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For this London honey seller, Brexit has been "a chaotic 10 years"

It’s been a decade since the referendum vote that marked the beginning of Britain’s exit from the European Union.

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A sign at an anti-Brexit demonstration in London on June 20, 2026.
A sign at an anti-Brexit demonstration in London on June 20, 2026.
Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

On June 23, 2016, voters in the United Kingdom elected to formally leave the European Union, a decision that’s profoundly shaped the British economy. Several years after the referendum vote, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal traveled to the U.K. to report on the economics surrounding Brexit, where he met Samantha Wallace, the owner of the honey stall From Field and Flower located in London’s Borough Market.

Wallace, who imports much of her honey from Europe, has spoken with Ryssdal regularly throughout the years, and they spoke once again on the 10-year anniversary of the decision. The topic this time: What’s changed in the decade since Brexit?

“The costs are pretty hefty,” said Wallace. “We have all the extra paperwork, the red tape, so this is a whole new language and stress level, because we're, of course, not in control.”

Wallace and Ryssdal also spoke about the uncertainty surrounding the departure of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and how travel costs are affecting her business.

To listen to their conversation, use the “listen now” button below the headline.

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