Goldilocks politics & the grand divorce: How New Labour policies on immigration paved the way for Brexit

Abstract

This thesis examines the Blair-Brown administration (1997-2010) and reflects on how their New Labour policies on immigration impacted the Brexit vote in 2016. I examine the fiscal effect of New Labour policies on immigration, especially the 2004 A8 Eastern European Enlargement of the EU. An analysis is conducted on how New Labour immigration policies exacerbated the cultural and political division between London and the rest of England, and how this division ultimately became a polarisation. I show how this resulted in a substantial section of the electorate feeling alienated from both Westminster and British politics in general. Through employing theories addressing populism and identity politics, the marginalised perspective of the Leave voters is uncovered, as well as the impact of New Labour immigration policies on identity politics and populism prior to the Brexit vote.