The Brexit referendum caused ruptions to the way of life of many, but arguably the most affected were those living outside of their native land, whether EU citizens in the UK or UK citizens in the EU. A new paper from Lancaster University explores how life has been for Britons living in the EU after the Brexit vote.

The paper is the culmination of a survey of 1,328 British citizens who are currently living in either an EU or European Economic Area member state. Participants report the removal of their freedom of movement as rendering them more immobile and stuck in place in ways they weren’t previously.

“The report shows that, while the public narrative suggests that Brexit is done and dusted, it has brought the deep transformations to the lives of British citizens living in the EU and EEA,” the authors explain. “The long tail of Brexit is evident in its continuing impacts on the way they live their lives and its lasting significance for their sense of identity and belonging.”

Settled status

The survey showed that Britons in Europe are a settled population who have plans to stay in their country of residence for a prolonged period. Indeed, many have built families and put down roots.

While work and retirement were both cited as reasons for moving, the survey found that family considerations outweighed both as an explanation for future plans, with Brexit having a significant impact on these plans given the reduced mobility it has invoked. This was especially so for British-European families where migration rights might fundamentally differ.

The survey also found that Brexit had changed how people felt about the UK, mostly in negative ways. Indeed, many respondents reported that they felt both European and British. Underlying this was a profound sense of political disenfranchisement, however.

Loss of citizenship

Respondents also reported a clear sense of loss from Brexit, with their new status depriving them of the right to vote in European elections or even in local elections. Indeed, if the individual had lived abroad for more than 15 years they were no longer permitted to vote in the UK either.

There were also evident restrictions on people’s mobility for work and retirement, with new limits of just 90 days imposed after Brexit. The researchers hope that their findings provide insight into the impact Brexit has had on people both in the UK and across Europe.

“If politicians and the media want some insights into who the British diaspora in the EU are in the 21st century, they should read this report, instead of relying on hackneyed stereotypes,” the researchers explain. “They live in all EU countries, from Estonia to Greece, family ties are significant to emigration, and Brexit has strongly affected their relationship to the UK. They are also highly politically engaged but mostly disenfranchised, some completely.”