Ebbw Vale, once a thriving steel town, voted overwhelmingly for Brexit in 2016, with 62% of Blaenau Gwent residents choosing to leave the European Union. A decade on, the town still bears the scars of industrial decline, and many locals feel the promised benefits of Brexit have failed to materialise. Despite substantial EU-funded regeneration projects, the area remains one of the most deprived in Wales, topping the Multiple Deprivation Index in 2025.
Mixed Feelings on Brexit's Impact
Angela, 77, and Terry Edwards, 80, both voted Leave and say they would do the same today, citing frustrations with immigration and a sense that Wales is treated as England's “poorer relative.” Terry, a former steelworker, notes the town is quieter since the steelworks closed in 2002, which employed around 14,000 people. “It provides employment, not enough for what the town needs,” he says. Angela adds: “We’ve got to stop these boats coming in.”
Raymond Rowland, a retired planning officer, voted Leave but is unsure if he would do so again. He points to a “general decline” and says consecutive Labour governments have “let Ebbw Vale down.” Labour suffered a historic defeat in May’s Senedd election, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK each winning three of six seats in the Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymney constituency.
EU Funding: A Mixed Legacy
EU money funded major projects in Ebbw Vale, including the £350m The Works development, the A465 Heads of the Valleys road widening (£77.3m), and the Ebbw Vale cable car. Planters with EU stars still adorn the library. Yet residents voted to leave. Dr Rachel Minto of Cardiff University says Brexit led to “centralisation within the UK,” with the replacement Shared Prosperity Fund providing less money and less Welsh Government control.
Chris Long, owner of The Vault Collective tattoo studio and record shop, says Brexit has had a “detrimental impact on businesses.” He criticises the “campaign of misinformation” and notes that politicians “told people what they wanted to hear.” Patricia Pitts, who runs Enigma gift shop, voted Remain and says: “I think we’d be much better off had we stayed.”
Deprivation and Political Discontent
Blaenau Gwent is the most deprived local authority in Wales, with pockets of unemployment, low incomes, poor health, and education issues. Christine Gill, a former teacher who voted Remain, says people wanted change: “Everybody wants change. Labour wasn’t giving us the change, so people voted elsewhere.” Ruth Dymond, a London transplant, notes strong community spirit but frustration over youth crime and lack of police.
Stephen Meredith, who emigrated to New Zealand, says the town has lost its bustle. “I don't think we should have gone with Brexit. I think it's worse for Ebbw Vale being outside [the EU].”
Looking Ahead
As the 10th anniversary of the referendum passes, 61% of people in Wales now think Brexit was wrong, according to YouGov. In Ebbw Vale, the hope for change remains unfulfilled, and the town continues to grapple with its post-industrial reality.
