The Brexit referendum 2016 resulted in a narrow victory for leaving the EU, with 52% voting to leave. The UK officially departed from the EU on January 31, 2020, after a process initiated by the British Prime Minister. Boris Johnson emerged as the most prominent supporter of Brexit, while Michel Barnier and David Davis led negotiations for the EU and UK respectively. The referendum highlighted key arguments for both leaving and remaining in the EU, touching on issues such as immigration control, trade independence, sovereignty, and economic benefits.
• The Leave campaign emphasized control over borders, independent trade deals, and regaining sovereignty.
• The Remain side argued for the necessity of EU workers, the importance of EU trade, and the benefits of shared sovereignty.
• Economic considerations were central to both arguments, with differing views on the UK's financial relationship with the EU.
• The close result (51.9% Leave vs 48.1% Remain) reflected a deeply divided nation on the issue of EU membership.