Why Brexit? The Toxic Mix of Immigration and Austerity

On June 23, 2016, the UK narrowly voted to exit the European Union. Population issues-especially relating to the effect of population growth on infrastructure and public services and the need to " take back control" over immigration-played a central role in the campaigns (" Leave" and " Remain") leading up to the vote. I argue that the Leave campaign engaged in reckless scaremongering over the demographic effects of membership in the EU, while the Remain campaign was stifled by its commitment to a policy of fiscal austerity. The leader of the Labour Party, while putatively in the Remain camp, was strikingly circumspect in his support.