Brexit

Fireworks over Palace of Westminster seen from South Bank

What Britain looks like after Brexit

It’s 24 June, 2025, and Britain is marking its annual Independence Day celebration. As the fireworks stream through the summer sky, still not quite dark, we wonder why it took us so long to leave. The years that followed the 2016 referendum didn’t just reinvigorate our economy, our democracy and our liberty. They improved relations with our neighbours.

George Osborne and Philip Hammond

George Osborne looks like toast

No-one can accuse the Chancellor of the Exchequer of failing to throw everything at rescuing the campaign to keep the UK in the EU. His latest contribution is to threaten an emergency budget within weeks of a Brexit vote, in which he says he would increase taxes and cut spending.