Brexit blues: From Wetherspoon to Next, the corporate bosses who loved Leave until reality hit

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To say that Brexit has been one of the most controversial issues in recent British history would be an understatement.

Battle lines were drawn between Leave and Remain ahead of the historic 2016 vote that saw the UK - finally - exit the EU.

But six years later, reality kicks in and some of the most ardent Brexiteers - including the heads of Britain's major employers - are beginning to change their minds.

From the immigration overhaul to drastic travel changes, some who have campaigned hard to get out of the bloc are now saying 'this is not Brexit we wanted'.

We take a look at some of the more vocal leavers who expressed their frustrations and perhaps didn't get what they wanted.

Lord Simon Wolfson of Next

Lord Simon Wolfson, boss of retail giant Next, now wants more foreign workers

(PA Media )

Lord Simon Wolfson, who was a strong Brexit advocate, now says the UK's current immigration policy is holding back economic growth.

The retail boss said companies should pay a levy on employing foreign workers, to encourage them to recruit in the UK first.

Lord Wolfson told the BBC: "We we have people lining up to come to this country to pick rotting crops in the fields, to work in warehouses that otherwise wouldn't be operational, and we're not letting them in.

" And we need to take a different approach to economically productive migration."

In a Commentary in The Times

The peer is now calling on the UK government to open its borders to more foreign workers.

JD Wetherspoons' Tim Martin

Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin pushed for No Deal

(PA Archive)

< p>Tim Martin has campaigned for a hard Brexit, including...