‘Bemused, angry and resentful’: millennials reeling from Brexit
LSE report finds that young people fear society has become more intolerant in wake of Brexit vote
Millennials are stressed, frightened and angry about the implications of Britain’s exit from the EU, according to a report commissioned by a parliamentary committee looking into the impact of Brexit on young people.
Researchers from the London School of Economics (LSE) found that the majority of the young people in the UK surveyed in the study blamed the June referendum result on older voters.
"A significant majority express bemusement, anger, and resentment at the choice to leave the EU, which was made - in their view - primarily by older generations," the report said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Millennials are particularly worried that politicians are failing to tackle the social as well as economic implications of the Brexit vote. Respondents expressed concern about “rising intolerance, discrimination and racism in British society” as well as “the decline of Britain's tolerant and multicultural image” abroad.
Only a “small minority” expressed optimism about the referendum result, and some of those only did so “because it had motivated young people to become less passive”, The Independent reports.
The report, compiled for the All Party Parliamentary Group on a Better Brexit for Young People, involved 40 focus groups, a YouGov poll of over 3,000 diverse respondents and five consultations.
LSE academic Dr Shakuntala Banaji, one of the report’s authors, said the project had revealed that many young people held “sophisticated and critical views” about the Brexit debate and the task now facing the government.
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, chair of the all-party parliamentary group, said the report demonstrated the need for an inclusive “national conversation" on Brexit.
"Young people want a voice in the Brexit process, and not one that is politely listened to and then dismissed," he said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published