If you're Welsh & voted Leave - Why?

[Cjamm]

I posted this in chat but zero responses so thought it'd best to move it here.

I was really surprised by the Welsh vote, Wales has really benefited from being in the European Union e.g

Swansea University's new Bay Campus was only possible because of the £40 Million from the European Structural Funds which came from a finance package of £60 million from the European Investment Bank.

The National Waterfront Museum, which includes a gallery, exhibition and library, benefited from £3.7m of EU funds when it was constructed.

5.8m of EU funds was made available for Quadrant Intermodal Transport Centre, led by the City & County of Swansea, which replaced the outdated and rundown bus station.

£9.6m EU funds were invested as part of Neath Port Talbot Regeneration project which included schemes to help make improvements in and around the town centres as well as a purpose built Community Enterprise Centre.

1. When you voted did you not care/consider about the financial benefits Wales receives from the EU?
   

1. Do you think Westminister (that only cares about London/SE) will honestly make up the funds instead?
   

1. Was it really immigration and if so why? Was it fear of job loss/overcrowding or was it the refugee issue on the mainland. Do you really believe immigration can be capped/slowed down just because we're leaving the EU?
   

1. The EU army is not a legitimate answer, it doesn't exist & it never will!
   

1. Are you worried at all? This doesn't mean you regret your choice but are you worried about the economy or the possible breakup of Great Britian? Did you expect that Scotland/N.Ireland might leave because of the vote?

[nightandthelight]

Following as I am also very confused by this. Wales benefits massively from the EU and Westminster will not make up the difference :(

[doleritedinosaur]

I'm Welsh but I voted remain but someone in my family voted leave because no one speaks English in one part of town.

I even said are you sure it's not Welsh? & the regeneration of the town was EU funded, the beaches they enjoy going to EU funded to clean & get beautiful again.

Sadly it was more a "get them out & stop them coming here" reasons than actual proper reasons like financials & everything else.

[chairandchairalike]

I'm Welsh and voted remain but an acquaintance of mine who voted out said it was because they feel like the poor relation in north wales compared to South Wales (although how not being in the EU will help I do not know!)

[nightandthelight]

Does anyone have any idea what will happen to Wales now? I am very worried about our future with such a significant cut to our funding. If anyone is able to reassure me (with facts) that would be great!

[ssd]

I think you'll be waiting a while nightandthelight....

[Cjamm]

These weren't the answers I was hoping for 😫😵

Nightandthelight, although it's bloody unlikely, I'm really hoping Westminister steps up to their Brexit promises & makes up the funds.

[ssd]

come on cjamm, do you really think Boris Johnson and Michael Gove will care what happens in wales?

wales is fucked, along with the rest of us

[Cjamm]

ssd, I know we are 😫 I'm just trying to make sense of why people would do this to themselves? Were their racist, stupid views so important to them that they've done this to all of us.

[nightandthelight]

I struggle to believe that Westminster will give us the funds but I very much hope to be proved wrong! I'm struggling to see a positive future for Wales now. Did people not understand where the funds for regeneration etc were coming from?

I am genuinely bewildered and would love it if people came along and said that they had voted leave for sound economic reasons and that actually there is a plan in place that will see Wales thrive. I just hope the decision wasn't made without knowing the facts!

[ssd]

yes, I thinks thats just it, they want to believe that the forriners have made this country poor, when really its austerity that done that....and now the very people who need the eu laws on welfare and working conditions are in the hands of boris and michael gove and farage, who all want rid of the nhs and the welfare system

[nightandthelight]

The Welsh NHS is already under attack with English politicians describing the Welsh border as the line between life and death (horrifically inaccurate). Obviously health is devolved but with less funding into Wales it will be under increased strain which will only strengthen the arguments for its removal :(

[nightandthelight]

Just saw a thread on FB where a Welsh person has stated that under the EU we are incapable of making our own laws. Also we don't have to spend so much money on the EU. She also then states that there is more but she doesn't understand/remember it. I really hope not all the leave voters have such poor reasons as that!

[ssd]

she actually sounds quite educated for a leave voter

[ssd]

she'll be writing next that some of the £350 million saved every week can now be spent on wales.....

[BlunderWomansCat]

There's no way BoJo et al are going to make up the losses that the EU granted Wales. Your on your Jack Jones.

[HopeArden]

I am in Wales and voted leave for the same reasons people in England did. Because the EU is corrupt, undemocratic, does not seem capable of addressing legitimate concerns of people in its member states. Was horrified by how Greece got dictated to by Merkel, Cameron has lied about Turkey joining the EU, I have fears that TTIP will ruin the NHS, I want the right to kick out criminals from the EU without being told they have the right to remain here if they choose to. I want to vote for my govt and vote to remove them. These are not Wales specific issues but affect Wales as much as England.

[Frazzled2207]

I'm Welsh living in england and am also baffled. Wales has benefitted loads from EU investment I hope the leave voters realise what a massive blip this will mean for the welsh economy

[ssd]

do you realise how much money wales will lose without eu funding hopearden? or do you think that doesn't really count? or do you still believe that westminster will make it up to wales?

[bazingasheldon]

I am Welsh and there are 8 members of my family who work/worked on every one of those projects mentioned on in the OP.

[bazingasheldon]

In answer to your question though from what I have heard out and about, the racists turned up to vote.

[HopeArden]

I am not a leave voter who thinks that the EU is all bad. It has done some good things, but on the whole I do not believe it to be a force for good. I can't vote to remain just because it paid for some regeneration.

Wales could do a lot with the money being pissed up the wall by the EU in paying bloated former politicians like the Kinnock family (amongst many others).

I hope the Westminster govt invests here but we have much bigger problems than scruffy bus stops and poorly funded museums. There is no industry, no work. The EU hasn't helped us there.

[Shitonyoursofa]

I am Welsh and yesterday I was ashamed of my country, I cried all day. In addition to the above, the regeneration of both Cardiff Bay and the Valleys was hugely supported by EU funding - I don't know whether people don't know this, or just don't care. Westminster isn't going to give a shiny shit about us once we're 'out' and we only have ourselves to blame. I personally only know a very small handful of people that voted out, and it would appear it's for the same reasons most people did - with the perception that we are somehow 'taking back' power.

Dw i'n ddigalon iawn heddiw :(.

[Cjamm]

So HopeArden do you think a leave vote will create an industry & jobs? Do you think Westminster will actually bother with Wales?

What on earth was the EU suppose to do about Wales' economy that's always been a Goverment issue, the EU was trying to help ease the financial burden on Wales, investing in towns & beaches & libraries that you're so easily dismissing.

I'm genuinely curious on what you expect Westminister to do for Wales now? What do you expect to happen in Wales next?

[BlunderWomansCat]

Not to mention fracking, which was subject to EU law and now isn't allowing companies to operate outside of EU environmental laws, which no longer apply.

[honeysucklejasmine]

Our economy was always ours to control. The idea that Westminster will give even the slightest fuck about Welsh industry is ludicrous.