Esher and Walton

Leaving the EU was a depressing decision to make. It deeply disappointed me and my family that the British, particularly the English, had declared themselves to be so self-satisfied, and to believe that they didn't need a relationship with other countries, and didn't want one unless the UK was dominant. Whatever brexiters say, it was a decision to look inward, to shun the non-English-speaking world. As a result of this vote, the whole of British culture was changed from internationalist to isolationist, and this has had a profound psychological effect on the way British individuals approach their jobs, their businesses and their relationships. Added to the psychologically depressing effect, the rapid application of bureaucratic constrictions on the business we do with EU states, the cessation of scientific and academic agreements and cultural exchanges, the effect on life in Britain was depressive. It caused a contraction of activity with Europe with almost zero compensating expansion of activity in the rest of the world. As the degree of self-inflicted damage has become obvious, those who still support brexit have become defensive and even defeatist when faced with having to make it up with the EU. This is unhealthy!

David Learmount

8 November 2026