10 Years of Brexit

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• News
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• BTEC, GCSE

Introduction

It's ten years since the historic Brexit vote - to leave the European Union. In this lesson learners can explore the political consequences of Brexit that have reverberated through the decade. Creating rifts across the country and impacting business, politics, the economy and even families, your learners will definitely have an opinion!

10 years of Brexit

1

Yes

2

No

Did you know the Brexit vote was ten years ago?

How do you feel about this news?

Lesson Objectives

• Understand why the UK voted to leave the European Union ten years ago and the political instability that has followed.

• Evaluate whether Brexit fulfilled its core promises or permanently fractured British political trust and social unity.

In one word, how would you describe the state of British politics ten years after the Brexit vote?

Background

What?

The tenth anniversary of the historic 2016 referendum where citizens voted to leave the European Union, sparking a decade of intense political chaos.

Where?

Across the UK, exposing deep, lasting geographical and political rifts between nations, cities, and rural towns .

Who?

UK voters, successive governments under 7 different prime ministers, the EU, and rising populist parties capitalising on public distrust of the establishment.

Background

Ten years after the historic referendum victory, Brexit remains Britain’s ultimate political earthquake.

Promised economic renewal and strict border controls instead triggered unprecedented institutional chaos, culminating in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s sudden resignation.

Traditional political party dominance has completely fractured, replaced by deep social polarisation, a cynical electorate, and fierce populist rage that has permanently transformed contemporary British society.

1

Returned power

2

Political chaos

3

Not sure

Has Brexit genuinely returned power to ordinary British citizens, or did it simply unleash a decade of permanent political chaos and social division?

BREXIT BENEFITS

BREXIT DISADVANTAGES

Can you think of Brexit benefits?

What are the disadvantages?

If net migration increased after leaving the EU and political stability collapsed, did the UK actually achieve what voters were promised in 2016?

Explain your viewpoint.

1

Leave

2

Remain

If you could have voted in the 2016 what would you have chosen?

Key Concepts

Referendum: A direct, nationwide vote by the electorate on a single political question or policy decision.

Net Migration: The difference between the number of people entering a country to live and the number of people leaving it.

Political Fragmentation: The breaking apart of traditional political parties or systems into smaller, competing factions or special interest groups.

Sovereignty: The supreme authority or independent power of a state to govern itself entirely without external interference.

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