The former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Baroness Arlene Foster, has disclosed that she was in support of Brexit.

According to her, it is a necessity to break free from European bureaucracy to enable the UK to regain full control over its trade policies.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, 30th May, Baroness Foster underscored that the decision to leave the European Union was driven by a desire for greater sovereignty and the flexibility to engage in global trade on the UK’s own terms.

"I was for Brexit, and the reason I was for Brexit was that I believe that we needed to move away from the bureaucracy of the European Union to free up trade and to free up businesses, so that the small businesses work, so I was in favour of the Brexit" she said on the show.

Baroness Foster, a prominent figure in Northern Irish and UK politics, reflected on the challenges of EU membership, suggesting that, "There are a lot of tips flying around and making life difficult for a lot of small businesses".

"But I think the idea of Brexit was to allow small businesses to flourish", she added. She mentioned this while discussing leadership and the critical role of women in politics.

The Brexit case itself traces back to a historic referendum held in June 2016, when 52% of British voters opted to leave the European Union.

The campaign for Brexit centred on arguments favouring national sovereignty, controlling immigration, and the ability to craft independent trade deals. The decision set in motion a complex withdrawal process, culminating in the UK’s formal exit from the EU on 31 January 2020.