Brexit: The Plot Twist No One Stopped Talking About

Brexit will forever feel like that moment when you open Instagram and see that a member of the popular boy band decided to leave and go solo (Yes, YOU Harry Styles). You just know it's going to leave the world arguing about whether it was right or not.

When the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, it wasn’t just a policy shift; it was a redefinition of identity, responsibility, and what “taking back control” actually looks like.

Since the formal departure in 2020, the UK has been navigating its new storyline with a mix of adaptation and recalibration.

The motivations behind Brexit were complex: a desire for national sovereignty, more direct control over borders and immigration, and the freedom to create independent trade deals. While some felt the EU restricted the UK’s autonomy, others worried about the risks of leaving a powerful political and economic bloc.

Fast forward a few years, and the outcomes are still being shaped:

Trade? The UK has struck its own deals, but adjusting supply chains hasn’t been without bumps.

Immigration? A new points-based system has been introduced, and EU free movement ended.

Travel & youth exchange? Programmes like Erasmus were replaced with alternatives like Turing-different, but trying to fill the gap.

Politics? Brexit reignited conversations in Scotland and Northern Ireland about regional identity and governance.

Global standing? The UK continues to be a major diplomatic player such is in in NATO, the G7, the UN Security Council , but with a more independent voice.

For young people, Brexit means rethinking what it means to be European and British. It also invites deeper reflection on sovereignty, interdependence, and global citizenship - all super relevant for anyone curious about international relations.

Brexit isn’t a punchline, it’s a case study. And for students like us, it’s a front-row seat to how politics, identity, and diplomacy evolve in real time. Fingers crossed :)

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