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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Jasper Jolly, Joanna Partridge, Gwyn Topham, Heather Stewart and Kalyeena Makortoff

Boats, bankers and borders: five symbols that sum up Brexit a decade on

Decorative plates on wooden shelves featuring various patterns, including the British and EU flags
The leave vote in June 2016 left fractures across UK society, from manufacturing to migration. Illustrations: Guardian Design/Getty Images Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty Images

Ten years ago the UK voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union, triggering a long and tortuous political process.

It took until 1 January 2021 for the country to sever its links to the single market and customs union, but the fractures Brexit left in Britain’s body politic, international relations and economy remain.

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