The Brexit Effect, 2016-2026 edited by Anthony Seldon review – life without EU
This review argues that *The Brexit Effect, 2016-2026*, a large essay collection edited by Anthony Seldon, offers an important establishment verdict on Brexit but fails to confront one of the reviewer’s central explanations for it: English nationalism. That omission matters, the review says, because it leaves the book unable to explain both why Brexit happened in the first place and why Nigel Farage remains politically influential even as many Leave voters now see Brexit as a failure.
The reviewer says the collection contains 43 contributors and runs to 600 pages, yet mentions “English nationalism” only once and has no dedicated essays on England or Farage. Citing Peter Kellner, the piece notes that a third of Leave voters now think Brexit has failed, while a quarter of those people say Farage is very responsible for that disappointment. It also points to a Stanford study estimating that by 2025 Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, cut investment by 12% to 18%, and lowered employment and productivity by 3% to 4%, while immigration rose to record levels after Brexit despite promises of tighter control.
In short
- Review says the book misses English nationalism’s role in Brexit
- Brexit is presented as an economic and political failure
- Farage remains influential despite growing voter disillusionment
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
English nationalism was the fundamental impulse driving the Leave vote, and without centring this concept, any comprehensive retrospective fails to answer its own central question—why did Brexit occur in the first place? A collection that mentions nationalism only once across 600 pages and 43 contributors cannot credibly explain why Farage remains politically influential even as many Leave voters now regret their choice. If the book aspires to be an establishment verdict, it must grapple with the nationalist sentiment that motivated the original decision.
The case against
A retrospective's editorial choices reflect legitimate judgments about analytical focus, and examining Brexit's concrete consequences—economic, regulatory, and social—is a perfectly valid priority. The book need not centre nationalism simply because the reviewer believes it should; indeed, focusing on the factual outcomes that have disappointed Leave voters may be more illuminating than debating ideological origins. The presence or absence of Farage's name is less important than whether the book adequately explains the tangible reasons voters now view Brexit as a failure.
Explained simply
In 2016, British voters decided to leave the European Union after decades of membership. The referendum was driven by the Leave campaign, championed by figures including Nigel Farage, which promised economic benefits and tighter immigration controls.
A decade later, assessing Brexit's actual impact on the economy, immigration, and society remains one of the most contested questions in British politics. Whether the promised benefits have been delivered is important for understanding current political divisions and future policy debates.
A major essay collection examining the past decade of post-referendum Britain has been published. Edited by Anthony Seldon and featuring contributions from 43 experts across 600 pages, the book attempts to provide an authoritative assessment of how the country has changed.