226. How Brexit Happened: Prof. Katy Hayward
29 June 2026
About This Episode
Brexit did not happen overnight. It was the culmination of decades of political change, public debate, leadership decisions and constitutional tensions.
In this conversation, Professor Katy Hayward traces the road to Brexit from its origins through the referendum and its lasting consequences for Northern Ireland, Ireland, Britain and Europe.
Topics include the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish border, sovereignty, Westminster politics, the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Windsor Framework, UK–EU relations and why Northern Ireland now occupies a unique place at the centre of post-Brexit politics.
Rather than debating personalities or party politics, this episode seeks to explain the historical context behind one of the most significant political events in modern European history.
Professor Katy Hayward
Professor Katy Hayward is Professor of Political Sociology at Queen's University Belfast and one of the leading academic authorities on Brexit, the Irish border, the Good Friday Agreement and UK–EU relations. Her research focuses on conflict transformation, constitutional politics and the political future of these islands.
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