‘It feels like we never left’: resentment builds in one of UK’s firmest Brexit-backing areas

Despite Prime Minister Starmer's claim that British voters have moved past Brexit, many in Thurrock, Essex, feel let down by promised economic benefits and reduced immigration hostility. Nigel Guest, a long-time Brexit supporter, expressed frustration over underfunding for local services despite post-Brexit investment pledges. Meanwhile, the area's diverse community grapples with rising house prices and rents, supported by social enterprises aiming to address these challenges. The article highlights how political disillusionment and demographic shifts continue to shape Thurrock even years after the referendum.