Freakonomics Radio

The Prime Minister Who Cried Brexit

In 2016, David Cameron held a referendum on whether the U.K. should stay in the European Union. A longtime Euroskeptic, he nevertheless led the Remain campaign. So what did Cameron really want? We ask him that and much more — including why he left office as soon as his side lost and what he’d do differently if given another chance. (Hint: not much.)

Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty

David Cameron, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, is the man many people believe to be singularly responsible for Brexit. He has just published a memoir, called For the Record, in which he tries to explain his reasoning. He spoke with us about that as well as the consequences of the West’s non-intervention in Syria and the big mistakes he thinks he, Barack Obama, and Angela Merkel made.

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