Since the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2021, the country’s trajectory on everything from environmental protections to food prices has shifted—sometimes in ways that few could have predicted. As Britain marks several years since Brexit, the effects of this historic decision are becoming increasingly clear, with fresh waves of concern rippling through both the environmental and economic sectors.
According to recent analysis by the Institute for European Environmental Policy, the divergence between the UK and the EU on environmental legislation has grown starker with each passing year. While the EU has doubled down on strengthening environmental protections, the UK has moved in the opposite direction. The situation has become so pronounced that, as reported by The Guardian, “laws on important areas from air pollution to water quality” have not only been weakened but, in some cases, UK politicians have chosen to rip up EU environmental laws entirely.
Environmentalists who hoped for a turnaround after Labour’s 2024 election victory—buoyed by promises of a “reset” with the EU and a renewed focus on environmental protection—have been left disappointed. Instead, Keir Starmer’s government has moved to cut environmental protections “further and faster than the Tories ever did,” according to the same Guardian report. The new administration has failed to close loopholes in environmental law that have widened since Brexit, and in some cases is actively deleting EU environmental rules from the statute book.
This retreat has real-world consequences. The UK is now falling behind the EU in safeguarding rare creatures such as red squirrels, cleaning up polluted air and water, banning dangerous chemicals from consumer products, and making everyday items more recyclable and energy efficient. One particularly glaring example is water treatment. While the UK maintains three levels of sewage water treatment—primary, secondary, and tertiary—the EU is pushing ahead with a fourth: quaternary treatment. This advanced process removes microplastics, “forever chemicals,” and other hazardous substances from waterways, and crucially, it’s the polluting companies who foot the bill for these new treatment centers. The UK, as of August 2025, has no plans to match this EU initiative.
The UK’s reluctance to keep pace is not just a matter of missed opportunity but of active divergence. The previous Conservative government loosened EU air pollution rules, lowering thresholds for dangerous pollutants. They also began dismantling legal obligations under the Water Framework Directive, which required monitoring and cleaning up rivers. Now, under Labour, the trend continues. The government is prioritizing economic growth—seen by ministers as the only hope for reviving the “creaking economy”—over environmental stewardship. With Chancellor Rachel Reeves unable to cut spending or raise taxes meaningfully, growth has become the singular focus, even if it means sacrificing hard-won environmental regulations.
This approach has led to the tearing up of the EU’s Habitats Directive, a cornerstone of European environmental law designed to protect rare species like nightingales, red squirrels, and dormice. The result? These creatures now enjoy far less protection in the UK than in the EU. It’s the most significant divergence since Brexit, and it’s left many conservationists and scientists deeply concerned.
It’s worth recalling the rhetoric of the Brexit campaign. Critics who warned that leaving the EU would lead to weakened environmental protections were accused of “fearmongering.” Michael Gove, then environment secretary, promised a “green Brexit,” while Boris Johnson, prime minister at the time of departure, boasted of “world-beating” environmental protections and pledged to uphold them. Now, as the dust settles, those warnings seem prescient. As The Guardian bluntly puts it: “the ‘fearmongers’ were right.”
But environmental woes are just one part of the Brexit legacy. The economic impact—especially on food prices—has been equally profound. The summer of 2025 has brought more than just heavy rain to Labour’s doorstep. UK inflation hit 3.8% in July, up 0.2% from June, with food inflation playing a starring role. The i newspaper highlights two key drivers: drought in Spain, Italy, and Portugal (all major suppliers of fresh fruit and vegetables to the UK), and the cost of Brexit red tape.
Before Brexit, food inflation in the UK was relatively modest. Between 2015 and 2020, prices rose by just 4%, compared to 6% in Italy, 9% in France, and 11% in Germany. But since the “get Brexit done” summer of 2020, the tables have turned. Between 2020 and 2025, UK food prices soared by 36%—outpacing France (23%), Italy (26%), and even Germany (34%). According to the Bank of England, food inflation, at 4.9% in August 2025, is expected to rise to 5.5% by year’s end before easing to between 2% and 3% in 2026. Some analysts warn it could climb as high as 6% and decline more slowly.
This is grim news for British consumers and a government desperate for a reprieve. As The Guardian notes, “food inflation is pushing that hoped-for uplift further out of reach.” The political consequences are already apparent, with Labour’s poll ratings lagging behind Reform by nine points, job vacancies down 5%, and small boat crossings heading for a record high. The pressure on Prime Minister Starmer is mounting.
In response to the surging prices, the government has reportedly cancelled planned extra border checks on live animal imports from the EU, which would have further increased meat prices. There is also a push to accelerate “dynamic alignment” with the EU’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) laws for agrifood, aiming to eliminate most costly cross-border food checks and lower prices. According to i’s Arj Singh, ministers hope to introduce legislation to this effect by year’s end “so that voters feel the impact of cheaper and more widely available EU produce.” But this plan faces tough negotiations with Brussels and staunch opposition from Brexiteers like Nigel Farage, who argue it undermines British sovereignty.
Labour’s challenge is clear: overcome these obstacles quickly, or risk prolonging the pain for consumers—and possibly paving the way for a resurgent Farage to claim Downing Street in the next election cycle. The stakes, both environmental and economic, could hardly be higher.
As the UK grapples with the consequences of Brexit, the gap between promise and reality has grown ever wider. From the weakening of environmental protections to the sharp rise in food prices, the legacy of leaving the EU is playing out in ways that touch daily life and the natural world alike. For many, the hope now is that lessons will be learned—and that the next chapter will bring more harmony between Britain’s ambitions and its responsibilities.
