From Brexit Rage to EU Realignment: A Letting Agent’s Perspective

A Memory of the Brexit Vote: “F**k Off.”

It’s 2016. The EU referendum vote has just passed. Brexit won.

I had done my research and was confident in my decision to remain. I debated respectfully in the run-up — it was occasionally fun, but increasingly heated as voting day approached. And after the outcome? Well… emotions spilled over.

I remember sending out one of my regular subscriber email bulletins at the time — a commentary on the referendum's result. In hindsight, it leaned toward supporting the idea of a second vote, especially with parties like the Lib Dems pushing for one due to the closeness of the original result. That stance seriously rattled some of my readers.

I received replies that were angry, volatile, and in one memorable case, completely unhinged. A highly successful landlord — someone I respected — told me in no uncertain terms to “F**k off.” I had never received such an outburst in my professional life. That moment taught me: Brexit wasn’t just politics — it was identity, raw and personal. And with that, I shelved my email campaigns.

Fast Forward to 2025: Things Have Shifted

Nearly a decade later, things look different. While I still lean toward remaining in the EU, I now recognise the global picture has evolved. Politics, trade, defence, and diplomacy all exist in a more nuanced world.

This week, as Keir Starmer’s government announced a landmark UK–EU “reset” trade agreement, I found myself joking with some of my pro-Brexit friends. I reminded them of the King’s Speech line:

“Ministers will have the right to unilaterally mirror EU rules as a sovereign nation.”

Translation? Brexit in name only — clever wording for a strategic climbdown.

What the New UK–EU Deal Covers:

Here’s a quick breakdown of what was announced this week:

1. UK aligns food safety rules with the EU, ending most export checks

2. British meat and shellfish can now return to EU supermarket shelves

3. SPS deal could add £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040

4. UK and EU carbon markets to be linked — saving UK firms £800 million

5. Talks to rejoin EU electricity market, cutting energy costs

6. EU fishing rights in UK waters extended to 2038

7. UK travellers to access EU airport e-gates

8. Youth mobility scheme for work, travel, and study

9. Pet passports reinstated

10. Easier touring access for UK performers in Europe

11. UK firms to access €150bn EU defence fund

12. Potential UK participation in EU security missions

13. UK–EU criminal data sharing reinstated

14. Joint strategies on irregular migration

15. UK exploring Erasmus+ student exchange return

16. Scientific collaboration opportunities reopened

17. Starmer calls it a “win-win” deal

18. Businesses praise improved trade flow

19. Critics call it a betrayal of Brexit and UK sovereignty

So… Who Really Won?

I know some Brexiteers will be livid — but look around. The global stage has shifted. Trump, trade wars, and energy crises have changed the landscape. Realpolitik requires flexibility.

Let’s be fair: Brexit did allow us to sign a new trade deal with India, and soon — expansion deals with Canada, Australia and new in the Middle East. But the big lesson? Compromise wins over ideology.

Why It Matters to Me – and to London

As a letting-only agency in Kensington, I’ve always thrived on working with international landlords and tenants. Post-Brexit, that ecosystem fractured. Now, I see the potential for that vibrancy to return.

Immigration is no longer just an EU debate — it’s a global one. And the London property market reflects this shifting sentiment like a prism. It’s a ripple effect from international confidence, investment, and optimism.

We’ve all had to adapt since 2016. But if this new deal brings growth, stability, and renewed international collaboration — I’m here for it.

Final Thought:
Let’s hope this is the start of a more positive cycle. We all need the economy to pump again.