What is “Brexit”? “Brexit” is a media nickname for a referendum vote that took place in the UK on the 24th June 2016. It decided that the UK should leave the EU. It took place because the Conservative party leader, Prime Minister David Cameron, was worried that more populist politicians on the right of his party might take away the votes from his party. He therefore promised a referendum to settle the question if he won last year's General Election. He won the election and se