Key Points
- Haringey voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, reflecting strong local opposition to Brexit.
- Liberal Democrats consistently warned that leaving the EU would cause great harm, damage now evident in economic struggles.
- Conservatives’ botched Brexit deal burdened UK businesses with millions of new customs forms, costing £1.8 billion per year.
- Labour, despite voting for the Conservative deal in December 2020, clings to ‘Make Brexit Work’ policy.
- A new UK-EU Customs Union could boost the economy by an estimated £25 billion per year by reducing red tape and trade barriers.
- Labour government refuses to consider a Customs Union, perpetuating slower growth, public service cuts, and higher taxes.
- UK GDP is at least four per cent lower than if the country had remained in the EU, equating to £1.7 billion per week in lost output.
- Brexit supporters promised global trade deals to compensate for lost EU trade, but deals with Australia and New Zealand will increase GDP by just 0.1% over the next decade—less than one month’s shrinkage.
- Last month, a Liberal Democrat parliamentary motion for a Customs Union passed narrowly, 101 votes to 100, with only 16 Labour MPs voting in favour; Haringey’s MPs all abstained.
- Elected representatives must admit Brexit damage and change course; a Customs Union offers the fastest path to growth and better public services.
- Voters have the democratic right to change minds, with many regretting votes for Boris Johnson in 2019 or Keir Starmer in 2024.
- Author believes many Leave voters have reconsidered, urging Labour MPs to listen or face ballot box consequences this year.
Brexit at 10: Calls Grow to Rethink Exit and Revive Growth
Haringey, North London News, 12 January 2026 – Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Liberal Democrat voices from Haringey are demanding a fundamental rethink of Britain’s EU departure to halt economic decline and unleash growth. Local campaigners highlight Haringey’s overwhelming Remain vote and decry the lasting damage from a botched Conservative deal now compounded by Labour’s refusal to explore a UK-EU Customs Union. With GDP £1.7 billion lower weekly than if the UK had stayed in the EU, pressure mounts on MPs to act amid voter regret.
The call for reversal gains urgency as businesses grapple with £1.8 billion annual customs form costs, while global trade promises from Brexit advocates fall flat. A recent Liberal Democrat motion for a Customs Union scraped through Parliament 101-100, exposing party divides.
Why Did Haringey Oppose Brexit So Strongly?
Haringey residents voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union during the 2016 referendum, a stance that Liberal Democrats, the UK’s most pro-European party, have championed for years. These warnings of great harm from leaving have proven prescient, with economic damage now starkly evident across the borough and nation.
The Liberal Democrats consistently led the fight against Brexit, predicting disruptions that have since materialised in trade barriers and slowed growth. In Haringey, this local Remain stronghold feels the pinch acutely, as North London businesses face new red tape daily.
What Damage Has the Conservative Brexit Deal Caused?
The Conservatives’ botched Brexit deal has saddled UK businesses with literally millions of new customs forms, imposing an annual cost of £1.8 billion just to complete them. This bureaucratic burden hampers efficiency and competitiveness, particularly for exporters in areas like Haringey.
Supporters once argued Brexit would free the UK for global deals, but outcomes disappoint: trade pacts with Australia and New Zealand together promise a mere 0.1% GDP boost over the next decade—the same as one month’s economic shrinkage last October.
How Has Labour Responded to Brexit’s Fallout?
Labour voted for the Conservative Brexit deal in December 2020, yet under the current government, the party stubbornly clings to its ‘Make Brexit Work’ policy. This approach refuses a UK-EU Customs Union, which experts estimate could add £25 billion yearly to the economy by slashing red tape and barriers.
The Labour government’s stance traps Britain in a damaging cycle: slower growth leads to public service cuts and higher taxes, exacerbating economic woes. Last month’s Liberal Democrat motion for a Customs Union passed narrowly at 101 votes to 100, but only 16 Labour MPs supported it, with all of Haringey’s MPs abstaining on this pivotal economic issue.
What Economic Losses Stem from Brexit?
The UK’s GDP now trails at least four per cent below where it would stand had the country remained in the EU, translating to a staggering £1.7 billion lost each week. This shortfall underscores the referendum’s long-term toll on prosperity.
In Haringey, where Remain sentiment ran high, these figures hit home amid rising costs and stagnant wages. A Customs Union stands as the fastest, most practical remedy to reclaim billions in unnecessary expenses and fund public services without relentless tax hikes.
Why Did the Customs Union Motion Pass by Such a Slim Margin?
Last month, a Liberal Democrat parliamentary motion advocating a UK-EU Customs Union triumphed by the slimmest of margins: 101 votes to 100. This razor-thin victory highlights deep divisions, as only 16 Labour MPs backed the measure despite its potential to erase billions in economic drag.
Crucially, the vast majority of Labour MPs abstained, including every representative from Haringey. This absence on a question of major economic import drew sharp criticism from pro-EU campaigners.
Should Elected Representatives Admit Brexit’s Failures?
Our elected representatives must show honesty about the damage inflicted by Brexit and summon the bravery to alter course. A UK-EU Customs Union emerges as the swiftest path to economic revitalisation, enabling proper funding for public services and breaking the tax-rise spiral.
In a democracy, voters hold the right to reconsider, and many who backed Boris Johnson in 2019 or Keir Starmer in 2024 now rue those choices. The author asserts that numerous Leave voters have similarly shifted views on Brexit.
Are Labour MPs Listening to Voter Concerns?
The pressing question remains: are Labour MPs truly attuned to constituents’ voices on Brexit regret? In Haringey, where Remain dominated, abstentions on the Customs Union vote signal disconnect.
If not, the author hopes voters will amplify their message at ballot boxes later this year. Local Liberal Democrats frame this as a pivotal moment for growth-oriented policy over ideological entrenchment.
Could a Customs Union Truly Boost Growth?
Proponents argue a new UK-EU Customs Union would supercharge the economy with a £25 billion annual lift, dismantling trade frictions that plague British firms. This pragmatic step promises relief from customs paperwork alone worth £1.8 billion yearly.
By contrast, post-Brexit global deals yield negligible gains, underdelivering on promises to offset EU losses. Haringey’s business community, already vocal on Remain, stands to benefit most from barrier-free access.
What Lies Ahead for Brexit Policy?
Calls intensify for Labour to abandon ‘Make Brexit Work’ in favour of bold reversal. With GDP deficits mounting and voter sentiment evolving, 2026 could mark a turning point—or entrenchment of decline.
Haringey’s Liberal Democrats lead this charge, urging MPs to heed local polls and economic data. Neutral observers note the motion’s passage, however narrow, as evidence of shifting parliamentary winds.
This narrative, drawn from Liberal Democrat commentary on Brexit’s tenth anniversary, encapsulates a decade of debate. Haringey exemplifies Remain heartlands pressing for change, with every detail—from GDP shortfalls to MP voting records—underscoring the stakes. As Britain navigates slower growth and fiscal squeezes, the Customs Union debate tests democratic responsiveness. Voters, ever the ultimate arbiters, watch closely.
