The Brexit Debate: Ten years on
BY spectator events
Details:
June 17, 2026
7:00 pm
Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, London
speakers:
Michael Gove Editor, The Spectator
Baroness Claire Fox, Former Brexit party MEP
Dominic Grieve KC, Barrister and former Conservative MP
Matthew Parris, Spectator columnist
Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor, The Spectator
Description:
Ten years on from the Brexit referendum – the vote meant to set us free from a fractious relationship – Britain is far from taking flight.
Against the wishes of those who voted for greater sovereignty, the government is now pushing for a ‘reset’, with closer alignment to the EU. Those who voted to strengthen Britain’s borders feel betrayed by huge increases in immigration. And, despite striking new trade agreements beyond Europe, our economy remains constrained by continental levels of taxation and regulation.
All this raises a pressing question: was Brexit a mistake – or are its promised freedoms simply yet to be realised? With the government unwilling to act boldly, smoothing Brexit’s edges rather than seizing its opportunities, are we quietly edging back into Europe’s embrace?
Join The Spectator for a special event marking ten years since the referendum. Prominent critics of Brexit – barrister and former Conservative MP Dominic Grieve KC, and Spectator columnist Matthew Parris – will propose the motion ‘This house believes Brexit was a mistake’, with leading advocates, former Brexit Party MEP Baroness Claire Fox and Spectator Editor Michael Gove, opposing. The Spectator’s assistant editor Isabel Hardman will chair.
The event will end at 8.20pm.
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