

Smaller businesses in the industry have been hardest hit by Brexit, struggling to comply with new regulations post-EU exit. This has impacted goods export to the EU significantly.

Political analyst John Curtice observes little urgency in addressing Brexit, with the Labour party still striving to regain lost voters. Despite public support for EU membership, there's reluctance to reopen Brexit discussions due to the contentious nature of the topic.