The most surprising thing about this referendum campaign?

[fourmummy]

I have hugely enjoyed being on MN during this time, having intelligent debates with well-informed people, but I have also found some things surprising. The most surprising thing for me has been the idea that we'll be pushed back to the Dark Ages by the Tories, and that we therefore need EU to protect us against this. I have also been surprised by people's voting intentions in RL, which I wouldn't have predicted. Have you been surprised by anything?

[MrsBlackthorn]

I'm amazed it's this close; I always think of Britain as an outward-looking, internationalist nation. The kind that rejects the kind of right-wing nationalism we see in other countries.

Apparently not.

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

That so many people have really engaged with the referendum

Even a month ago I would hear groans from I am so over it it's so boring now I am hearing far more discussion over which way to vote

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

I am also seeing people reject the system we have keeping those with little or without in their place

[Roonerspism]

I have been genuinely surprised that Bremain supporters thought yelling "Xenophobe" and "Racist" would quash the masses

people are far more intelligent and sophisticated. This has never been about race and Remain was too stupid to see that

[Mistigri]

The thing that's surprised me the most - though it probably shouldn't have - is how little many people know about basic economics and how both national and EU political structures work.

[namechangeparents]

The thing that has surprised me is that although my cousin has a house in France, my aunt is voting to leave.

Daphne du Maurier wrote a novel called Rule Britannia. It's about what happens when the UK leaves the then-EEC in the late 70s and the US takes over. Far-fetched but a good yarn! I'm not sure if it's still in print but probably still available on the likes of Abe books.

[EssentialHummus]

I'm amazed it's this close; I always think of Britain as an outward-looking, internationalist nation. The kind that rejects the kind of right-wing nationalism we see in other countries.

^This. As a foreigner living here, and otherwise feeling very well-integrated, this makes me sad.

[purits]

We are an outward-looking, internationalist nation. It surprises me that Remain seem to think that outward-looking means EU-looking only. There is plenty of Rest of the World to be internationalist with!

I am pleasantly surprised at the nation's engagement with the argument. We have been politically apathetic for too long.

[chicaguapa]

I should be surprised how many people base their views on headlines and sound bites yet still refuse to (re)consider their view when presented with the hard facts. Sadly I'm not.

I am surprised though that we have been allowed to make this decision ourselves when the majority of voters are not casting an informed vote. It makes a mockery of the whole thing imo.

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

I am pleasantly surprised at the nation's engagement with the argument. We have been politically apathetic for too long.

Totally agree hopefully this will continue

[jacksoncannery]

What MrsBlackthorn says.

[Roonerspism]

An uninformed vote because we are stupid and racist?

Sadly, it's that kind of thinking that has led us here.

perhaps I feel Bremainers are small minded and narrow in thinking and middle class with enough money to rise above the issues?

[ForHarry]

I don't think rejecting the EU as it has become and what it may become in the future necessarily shows right wing nationalism.

Read what David Owen has to say. Former foreign secretary and long time EU supporter.

[chicaguapa]

An uninformed vote because we are stupid and racist?

I don't know if that's directed at me (I can't see any other PP that mention informed vote ) but if so, that's not what I said. I'm talking about informed votes based on facts not headlines and sound bites. And whatever your vote might be based on Rooner I don't think you can put hand on heart and say that applies to everyone.

[Roonerspism]

chi everyone I know voting Leave is educated, intelligent, well travelled and left leaning. They are extremely well informed and considered.

The assumption is that pro-Brexit voters are small minded racists who read the Sun.

[Limer]

I've really enjoyed the whole campaign, and like PP have found the MN threads very informative and entertaining (sometimes damned frustrating too).

I've been most surprised by the ignorance of many people I meet in the real world, who genuinely have no idea at all about what the EU is, or what it's for. I've never met anyone who can name their MEP (they usually guess Nigel Farage). And related to that, people credit the EU with every single piece of employment/equal rights legislation since the dawn of time, and imagine that if we Brexit, on 24th June nursing mothers will be put back down the mines, factory owners will put the working week up to 80 hours, and women's pay packets will be slashed in half.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

The most surprising that thing for me about this campaign was the naval battle of the Thames this morning, I mean WTF, this whole thing is like an overwritten farce. The rest of the world must be missing themselves laughing.

[Millyonthefloss2]

The revelation that Michael Gove's parents have flying ducks on their wall.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/36513412

[SpoonintheBin]

I am just surprised at the number of lies people believe in. Complete fabrications. Not just misleading information, but completely made up figures, data, and frankly completely unachievable promises.

[BungoWomble]

I am surprised by the number of people who believe that the EU is responsible for all of Britain's problems. As if 40 years of pro-private capital, pro-vested-interest, anti-democratic, neoliberalism in home politics hasn't happened.

[Turbinaria]

I'm amazed that Bremainers are prepared to give up so much of our democratic rights and self determination to be part of the eu. My ancestors emigrated to UK because they suffered the effects of the lack of democracy in their own country and its something I have always been aware of. I think most British people take for granted the amount of democracy we have in this country and don't think things are going to change as the EU integrates further.

[BungoWomble]

Take for granted the amount of democracy we have in this country??

Not likely. Because we don't have it. Where to start... The destruction of local democratic government over the last 40 years? Even when it does still act in local community's interests they get overruled by central government. The changes to electoral registration making registration more difficult perhaps? The lack of real choice in approaches at election time? The failings of fptp and constituency boundaries? Go and look at the vote percentages compared to seat percentages. They've never matched up, or even pretended to try. There's a name for this system, it's called 'minimal democracy'. Says it all really.

[MrsBlackthorn]

Ok, today's farcical flotilla is the most surprising thing yet. A hilarious high point in a campaign short on laughs.

[Turbinaria]

Bungo you should try living in Hong Kong where you are given the 2 choices of candidate for the leader both carefully selected by the regime in China. China decides what happens in HongKong tells the government there it's laws and expects them to apply them to the population. No chance of the locals actually making China accountable for said laws. Be very careful what you wish and vote for. see the yellow umbrella protests 2014

[RedToothBrush]

Oh yes MrsBlackthorn. Totally agree.

This really made me smile

warning, may contain actual humour