{"id":1004989,"date":"2026-06-04T14:16:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1004989\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T14:16:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:16:18","slug":"brexit-book-reveals-explosive-secrets-behind-uk-decision-to-leave-the-eu-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1004989\/","title":{"rendered":"Brexit book reveals explosive secrets behind UK decision to leave the EU"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Explosive behind-the-scenes rows in the events that led to Britain\u2019s fateful decision to leave the EU 10 years ago will be <a href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/voices-join-independent-campaign-rebuild-081804234.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:revealed for the first time by The Independent;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;revealed for the first time by The Independent&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">revealed for the first time by The Independent<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Boris Johnson\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/boris-johnson-described-theresa-may-081940195.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:foul-mouthed comments about Theresa May;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;foul-mouthed comments about Theresa May&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">foul-mouthed comments about Theresa May<\/a>, Barack Obama\u2019s horrified reaction to the referendum result and bitter recriminations among Brexiteers are among hundreds of dramatic disclosures in a blockbuster book being serialised from today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sir Anthony Seldon\u2019s The Brexit Effect features essays by 41 prominent figures involved in the referendum, several of whom have never commented publicly before. They come from the highest levels of every part of public life, from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, academia, the church and beyond. Crucially, they represent both sides of the argument, Leavers and Remainers alike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/politics\/boris-johnson-brexit-effect-book-b2978621.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:candid accounts of the often chaotic way Brexit came about;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;candid accounts of the often chaotic way Brexit came about&quot;}\" class=\"link \">candid accounts of the often chaotic way Brexit came about<\/a> and who is responsible for what has gone wrong since will spark an intense new debate over whether Brexit should \u2013 or could \u2013 be reversed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To read the first extract in full <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/politics\/boris-johnson-brexit-effect-book-b2978621.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:click here;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;click here&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong>click here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Publication of the book comes ahead of this month\u2019s tenth anniversary of the historic referendum on 23 June 2016. It also coincides with growing calls from senior politicians, including Labour leadership hopeful, ex-health secretary Wes Streeting, for the UK to rejoin the EU.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The Brexit Effect, edited by Anthony Seldon (Cambridge University Press)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1474\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/90d90cbf05fbcb0f0e2673006dcf6f94.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Brexit Effect, edited by Anthony Seldon (Cambridge University Press)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The serialisation of Sir Anthony\u2019s book at this seminal moment is part of a new campaign by The Independent on how Britain can rebuild its shattered links with Europe. The campaign \u2013 Europe: The Way Back \u2013 will consist of news, analysis, interviews and live events examining the effect Brexit has had on every aspect of our lives, from the economy, immigration, trade and sovereignty to Britain\u2019s place in the world, educational links, social cohesion, culture and much more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Independent will examine each issue with a laser lens, including answering the key questions of whether we are better or worse off \u2013 and not just in monetary terms \u2013 as a result of cutting our ties with Brussels. We will look at whether the claim of the Brexiteers, emblazoned on the side of their famous red bus that toured the country, proved to be true. And to what extent the dire warnings of those who opposed them come to fruition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">We will aim to establish a fair picture of Britain 10 years on from Brexit \u2013\u00a0and where we should go from here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/books\/brexit-effect-20162026\/46D254E83C6161DF09A0D26343BF7C33\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:The Brexit Effect: 2016-2026;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Brexit Effect&quot;}\" class=\"link \">The Brexit Effect: 2016-2026<\/a>\u2019 edited by Anthony Seldon and published by Cambridge University Press on 18 June (\u00a316.99)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Join the community<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sign up to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/newsletters\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:free Europe: The Way Back newsletter here;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;free Europe&quot;}\" class=\"link \">free Europe: The Way Back newsletter here<\/a>, or by using the form below:<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">What you will get by joining:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A dedicated community: We are fully committed to the long haul, consistently campaigning to secure the absolute best deal for Britain within Europe.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Free weekly newsletter: Every Wednesday, political editor David Maddox and political correspondent Millie Cooke will be in your inbox with exclusive reporting, analysis and insight on the biggest developments shaping relations between Britain and Europe. Each week, they will explain what\u2019s happened, what it means, and what the key political figures, experts and decision-makers are saying about it.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Essential continental updates: Stay informed with regular briefings on the biggest developments in European politics and the specific policies that could pave the way for closer EU relations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There are even more benefits if you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/subscribe\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:subscribe for just \u00a31 for seven months;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;subscribe for just \u00a31 for seven months&quot;}\" class=\"link \">subscribe for just \u00a31 for seven months<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Exclusive content: Get the highest quality analysis, opinion and debate from political experts across the UK and Europe by subscribing to our premium service.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Brexit Effect: You&#8217;ll get exclusive access to extracts from Anthony Seldon\u2019s major new book, The Brexit Effect, offering an unparalleled analysis of the 10 years since the referendum.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Inform the debate: Receive exclusive invitations to live events, webinars, expert Q&amp;As and podcast recordings.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Explosive behind-the-scenes rows in the events that led to Britain\u2019s fateful decision to leave the EU 10 years&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1004990,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5226],"tags":[278191,278193,802,748,2000,299,5187,1699,4884,278192,278194,92525,16,15,3595],"class_list":["post-1004989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brexit","tag-anthony-seldon","tag-blockbuster-book","tag-brexit","tag-britain","tag-eu","tag-europe","tag-european","tag-european-union","tag-great-britain","tag-referendum-result","tag-sir-anthony","tag-the-independent","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-wes-streeting"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116692268363071997","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1004989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1004989"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1004989\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1004990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1004989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1004989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1004989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}