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Brexit, the failure of the British political class, and the case for greater diversity in UK political recruitment

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British Politics Aims and scope

Abstract

Britain’s exit from the European Union on the 31st of January 2020 was the culmination of what was arguably the second major failure of statecraft by the British political class this century, following the UK’s participation in the 2003 Iraq invasion. Drawing on elite theory as well as research into group behaviour, identity diversity and cognitive diversity, and decision-making and organisational performance, the article examines key stages of the Brexit process. The article argues that failures at each stage are attributable to a degree of ‘groupthink’ and ‘group polarisation’ linked to the relatively homogenous nature of the British political class and the structural attributes of British government. It goes on to advocate greater diversity in political recruitment and fundamental reform of modes and structures of British government.

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  1. College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

    Charles Lees

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Lees, C. Brexit, the failure of the British political class, and the case for greater diversity in UK political recruitment. Br Polit 16, 36–57 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41293-020-00136-6

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