BBC Question Time aired a Brexit special on Thursday night from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, featuring an audience of Leave voters. The panel, comprising both Leavers and Remainers, debated the cost of living crisis, immigration, and whether voters were misled over Brexit.
Tory MP John Redwood argued that Brexit had not contributed to high inflation, while Labour's Jenny Chapman claimed the government had lost control of immigration. Tony Blair's former adviser Alastair Campbell labelled Brexit as one of the country's "biggest acts of self-harm".
The programme came from Clacton-on-Sea, where nearly 70% voted to leave the EU. Friday marks seven years since the UK voted to exit the EU by 52% to 48%. Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib called for the Windsor Framework to be ditched and for 1.8 million British citizens to be brought back into the UK.
Audience member Lewis said Brexit had made his business more difficult, while Habib countered that the UK exported more last year than before the pandemic. Professor Anand Menon urged both major parties to be "honest about trade-offs" to enable a frank debate.
