No they weren't. The were given the option to leave the EU.
Despite the shouts of "Taking Back Control" there was no guarantee whatsoever of preventing influx of population. If conditions require it or even if certain people believe it is better for their bank balance to have an influx of foreign labour, skilled or unskilled, then there will be an influx of foreign labour regardless of the UK's status with the EU.
If it comes to increasing wages for undesirable jobs, increasing costs to train people or simply increasing the scale and scope of immigration then immigration wins every single time.