The document summarizes views from an Ipsos online community on Brexit 5 years after the referendum vote. Most people feel they have not noticed significant changes from Brexit yet and think the pandemic has overshadowed its effects. While some notice higher costs or shipping delays from EU countries, many are still confused about attributing rising prices to Brexit or Covid. There remains a divide between those who voted Leave and Remain, with both sides still convinced of their views despite most saying they have not been personally affected much either way. Overall, uncertainty persists around how Brexit will truly impact daily life.

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BRINGING YOU
NEWS FROM OUR
VIRTUAL STREET
The Beat is an Ipsos always on community of engaged
consumers, representative of the UK population, for rapid
understanding of consumer views.
In this edition, we will explore people’s views on the
Brexit vote 5 years on, and how they feel about the
vote they made

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Dealing with Covid-19 has become the
priority for many, overshadowing other
political needs, including Brexit. The
unforeseen extremity of the pandemic
has taken all by surprise, diverting
people’s attention away from the vote
and its repercussions.
Many feel Covid-19
has put Brexit on the
back-burner
I voted for Brexit and to be honest, I think
the disruption has been minimal compared
to the disruption caused by the pandemic.
That’s not to say Brexit has not caused
some levels of disruption… In all fairness,
the pandemic affected trade far more than
Brexit ever could have (Female, 45-54)
I’m not sure I’ve noticed any impact at all
to be honest I get pretty confused if I’m
completely honest with Brexit . Although
I’ve noticed food in supermarkets a little
more expensive whether that’s anything to
do with it, I’ve no idea (Female, 35-44)
Despite being 5 years down the
line, people from both sides notice
little significant change despite the
dramatic debate surrounding the
vote. Many think this is attributable
to the pandemic disrupting the
global norms.
I voted to leave the European Union and I would
do so again. I haven’t really noticed anything
different. My life goes on, I still have
employment, I have a nice flat and nothing has
really changed for me (Female, 65+)
Well Brexit hasn't really taken hold yet, but it
was the best thing we could do, to leave. I think
it has really gone on the back burner because of
Covid but it will soon start to be mentioned
again (Male, 45-54)
There is confusion
over what has caused
what
Many now struggle to attribute rising
prices to Covid or Brexit - the social
and political lines have blurred.
The lack of international travel has also
meant people are yet to see the real
travel implications of leaving the EU.
It has been 5 years since the
referendum and we are out of
the transition period, but
many feel they haven’t yet
noticed the full effects of
Brexit

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Materials for the farm are erratic in supply and
costs have soared. Some of this is not Covid - it
is also Brexit and the Suez Canal being
blocked. Goods coming from Europe are taking
longer. Workers from Europe have gone home,
and local farms are struggling to find people to
work with the crops (Female, 45-54, SME owner)
I voted to leave and would do it a hundred times
over if it meant leaving all the red tape of the EU
behind us. It's high time that we got the Great
back in Britain and started to be proud of our
manufacturing, engineering and production of
quality, British products (Female, 55-64)
I'm beginning to feel the true impact of that vote in
terms of my purchasing experiences. I used to be able
to buy goods from overseas easily and didn't even
give a thought to things like customs and stuff. Now,
I'm finding it difficult not think about it, as some of my
long-standing suppliers from abroad are adding
charges on top of the price of the products; some
even won't send their goods over to the UK anymore
(Male, 35-44, self-employed programmer)
Some have noticed shipping
delays and higher costs when
buying products from the EU, for
both personal and business
needs.
There is, however, a general
feeling that that Britain will now be
“freer” in terms of implementing
our own laws and cutting free from
EU red tape.
Negative impacts on fishing rights
and freedoms were also
discussed. Many also mentioned it
is now harder to export fish to the
EU.

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Those in favour of Leave lean towards
new trade deals, the success of the UK’s
vaccination programme and Britain’s
ability to set their own laws. However, the
majority say they are yet to be personally
affected by the outcome in any way.
Leavers point to…
Trade deals are being stuck worldwide. The
vaccine rollout has been a great success. It
has proved that we are better off making
our own decisions rather than relying on
the European Commission and the
European Medicines Agency. The EU has
been very cumbersome and slow. We’re
out, free and signing trade deals. The rest of
the world is almost knocking down the door
of Downing Street to have conversations
with us about trade (Male, 25-34)
The fishing industry now knows the low
value of Brexit - it has helped to decimate
their industry and the UK farmers are
about to find out the same thing. I see no
benefits to Brexit whatsoever and I am still
waiting for anyone that supported Brexit to
tell me otherwise (Male, 65+, retired)
Despite the lack of felt change
around Brexit, a gap remains
between Remainers and Leavers
I voted the same way as I did in 1975 and am
as convinced as I was then that the UK is better
off independently as a nation when we make
our own decisions, rather than being told by
somebody else who's culture bears little
resemblance to ours (Male, 55-64, retired)
I voted to leave. It has not affected me at all as I
never travel abroad and some say it will be
harder to have free movement now and the EU
countries, but I feel free of it all and prefer to be
the island on our own with our rules not being
told what to do by other countries (Female, 65+)
Whereas Remainers
point out...
On the other hand, Remainers point to
rising costs of goods, the restriction of
freedom of movement with reduced
opportunities to travel and work abroad.
They sense rising tensions within the UK
(e.g. Scottish Independence), raising
concerns that leaving the EU has
increased division rather than promoted
unity.
Regardless of the tangible
differences the Brexit vote has
made (or not made), a gap still
exists between Remainers and
Leavers, with each party feeling
passionate about the
benefits/drawbacks to be felt in the
future as a result of the vote.
It now means that our young people will find
it much harder to work and study in Europe.
Personally, I have not seen one benefit from
leaving the EU (Female, 55-64)

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Overall, uncertainty prevails. People generally
think the full impacts of Brexit are yet to be felt,
with Covid-19 putting the topic on the back
burner. Whist tensions between Remain and
Leave views remain for many – we are all
watching and waiting to see what this really
means for our day to day lives
Most voters are sticking to their guns, with both Leavers and
Remainers firm in their assertion that they would vote the same
today as they did 5 years ago.
We definitely need to know more
and for it to be made more
understandable in terms of day-
to-day life living. The whole
bigger picture is confusing
(Female, 25-34)
Personally, I have yet to really be
hit with any impacts from the
result of Brexit - other than
seeing some media/news around
things regarding fishermen and
how this has affected their rights
and freedoms. I would still vote
the same way - although I was
not as educated as I am now
(Male, 18-24)
There is a common call to
understand more about how
Brexit will effect our daily lives.
The current lack of understanding
around its real impacts is adding
to the existing sense of
uncertainty since the pandemic,
evoking feelings of confusion and
anxiety about the future.

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Ipsos always-on online community enabling rapid research
Beccy Stamp
Business Lead for Online Communities
+44 7855 744610
Beccy.Stamp@ipsos.com
Alina Emelyanenko
Community Strategist, Director
+44 7980 918343
Alina.Emelyanenko@ipsos.com
Nicole Pilcher
Associate Director Online Communities
+44 77327 66629
Nicole.pilcher@ipsos.com