In many respects What Brexit means for EU and UK social policy is a sequel to my three editions of Social policy in the European Union, the last of which was published in 2007 when the European Union was 50 years old. The focus in each of the editions was on the interactive multilevel relationship between EU institutions and national governments. The chapters spanned working and living conditions, education, family and gender issues, old age, social inclusion and migration. On the eve of the global financial crises, it could be demonstrated that few areas of social life remained untouched by European regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations, resolutions, communications or memoranda, social action programmes and white papers.

Although the UK was not the only member state concerned about the pervasiveness of the EU's powers, or to be affected by euroscepticism, the general tone of EU policy statements remained positive. Transforming the socio-economic and technological changes taking place in the early years of the 21st century from obstacles into opportunities was considered challenging but not impossible. Action plans were being prepared to deliver a concerted strategy to secure the future viability of social protection systems, based essentially on the creation of more and better jobs, and longer working lives of better quality.

The 10 years from 2007 to 2017 created new hurdles, as the global financial crisis was followed first by the eurozone crisis, and then by the refugee crisis. Although the UK was not in the eurozone or in Schengen, it could not avoid the destabilising effects of the crises on public finances and the ensuing years of austerity. The loss of trust in the ability of government at national and EU levels to deal with the aftermath of the crises was an important factor driving the decision in the 2016 referendum to withdraw from the EU.

This book argues that the seeds of euroscepticism and Brexit were sown long before the crises and that the UK was never fully committed or emotionally attached to the EEC founding members’ vision of economic and political union. Rather, during its membership, the approach of UK governments was most often transactional as they opposed any formalisation of social union.