News

Law

Asset Management

Investment Banking

Wealth

Hedge Funds

People

Newsletters

Events

Lists

Politics

UK election casualties need not hurt Brexit talks

A focus on UK economic growth and pressure on the EU to change its policy on free movement of labour could mean more sensible negotiations

Support for Brexit is essentially a demand for the restoration of sovereignty over the UKs borders
Support for Brexit is essentially a demand for the restoration of sovereignty over the UKs borders Photo: Getty Images

"Enough is enough," proclaimed British Prime Minister Theresa May after the terrorist attack on London Bridge. Now, it is clear, almost half of those who voted in the United Kingdom’s general election on June 8 have had enough of May, whose Conservative majority was wiped out at the polls, producing a hung parliament (with no majority for any party). Whether it is "enough immigrants" or "enough austerity", Britain’s voters certainly have had enough of a lot.

But the election has left Britain confusingly split. Last year’s Brexit referendum on European Union membership suggested a Leave-Remain divide, with the Brexiteers narrowly ahead. This year’s general election superimposed on this a more traditional left-right split, with a resurgent Labour Party capitalising on voter discontent with Conservative budget cuts.

WSJ Logo