A recent analysis suggests the Brexit vote, ten years on, was a symptom rather than a cause of rising populist, identity-based, and authoritarian movements in Europe and the Americas. The assessment disputes the notion that Brexit directly fueled these political trends. Instead, it frames Brexit as a significant manifestation of pre-existing, deeper structural changes already underway. The analyst argues these shifts were independent of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. This perspective challenges common narratives linking Brexit to broader global political developments. The analysis offers a counterpoint to interpretations that position Brexit as a pivotal event triggering wider political upheaval. It suggests a need to re-evaluate the causal relationship between Brexit and the rise of populism.