A decade after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, the profound personal divisions sparked by the referendum continue to affect family relationships across the country. Many individuals who voted to remain in the EU are reflecting on the lasting impact of the 2016 decision on their loved ones, with some describing ongoing rifts and others recounting difficult compromises to maintain familial bonds.
For some, the resentment over a family member's Leave vote remains palpable. Al Moore, a 58-year-old Londoner who voted Remain, expressed a degree of resentment towards his late father's decision to vote Leave. Moore believes his father's vote, which he viewed as a protest against perceived German supremacy, ultimately went against the interests of his own children and grandchildren. While he maintained closeness with his father, the topic of Brexit became largely unaddressed between them. Moore, a data scientist, fears that many of the negative outcomes he anticipated, such as a fractured Europe and a struggling UK, have come to pass.
The intensity of these divisions is echoed by Sally, a 55-year-old from South Wales, who states that the 'family rift' over Brexit is as strong now as it was on the day of the referendum. Her mother-in-law's vote for Brexit, made with the stated intention of protecting her grandchildren, is seen by Sally as having denied them opportunities she and her husband once had. This fundamental disagreement has made open discussion impossible, leading to a strained relationship where extended time together is challenging. Sally, who works in computing and previously lived in the EU, views Brexit as a demonstration of how simplistic slogans and prejudice can be manipulated by politicians.
Even within immediate families, the referendum created deep personal struggles. Jane, a retired resident of Greater Manchester, described her experience as 'painful' and 'lonely'. As a Remain voter, she found herself an outlier among her late husband, mother, sisters, nieces, nephews, and stepson, all of whom voted Leave. Jane attempted to persuade her family of the potential pitfalls of Brexit but felt she failed. She recalls tension with her late husband during the campaign, and that both he and one of her sisters later expressed regret, having believed their protest votes would not ultimately lead to a Leave victory.
These personal accounts highlight the enduring and often unspoken impact of the 2016 referendum on the fabric of British society. While the political landscape has shifted significantly in the intervening years, the emotional and relational consequences for many families continue to resonate, shaping interactions and sometimes creating permanent divides.