Political Identities in Britain During Brexit and Covid: Their Construction and Impact on Preferences and Behaviour

Abstract

Since the Brexit referendum, Britain has been described as a divided society, with Leavers pleased to be ‘taking back control’ and Remainers worried about freedom of movement and economic impacts. This chapter explores the formation and impact of political identities in this context, arguing that Brexit and covid-19 have shaped a complex landscape of political identities beyond simple binary divisions. Using social identity theory and a unique survey approach, we identify five assemblages of political identities: a sense of one's place, one's own and others characteristics, and one's own and other's beliefs (cognitive). Our findings reveal that political identities significantly influence voting behaviour and social actions. For instance, those with identities based on shared characteristics (e.g., ethnicity, gender) were more likely to support Leave and engage in prosocial behaviour during the pandemic. Conversely, those with cognitive-based identities (shared political views) were more likely to support Remain but less likely to change their behaviour to help others during covid-19. This research highlights the complex and emergent nature of political identities and their implications for contemporary democratic politics, emphasising the need to understand both self and other group perceptions to bridge societal divides. Our analysis provides a bottom-up perspective on identity politics, offering new insights into how identities drive political preferences and social behaviours.