‘Canaries in the coalmine of populism’: an oral history of the Brexit campaign, told by those with a front row seat
The Brexit campaign was a pivotal moment in the UK's history, with five months in 2016 shaping the country's future. The campaign was marked by key events, including Boris Johnson's decision to side with Vote Leave and David Cameron's resignation. The oral history of the campaign provides insight into the thoughts and feelings of those who were involved, including politicians and their advisors.
- ▪David Cameron announced the date of the Brexit referendum on 20 February 2016, with the vote set to take place on 23 June 2016.
- ▪Boris Johnson, then the mayor of London, decided to campaign for leave after a weekend of deliberation, which was seen as a significant moment in the campaign.
- ▪The campaign was marked by tension and division within the Conservative party, with some politicians campaigning for leave and others for remain.
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| Original publisher | the Guardian |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/23/brexit-campaign-oral-history-front-row-seat |
| Publication time | Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:33 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-23T04:44:35.052Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-23T04:44:35.052Z |
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| Commercial reuse | May the content be reused commercially? | Not permitted |
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Brexit oral history composite illustration. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/PA/Rex/Shutterstock/APView image in fullscreenBrexit oral history composite illustration. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/PA/Rex/Shutterstock/APBrexit‘Canaries in the coalmine of populism’: an oral history of the Brexit campaign, told by those with a front row seatHow five months in 2016 that encompassed Boris Johnson siding with Vote Leave, Jo Cox’s murder and David Cameron’s resignation shaped the UK’s futureEsther Addley.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at the Guardian.
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