Working to make government more effective

Insight paper

The Brexit Effect: How government has changed since the EU referendum

How the “Brexit Effect” has changed government, parliament and politics since the 2016 vote.

Theresa May in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate

On 23 June 2016, the British public voted, narrowly, to leave the EU. The momentous decision set the UK on a course for the most significant change to the UK’s relationship with its closest trading partner in a generation. Few would have predicted, however, that attempting to implement the referendum result would have such a profound impact on government, even before the act of leaving.

Published on 29 March 2019, the day that the UK was originally scheduled to leave, this report takes a step back. It provides a ‘snapshot’ of six main areas, setting out how the “Brexit Effect” has changed government, parliament and politics since the 2016 vote.

The report looks in turn at:

  • ministers
  • civil service
  • public bodies
  • money
  • devolution
  • parliament.

Related content

02 APR 2024 Insight paper

Where next for levelling up?

This short paper highlights five key challenges that any government seeking to reduce regional inequalities will need to address.