A decade after Britain’s referendum to leave the European Union, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has reflected on the Brexit campaign and its aftermath, identifying key missteps and assessing the political landscape that followed. Speaking from his London home near Parliament, the Conservative MP and prominent Brexiteer offered a candid appraisal of the challenges faced during and after the 2016 vote.

Sir Jacob contended that the Brexit movement underestimated the determination of Remain supporters to contest the result. While the leave campaigners initially believed the referendum outcome would be accepted, they were soon confronted with a vigorous opposition effort aimed at keeping the UK closely aligned with the EU. “We came perilously close to losing Brexit,” he said, describing how influential figures across the political spectrum worked to block full departure.

He recalled the early referendum period as relatively cordial, with Remain campaigners perceiving Brexiteers as fringe eccentrics disconnected from mainstream opinion. However, the referendum’s result revealed a strong grassroots desire for Brexit that those in metropolitan centers had failed to grasp. Sir Jacob acknowledged that after the vote, the leave side largely ceased campaigning, while Remain advocates intensified their efforts, sparking ongoing disputes over the interpretation and implementation of Brexit.

Amid the subsequent political turmoil, Sir Jacob supported then-Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement during the third meaningful vote, fearing that her collapse could lead to a government more hostile to Brexit. The heightened tensions subsided following Boris Johnson’s decisive Conservative victory in the 2019 general election, which paved the way for the UK’s formal exit from the EU on January 31, 2020.

Assessments of Brexit’s impact remain contested. Sir Jacob emphasized the value of renewed parliamentary sovereignty and the freedom for elected officials to legislate independently. He criticized Labour’s shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, for policies he said have undermined economic growth, citing increased National Insurance contributions and expanded workers’ rights as examples. He also faulted the Bank of England for its monetary policy decisions. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that Brexit has empowered the opposition to implement measures such as a proposed 20 percent VAT on school fees, a move that affects him personally given his six children in private education, but one he says reflects Labour’s legitimate use of new authorities.

Sir Jacob described his own transition to supporting Brexit as gradual, noting he did not anticipate it becoming a reality when first elected in 2010. He observed that David Cameron’s limited achievements in renegotiating the UK’s EU relationship in 2015 helped galvanize the leave campaign. He highlighted the growing divide between London’s largely Remain-aligned financial sector and broader public enthusiasm for Brexit outside the capital.

He identified democracy rather than economics as the pivotal reason for many voters’ support for Brexit, and credited Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage as instrumental figures in securing victory. Johnson’s charisma attracted a broad coalition while Farage mobilized Labour-leaning “Red Wall” voters. Michael Gove, he added, provided important intellectual support.

Regarding the recent rise of Reform UK, currently leading polls, Sir Jacob suggested the Conservative Party failed in part to adequately recognize Farage’s contributions, stating that Farage deserved a peerage and even joking he would grant a dukedom. He attributed Reform’s popularity to dissatisfaction among voters feeling abandoned by the traditional parties.

Looking ahead to the 2029 general election, Sir Jacob emphasized the importance of unity on the British right to avoid fragmentation. He argued that the Conservative Party and Reform UK must cooperate, combining institutional experience with grassroots support to present a consolidated front.