Healing a Divided Britain

The story of 48:52 is not just one of European policy or tribal political discourse. The decision to leave the European Union was a bold and unequivocal statement for millions of people who wanted to change the political, economic, and social status quo. It was a moment in time, a rational choice, when those who had not felt heard by the establishment expressed their desire to take back

control—control of their wages and of their public services.

The events of 23 June must therefore kick-start a national conversation aimed at understanding why, as our research has revealed, there are such deep divides in our nation. How can it be that two halves of the UK see the same country so completely differently, and what can we do about it?

Although this research brings many of the well-known Brexit themes to the fore—concern about immigration, a desire for sovereignty, and community alienation—our analysis also reveals a huge swathe of British society who are concerned about their wages, the security of their home and access to public services. While the blame for these was easily pinned on the EU and uncontrolled immigration during the referendum campaign, it does not follow that simply leaving the Union and gaining control of our borders will satisfy the disenchanted. There is a deeper malaise to be treated.

In our view, the vote was a cri de coeur from millions of people who feel Westminster no longer knows, or even cares, how it feels to walk in their shoes. In light of this it is perhaps no surprise that the vote disregarded the dire warnings of the establishment including the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition, the Bank of England, the World Bank, the IMF, and President Obama. Their threats

and warnings showed that the establishment understood little of the lives of the 52 percent that voted Leave.