They still do it now. Also other countries in the EU also do it. It's like now everything is blamed on the war in Ukraine, before that Covid. Of course there are usually many factors to complex problems but that is not really the issue, the problem it is the ignorance, stupidity or bigotry of the population that can only understand simple solutions or lies (e.g. build a wall). They are willing to not only swallow the lies, but also stand by the people that lie to them. This is what led to people voting Johnson in to "Get Brexit done", and then Truss doing her "Britannia Unchained" on the economy. These things were obviously going to be a disaster, but the people voted for everything they are experiencing. How can it be the politicians' fault without it being the British populations' fault?
Personally I find it weird when people write the country deserves better politicians. Why? The population doesn't vote for better politicians, it votes for the liars, the corrupt, the racist because they align with the British populations' own values. To solve this we have to recognise that the problem is the ignorance, stupidity and bigotry of the British population (especially the English).
