Larry Elliott Reasserts Brexit Case 10 Years On, Citing EU’s 13.5% Growth Against US 87%
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 23
Larry Elliott Reasserts Brexit Case 10 Years On, Citing EU’s 13.5% Growth Against US 87%
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 23
Summary
Ten years after the referendum, Guardian columnist Larry Elliott renewed his leftwing defense of Brexit, arguing the vote still offers Britain a chance to break with a failed economic model.
His case starts with Europe’s weak record: since the financial crisis, the US economy has grown 87% versus the EU’s 13.5%, which he says undermines the traditional economic argument for membership.
Elliott also challenges the Office for Budget Responsibility’s estimate that Brexit leaves the UK 4% smaller over 15 years, pointing to Jeremy Hunt’s view that matching US-style growth was implausible.
He argues Brexit created policy room for measures such as steel tariffs and lower duties on 100 food imports, steps he says would have been harder under single-market rules.
The column frames Brexit as a class-driven revolt against deindustrialisation, austerity and technocratic politics, while warning that leaving the EU created only an opportunity for change, not a guarantee.
Ten years later, has Brexit's economic opportunity been realised or has it simply deepened the UK's decline?
Why did Brexit’s 'howl of anger' empower the populist right instead of the progressive left?
The UK After Brexit: Growth Gaps, Political Fragmentation, and Lessons for Global Bloc Exits
Overview
This report explores the complex economic relationship between the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, highlighting how the US has consistently outperformed the EU in GDP growth over the past 25 years. The persistent gap is largely due to Europe's slower productivity growth, which has led to weaker improvements in living standards and a decline in global economic influence. The analysis shows that deeper structural issues, especially in productivity, are widening the divide between the US and EU economies. These findings set the stage for understanding the broader debates on growth, costs, and policy choices in the transatlantic context.