I’m a student who campaigned for Brexit in 2016 – now I know I got it wrong

Most young voters of my generation will have probably, at some time or another, watched political dramas – Scandal, The Thick of It, House of Cards, to name a few.

But the current high-level drama that is Brexit cannot be turned off. And, if you like series that end before their creators ruin them, well, I’m sad to say that for Brexit this is just the beginning: the end is not even in sight and the series rating has already hit rock bottom.

Three years ago, in the EU referendum, I campaigned for the UK to vote to leave the EU. That is a decision I have regretted since soon after 23 June 2016.

I am sad and annoyed to admit that, at the time, I was won over by bald slogans, genuine believing that what the Leave campaign promised was the most convincing option.

I, like most of the country, have been on a long journey since then. From a few months after the referendum result I started to get a nagging doubt. Had I done the right thing?

It’s clear to see now that Brexit was a mistake.

Vote Leave managed to run a campaign that connected on a much more emotional level than any of the financial threats the Remain campaign rolled out. The urge to “Take back control” was clever – the use of the word “back” hinting that we somehow had lost an advantage, or control, over huge areas.

What is obvious now, and perhaps to many was even before the referendum, is that leaving does not allow the UK to gain any control. Leaving the EU actually means losing control, losing power, losing influence and losing opportunities.

If Brexit ever actually happens, then it is extremely likely that the UK will stay aligned to current EU regulations in order to make trade possible. What that means is that the UK will obey rules that it once helped to decide – except without having any say over them in the future. That doesn’t seem like taking back control.

Alternatively, we could lower food standards and regulations that keep us safe, in return for a trade deal and close economic partnership with the United States. We would have no say over dropping those safety standards, they would simply be part of the requirement for a close relationship. That, too, doesn’t seem like taking back control.

In any circumstances, the UK will still have to work extremely closely with the European Union – but, instead of helping to set the course of action, we will be responding to their decisions. That doesn’t seem like taking back control to me either.

The saying that ”a week is a long time in politics” has never been truer. And it has been an incredible 145 weeks since the referendum.

In that time everything has changed, and this is the reason why: in the EU referendum we had multiple people from multiple groups saying multiple things about multiple visions. Does that sound vague or unclear? It certainly should, because it was.

In 2016, Brexit was a vague idea that everyone had their own version of. Now it is a clear reality. This reality is Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, which has united Leavers and Remainers only in their opposition to it. It was defeated in Parliament with the largest majority in history, and a further two times since then.

If we exit with that deal, we are doing it based on a decision taken three years ago, when the terms of our exit had not even begun to be negotiated.

Now we know what Brexit truly looks like, we should hold a confirmatory referendum. Parliament has rejected May’s deal, but MPs cannot agree on an alternative. The people hate May’s deal but May refuses to go back to them.

Those of us campaigning for Our Future, Our Choice believe that the situation has changed drastically. I believe people have a right to change their minds and to be asked what they want now. We should make sure the people really want to pursue this huge decision, now that we see what the reality looks like for us, for our friends, for our families, and for our country’s future. After all, it’s our choice.