Britain voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016.
It was a simpler time: David Cameron was prime minister, Barack Obama was US president and the word "Covid" didn't mean anything to anyone. Then British politics swiftly became consumed by Brexit: years of debate, protests, parliamentary deadlock and no less than two general elections followed.
Boris Johnson's election in December 2019 seemed to finally put an end to the matter. After all, he had an "oven ready" deal and repeatedly promised to "get Brexit done". And the UK did leave the EU in January this year: but with the transition period's deadline looming, the terms on which we're leaving are still unclear.
So far, all we can really say is that passports are blue and Kent is getting a new car park. It's a far cry from Vote Leave's promise of £350 million extra funding for the NHS.
And, on top of not knowing what our relationship with our European neighbours will look like (breaking international law to renege on our promises to them can't help matters), we now have no idea what the future of our 'special relationship' with the US will progress.
So, with no deal reached and Westminster in total disarray, people are sharing their disillusionment with the whole process under the hashtag #BrexitReality.
They will be howling into the wind about Remainers etc. But actually anyone with an ounce of honesty will admit tha… https://t.co/YhwQZFcMS5— Dan Crusher 🇪🇺💙🐇 (@Dan Crusher 🇪🇺💙🐇) 1605172721
Damn, not even fully left the EU and England is tearing down ancient woodlands and undermining Stonehenge. Next up,… https://t.co/PijDT2n3gI— Hunter (@Hunter) 1605190506
Literally everywhere you look, there are Brexit losses. -food standards -catastrophic levels of new paperwork… https://t.co/QYGsKDEKA3— 55 Tufton Official Spokesperson (@55 Tufton Official Spokesperson) 1605193662
Despite initially sparking debates about democracy, sovereignty and globalism, a lot of what Brexit negotiations have actually boiled down to is... fish.
@trussliz @BorisJohnson Inward investment WILL be crucial to help create the jobs lost through the voluntary decisi… https://t.co/swjkQs1vbT— Jude 🇪🇺 💙🌹 (@Jude 🇪🇺 💙🌹) 1604936845
Yes but fish, blue passports #BrexitReality https://t.co/Uj26YMw3JY— emma green💙 (@emma green💙) 1605126007
Fish and freedom of movement.
Priti Patel's tweet bragging about the government's immigration bill sparked particular backlash.
For the avoidance of confusion, this takes away the automatic right of British citizens to live and work in any cou… https://t.co/vUOJP5BQ3N— Best for Nottingham (@Best for Nottingham) 1604949701
@BorisJohnson We have lost our freedom of movement, that was not what people voted for. #BrexitReality https://t.co/UcQ3qE7SaY— Gail (@Gail) 1605172029
@pritipatel Disgusting. How can you celebrate taking away rights from every citizen of your country? Deluded bigots. #BrexitReality— Ming Ho (@Ming Ho) 1604941365
The Brexit transition period ends on December 31st.
We'd like to hope the UK's future relationship with the EU will be settled by then. But given the seemingly-endless messiness of the last four years, we won't hold our breath.