Witold M. Orłowski discusses the current economic situation in the United Kingdom, where the unemployment rate has reached 5.2%, the highest in years. This increase coincides with the aftermath of the Brexit referendum held in June 2016, where proponents of leaving the European Union argued that it would liberate the UK from bureaucratic shackles and lead to economic growth, improved financial conditions, and reduced immigration. Contrary to these claims, post-Brexit growth has been among the slowest in Europe, revealing a stark disconnect between promises made during the referendum and the reality faced by the UK economy today.

Prior to the 2016 referendum, the UK enjoyed a relatively low unemployment rate of 4.9% and had been cited as a nation that reaped significant benefits from its EU membership, with fast economic growth compared to Germany, France, and Italy. The post-Brexit landscape has presented numerous challenges, such as medication shortages, a workforce deficit despite an increase in immigration, and a surge in public debt from 85% to 104% of GDP. The sentiment around these issues raises important questions about the future of the UK in relation to the EU, especially given the economic performance of the nation is now under scrutiny.

Orłowski raises the critical question of whether the UK will ever consider rejoining the EU, given the current economic hardships and failed promises of prosperity that were once used to justify Brexit. As Brexit's implications unfold, analysts like Orłowski will continue to evaluate whether the UK might one day seek to return to the EU, particularly if economic conditions do not improve markedly in the coming years.