Northern Ireland Brexit Voters Express Regret, But Remain Unswayed 10 Years On

Ten years after the Brexit referendum, some Northern Ireland voters, including farmer Charlie Weir, express regret over their Leave vote, citing unfulfilled promises and worsening conditions. Weir, whose family has farmed in Waringstown, Co Down, for generations, notes his 24-year-old son sees no future in dairy farming. He voted Leave based on a belief that UK politicians could make better decisions than the EU, but now feels it was «all lies» regarding promises of improved healthcare and support for industries like farming.

While 56% of Northern Ireland voted to Remain, the UK-wide Leave vote won 52% to 48%. A Queen’s University Belfast study found most Northern voters, including a majority of Leavers, view Brexit as a failure, with two-thirds believing it made a UK break-up more likely. However, this dissatisfaction hasn't significantly shifted voting intentions; 57% would rejoin the EU, only a one-percentage-point increase from the original Remain vote. Professor Katy Hayward attributes this to Brexit being layered on existing political identities, with Leavers often blaming the Irish Government and EU for preventing a «proper Brexit» for Northern Ireland. Irwin Armstrong, a Conservative Party member and company owner, would vote Brexit again, despite acknowledging it was a «horrendous mess» that «wasn’t handled properly.»

Many Leavers are reluctant to admit regret due to embarrassment or not wanting to be seen as a «Lundy» (traitor to unionism). Alex Kane, former UUP communications head, notes the «absolute chaos» of Brexit, with unionism carrying the scars. Even within the UUP, which officially backed Remain but allowed a free vote, there's reluctance to reject Brexit's principle. Former UUP leader Tom Elliott stands by his Leave vote due to the EU’s perceived intransigence, while another former leader, Robin Swann, admitted he would «probably look at going back in» due to economic damage.