Brexit will distract from UK fight against poverty

Significance

Income inequality, of which poverty is a symptom, was one of the underlying grievances that likely contributed to the Brexit vote. However, the government may struggle to address poverty.

Impacts

• Rising poverty could reinforce the wider narrative about the neglect of the domestic policy sphere by the government.
• Opposition parties such as Labour and the Liberal Democrats are likely to benefit if issues of social justice gain salience for voters.
• If the Conservatives drop in polls as a result of domestic policy failures, the chances of a leadership challenge to May could increase.