When I started writing, I never really intended to write about politics on The CP Diary. I've never been particularly interested in talking about politics, let alone trying to understand all its complexities. But I was left with little choice. It was beginning to affect my mental health. Politics is not something you can simply walk past, particularly in 2026 and against the backdrop of today's political climate.
Sometimes, what is happening around us becomes too important to ignore. The decisions being made, the questions left unanswered and the consequences for ordinary people inevitably bring politics into everyday life. And Brexit is one of those issues that simply refuses to go away.
Brexit has become the elephant in the room. You know it's there, but it simply refuses to leave. Ten years on, it is still making headlines, but often for all the wrong reasons. Its aftermath has not gone away either. Instead, the consequences and unanswered questions continue to build, becoming harder to contain and increasingly difficult for politicians to ignore.
This article isn't about criticising those who voted Leave or dismissing those who voted Remain. People made their decisions based on what they were told during the referendum campaign: the claim that leaving the EU would free up £350 million a week for the NHS. Assurances that leaving would restore control over Britain's laws, borders and money, and arguments that Brexit would give the country greater freedom to determine its own future.
On the other side, voters were warned about the potential economic costs, the impact on jobs and household finances, and the uncertainty of leaving the EU. But what people believed, what they wanted for Britain and their own political ideologies also played a significant part in how they interpreted those claims and promises.
But democracy depends on honesty. And when decisions of such magnitude shape a country and its future, those who lead the debate must be prepared to account for what they promised, what they delivered and what went wrong.
This is where the British public have been badly let down.
Brexit was never the responsibility of one person alone. David Cameron called the referendum in 2016, having originally promised it in response to growing pressure within his own party. Nigel Farage became one of the most prominent voices championing Britain's departure, while Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and others played influential roles in persuading the public to vote Leave. Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and subsequent governments have all had their part in shaping what followed.
Nigel Farage's role deserves particular attention. As one of Brexit's most prominent campaigners, he helped keep immigration, sovereignty and Britain's relationship with Europe at the centre of the debate. Although he did not lead the officially designated Leave campaign, his influence was significant. He continued to champion Brexit long after the referendum, and his role in shaping the debate should not be overlooked when examining what happened and who should be held accountable. These are significant contributions to the Brexit debate, and they should not be ignored when considering accountability.
Yet, ten years on, there is still no shared political acceptance of what went wrong, who should take responsibility or whether leaving the EU was a mistake.
Even now, politicians remain divided over how Brexit should be judged and what Britain's future relationship with Europe should look like. The public are left watching political parties defend different positions, while the more fundamental questions about promises, consequences and accountability remain unresolved.
The promises were enormous. The consequences far-reaching. Yet, over the years, we have witnessed political defensiveness, shifting responsibility and a reluctance to confront the reality of what happened.
Where is the acknowledgement of misleading claims, broken promises and decisions whose consequences were not properly understood or explained? Where are the honest explanations? Where is accountability? What happened to integrity and morality? Was the referendum really in our best interests?
How long can those responsible continue to defend the indefensible rather than confront the consequences?
Our intelligence should never have been underestimated. Our trust should never have been treated as expendable. We are entitled to honesty, not another carefully constructed political explanation.
If mistakes were made, acknowledge them. If the public was misled, say so. If decisions have damaged our prospects, explain why. And where an apology is deserved, have the integrity to offer one.
An apology is not weakness. It is accountability.
The world has not stood still while British politics has remained caught up in the arguments of Brexit.
We face economic uncertainty, international instability, environmental challenges and rapidly changing global relationships. Cooperation, influence and the ability to work with our neighbours matter more than ever.
We should be asking whether Britain is equipped to meet these challenges and whether our political leadership is thinking beyond the next election.
My concern is not simply what Brexit may already have cost us.
How long can those responsible continue defending the past, rather than confronting the truth? Or are they simply defending the lie?
The Office for Budget Responsibility continues to estimate that the UK's post-Brexit trading relationship will reduce long-term productivity by around 4%, with both exports and imports around 15% lower than they would have been had the UK remained in the EU. These are estimates against a hypothetical alternative, rather than actual falls in productivity or trade. They nevertheless raise important questions about the long-term economic consequences of the decision. (OBR, 2026).
We can make informed assessments of what the alternative would have delivered. We have the evidence, the economic comparisons and the experience of countries that remained within the EU. What we should not do is use uncertainty as an excuse to avoid an honest assessment of what Brexit has cost Britain.
Public trust is not unlimited. Once lost, it is difficult to rebuild.
When politicians avoid responsibility, change their explanations or refuse to acknowledge the consequences of their decisions, they damage more than their own credibility. They risk damaging confidence in democracy itself.
This is bigger than Brexit. It is about the standards we expect from those entrusted with governing our country.
Our children and grandchildren will inherit the consequences of today's decisions. They deserve leadership that values truth, protects international relationships, plans for long-term security and recognises that political responsibility extends far beyond an individual's career.
We cannot change the past, but we can demand that it is confronted honestly.
Ten years on, the British public should not still have to fight for answers. Those who made the promises, those who implemented the decisions and those who have governed since must be prepared to account for their actions.
No more evasion. No more passing the responsibility. No more treating difficult questions as political inconveniences.
We are not asking politicians to be infallible. We are asking them to be honest.
We deserve the truth, we deserve accountability and, where it is warranted, we deserve an apology.
Because this is Britain. These decisions were made in our name. And the future belongs to all of us, not just those who hold political power today.
If we cannot find the courage to confront the mistakes of our past, how can we possibly trust ourselves to protect our future?
The referendum campaign and misleading claims
The economic consequences
Parliamentary scrutiny and accountability
Britain's relationship with Europe ten years on
