Profile In Focus | Brexit Part 5 (2019)
“A Saturday sitting in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom to debate the renegotiated Brexit deal, 19 October 2019” by UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Stephen Pike under CC BY-SA 3.0.
In 2019, the Brexit saga continued to unfold, leaving Britain deeply divided and uncertain about its future. The year began with discussions and debates surrounding the impact of Brexit on the film industry, highlighting the divisive nature of the issue. As the year progressed, key events shed light on the complex web of factors that influenced the Brexit vote.
One of the key themes that emerged was the alleged Russian interference in the Brexit campaign. In January, it was revealed that Russian bots and financial support played a role in pushing the Brexit vote through. Investigations into the connections between prominent Brexit campaigners and Russian officials intensified, with questions raised about the influence of Russian money and social media manipulation on the outcome of the referendum.
Amidst this controversy, prominent Brexiteer James Dyson announced plans to move his company headquarters to Singapore, fueling concerns about the impact of Brexit on businesses. As uncertainty loomed, many UK firms began making preparations for relocation, and Britons living in the EU called on Prime Minister Theresa May to secure healthcare for pensioners.
The role of data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, which was embroiled in a scandal involving the misuse of Facebook data, also came under scrutiny in relation to its involvement in the Brexit campaign. The firm's connections to Brexit groups and its use of personal data raised concerns about the manipulation of public opinion.
As the March deadline for Brexit approached, the UK Parliament faced gridlock and political turmoil. The British government adopted a series of contingency measures for a "no-deal" scenario, while lawmakers considered a Mueller-like inquiry to investigate allegations of misconduct surrounding the Brexit process. Despite efforts to reach a withdrawal agreement, the situation remained highly uncertain.
Brexit continued to have far-reaching consequences, affecting various sectors and relationships. Reports highlighted the potential impact on food standards, the US economy, and NATO. The EU's eastern expansion was also identified as a factor that contributed to Brexit and strained relations with Russia.
In the midst of the chaos, a general election was called, and political parties campaigned on their respective Brexit stances. However, the publication of an intelligence report on Russian interference in UK politics was delayed until after the election, sparking accusations of a cover-up.
As the year drew to a close, the Brexit deadline was once again moved, leaving many wondering what comes next. The British government faced criticism for its handling of the report on Russian meddling and concerns about the vulnerability of the UK's electoral system. The impact of misinformation and the rush to fight it in the lead-up to the election also became apparent.
Overall, 2019 was marked by ongoing divisions, uncertainty, and revelations surrounding Brexit. The year highlighted the complex web of factors that shaped the Brexit vote, from alleged Russian interference to the impact on businesses and the broader geopolitical landscape. As the UK approached a new year, the future remained uncertain, with the consequences of Brexit still unfolding.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 29, 2023
Previous: Profile in Focus | Brexit Part 4 (July 2018 - December 2018)
Next: Profile in Focus | Brexit Part 6 (2020)
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Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Brexit Part 5 (2019):
Brexit Is Dividing Britain. So Is a Brexit Movie. - The New York Times January 10, 2019
Timeline of key events leading up to Brexit vote - AP News January 15, 2019
Prejudice and the Brexit vote: a tangled web - nature January 15, 2019
Russia's Lavrov - We're not rubbing our hands with glee over Brexit - Reuters January 16, 2019
Mayday: The Prime Minister's Brexit Plan Has Crashed - The National Interest January 16, 2019
Senate Finds Russian Bots, Bucks Helped Push Brexit Vote Through - NPR January 19, 2019
Brexiteer James Dyson to move HQ to Singapore - POLITICO January 22, 2019
Dyson to move company HQ to Singapore - The Guardian January 22, 2019
What Is Brexit? And What Happens Next? - The New York Times January 25, 2019
One in three UK firms plan for Brexit relocation, IoD says - The Guardian January 31, 2019
Britons living in EU call on May to secure healthcare for pensioners - The Guardian January 31, 2019
Mueller questions Cambridge Analytica director Brittany Kaiser - The Guardian February 17, 2019
The Key Players in Brexit - Investopedia February 28, 2019
Post-Brexit food standards - The Lancet March 8, 2019
Brexit decoded for non-Brits - CNN March 11, 2019
Brexit: Foreign far-right Twitter users 'manipulated debate' - BBC News March 12, 2019
Britain votes to ask E.U. for Brexit delay amid political gridlock - NBC News March 14, 2019
Russia's Connection To Brexit Is 'Opaque And Complicated,' Journalist Says - NPR March 21, 2019
Did Russia make Brexit promoter Nigel Farage a ‘YouTube star’? - The Washington Post March 27, 2019
Brexit: What Now? - NPR March 30, 2019
For Many British Businesses, Brexit Has Already Happened - The New York Times April 1, 2019
How a messy Brexit could hit U.S. businesses - CBS News April 3, 2019
Brexit Makes NATO Even More Important for the Atlantic - Chatham House April 4, 2019
12 questions about Brexit you were too embarrassed to ask - Vox April 10, 2019
Judy Asks: Is Brexit Bad for Europe? - Carnegie Europe April 11, 2019
Believe It Or Not, Brexit Is Actually Helping The European Union - NPR April 22, 2019
Here's Why Brexit Wasn't Followed By Frexit, Swexit Or Nexit - NPR April 26, 2019
Elton John: 'I am a European – not a stupid, imperialist English idiot' - The Guardian May 31, 2019
Brexit Is for Boys - Foreign Policy June 19, 2019
How Does the European Union Work? - Council on Foreign Relations June 27, 2019
What Brexit could mean for the US economy - CNBC July 18, 2019
Cambridge Analytica did work for Brexit groups, says ex-staffer - POLITICO July 30, 2019
Brexit: Your simple guide to the UK leaving the EU - BBC News July 30, 2019
Brexit Blues - American Psychological Association July/August 2019
UK and EU harden their positions on Brexit as G-7 nears - PBS NewsHour August 20, 2019
Did Austerity in the UK Lead to the Brexit Crisis? - Harvard Business Review August 23, 2019
Trump has a lot to say about Brexit. But do Brits listen? - The Washington Post September 2, 2019
Brexit, Russia, Italy: Your Tuesday Briefing - The New York Times September 9, 2019
Met to take no further action over Leave.EU spending breaches - The Guardian September 13, 2019
No evidence Leave. EU and Arron Banks broke law, says crime agency - The Guardian September 24, 2019
Split decisions: How Brexit has taken a toll on five researchers - Science October 3, 2019
Brexit party MEPs vote against plans to tackle Russian propaganda - The Guardian October 10, 2019
Brexit Is a Cultural Revolution - The Atlantic October 24, 2019
How Brexit Will End - The New Yorker October 25, 2019
Why Brexit Matters - wbur October 30, 2019
Tech companies rush to fight misinformation ahead of UK vote - AP News November 10, 2019
Hillary Clinton: 'Shameful' not to publish Russia report - BBC News November 12, 2019
Russian meddling report – dissident's widow goes to law - The Guardian November 15, 2019
Revealed: the Russia report - The Times November 17, 2019