We’re all familiar with Brexit by now. But whichever side of the debate you find yourself on, it is widely known that both sides weren’t completely transparent with the claims that they made during the campaign. But Gavin Esler, a former BBC presenter, shines a light on some of the consequences that Vote Leave didn’t consider.
Brexit Without the Bullshit explores the facts & testimonies from experts about the consequences of Brexit, including on food, health, jobs, education and travel, as well as exploring what a No Deal Brexit (which was still a possibility when the book was written) may have meant in practice, away from the vote-winning tactics of the official Remain and Vote Leave campaigns.
This book does a great job at breaking down the practical consequences of Brexit in simple, jargon-free terms and in a succinct way. In only 162 pages, it brings to light a vast array of consequences and possibilities that most of us would never have thought of, let alone have voted for. The range of voices that are heard in this book is a testament to the army of experts who predicted some of the consequences we’re feeling today but were largely ignored by both campaigns in the 2016 referendum.
Whilst some might claim this book is biased towards one argument (it’s entirely possible that an equal number of experts and bodies arguing counter points have been ignored in the writing of this book, and a similar publication of the opposite points would be welcome), it is undeniable that this is a persuasive handbook filled with facts about what Brexit means in practical terms. And to say it makes slightly unsettling reading is an understatement.
This read may be uncomfortable for some, but it clearly sheds a light on the information we were largely unaware of in 2016 and had this book been written and spoken about four years earlier, I strongly believe Brexit may never have happened.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Brexit Without the Bullshit (ISBN: 978-1-912454-35-8) was published in 2019
