•             In this essay, I will present 3 or more reasons, citing textual evidence that answers the essential question, “What were the reasons the British people chose to leave the EU?”, and close with how it relates to today.

     

                First of all, one reason that influenced the people of the UK to support Brexit was the benefits it offered to many groups. “Whether you are a rail nationaliser, a women’s warrior, a fuel poverty campaigner, NHS manager, animal rights activist, a public procurer, a commuter between Belfast and London, or someone who used to enjoy duty free on trips to Costa del Sol - there could be something in Brexit for you,” (Browne, 15) which highlights how individuals from various backgrounds could find leaving the EU appealing. This explains how Brexit was not solely driven by a single group or background. Instead, it provided many different perspectives and advantages that appealed to a vast majority of the population. Brexit showed the different types of reasons leaving the EU could be a decision for the better, which ended up having it be carried out. Browne’s article, “17 Reasons to Love Brexit” highlights how Brexit had the ability to answer to a range of issues and concerns from the British population. Brexit also was able to gather support from a diverse range of people, who all sought leaving the EU in order to address their own issues. By mentioning various examples such as rail nationaliser,s women’s rights advocates, fuel poverty campaigners, NHS managers, animal rights activists, public procurers, and commuters, Browne shows how Brexit was found appealing and therefore carried out by the British population.

     

                Second, another crucial reason that influenced the people of the UK to support Brexit was the desire for more control over immigration. “They believed that leaving the EU would give them more control over immigration and keep out people who mant British citizens harm,” (Biscontini, 122) says Tracey Vasil Biscontini in her article “Economic Discontent.” This indicates how concerns about immigration played a significant role in making sure Brexit was carried out. Biscontini showed that Brexit supporters perceived leaving the EU as a way to regain control and determine their own immigration policies instead of having to give up power to bow down to the it. This piece of evidence also indicates the issue of immigration was an issue that resonated with a significant majority of the British population. By leaving the EU, Brexit supporters believed they could have stricter regulations that could overall contribute to the safety of their country. Their perspective was shared with many other groups, who in turn agreed with Brexit. This desire for more control over immigration emerged as a significant reason for the fueling of Brexit, as it addressed topics like control, security, and safety.

     

                Third, “Although leaving the EU could allow the UK to restrict immigration, it also would restrict European investment and collaboration,” says Noah Berlatsky in his article “Populist Backlash.” This evidence shows how the decision of Brexit was not one-sided, as it involved weighing the pros and cons of increased control and reduced cooperation. Meaning that while leaving the EU could give the UK more control over who comes into their country, it could also have some negative effects on the economy and cooperation with other European countries. The pros and cons made the decision of Brexit not a simple one. It involved thinking about the good and not-so-good things that could happen. On one hand, maybe half of the population believe that controlling immigration was really important for UK’s safety. But on the other, leaving the EU might make it harder for the UK to work together with the other European countries with trading and investments. Concluding, deciding whether to support Brexit or not meant thinking about the positives and negatives, making it a complex decision. 


                In conclusion, the reasons behind the British population’s choice to leave the EU were interconnected. Brexit appealed to many groups and offered benefits to people with diverse backgrounds. The ability of Brexit to address many issues meant that there would be more support from the population. Furthermore, the desire for more control over immigration emerged as another important reason for Brexit to be carried out. Leaving the EU would allow the UK to regain control over immigration policies and increase safety, but it would also mean restricting European investment and collaboration. The choice to support Brexit required heavily weighing the pros and cons and considering both sides of the argument. This relates to today because the final decision of the British population continues to shape the political and economic situation in the EU. The decision to leave the EU has shown the importance of weighing the pros and cons. The lessons learned from Brexit serve as a reminder of the complexities of the political and economic world to this day.