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AIBU?

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Original poster

Unintended Consequences

241 replies

ZigZagJigsaw · 07/04/2025 13:22

A colleague who voted for Brexit has just been informed she has no right to emigrate to the Netherlands with her family. The reason she wants to move there is because she says NL have a better healthcare system than the U.K. Her youngest child (teenager) is highly dependent on the NHS and apparently that would disqualify them, unless they agreed to not use the public health care system.

The above would apply even if the NL classed my colleague and her husband as highly skilled, which they don’t. British nationals are now classed as third country nationals so they have to relocate as highly skilled immigrants. No more free movement after Brexit.

She’s trying to be exactly the same kind of economic migrant to the NL that she voted to keep out of the U.K. And for some reason doesn’t seem to see the link.

I’m just nodding politely at work but I had to come and vent somewhere.

AIBU to think “you brought this on yourself”?

OP posts:
Elsvieta · 08/04/2025 13:28

To think it? You wouldn't BU to say it. Why don't you?

Didimum · 08/04/2025 13:17

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:09

Well, you speak for yourself!

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Well no - you’re assuming it’s an insult, when it’s really just reality. Do you really think the general public en masse ever could or should have had the knowledge and education to be able to weigh in on such an enormous and far-reaching decision? And not just weigh in – the education and knowledge to decide on a blanket yes or no.

We elect experts to govern this type of wellbeing for us, just as we elect them to safeguard our national security, appetite to risk of expenditure and the safety of our foods and medicines. We elect them because they are educated and trained to make decisions in our best interest with measured responses.

The mind boggles with the referendum, and it will do forever.

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:09

Didimum · 08/04/2025 13:07

I didn’t say the outcome isn’t correct. Doesn’t change that people are and were too stupid to understand the implications of the referendum.

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Well, you speak for yourself!

Didimum · 08/04/2025 13:07

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:00

Well, that’s one view.
Another is that the NL are totally right to deny her entry, as would the UK be if the situation was reversed. The outcome is correct.
It’s only the disillusion of the friend in question that is weird.

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I didn’t say the outcome isn’t correct. Doesn’t change that people are and were too stupid to understand the implications of the referendum.

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:01

DoYouReally · 08/04/2025 09:51

Surely that's further stupidity? Digging heels in because others pointed out it wasn't a good idea.

There wasn't one logical economic, fiscal or social reason to vote for Brexit so yes, I absolutely think it was stupidity.

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There were plenty, actually.

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:00

Didimum · 07/04/2025 13:35

This is one of the many reasons why there never should have been a referendum put in the public's hands. Forgive me but the public are WAY too stupid (understandably) to grasp the complexities of and myriad long-ranging consequences of such a decision.

Well, that’s one view.
Another is that the NL are totally right to deny her entry, as would the UK be if the situation was reversed. The outcome is correct.
It’s only the disillusion of the friend in question that is weird.

Brefugee · 08/04/2025 12:56

Arraminta · 08/04/2025 10:38

No idea.

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IIRC the leave/remain/didn't vote portions were all pretty similar?

Ladyymuck · 08/04/2025 10:59

YANBU I voted to remain as part of Europe and still believe that Brexit is the biggest mistake. I have seen absolutely no positives come from it

Arraminta · 08/04/2025 10:38

Clavinova · 07/04/2025 22:35

Arraminta
I think it's something like a 5th of the population are functionally illiterate?

What percentage of these people were eligible to vote in the EU referendum and bothered to vote in the referendum?

No idea.

Brefugee · 08/04/2025 10:36

My point is that calling people stupid isn't helpful or productive. Play the ball not 5he player.

DoYouReally · 08/04/2025 09:51

Brefugee · 08/04/2025 08:41

See this is what I was saying and it's still going on. This kind of talk (see also: I CBA to vote, Brexit will never happen) is what made some people dig in and vote leave.

Why be so insulting?

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Surely that's further stupidity? Digging heels in because others pointed out it wasn't a good idea.

There wasn't one logical economic, fiscal or social reason to vote for Brexit so yes, I absolutely think it was stupidity.

Wipethedogspaws · 08/04/2025 08:53

TerrifiedPassenger · 07/04/2025 13:25

YANBU

My parents voted brexit and are utterly aghast that they can only spend 90 days in Europe per year now. Plus the visa thing that's coming in, and queues at passport control as they enter for their winter-sun trips.

Not the point is the thread, but they are mistaken. You can spend 90 days in every 180 in the Schengen area on a rolling basis, so that equates to 180 days a year.

Onelifeonly · 08/04/2025 08:47

I'd not be sympathetic either. But to be fair, Boris said we would have billions more to spend on the NHS if people voted to leave. I think that might have been one thing that mislead the less well informed. (If only valid and honest information had been bandied about......)

Brefugee · 08/04/2025 08:41

DoYouReally · 07/04/2025 22:59

It's not a huge surprise that the majority of Brexit voters aren't very intelligent is it?

She's just one of many.

See this is what I was saying and it's still going on. This kind of talk (see also: I CBA to vote, Brexit will never happen) is what made some people dig in and vote leave.

Why be so insulting?

Original poster
ZigZagJigsaw · 08/04/2025 07:56

Parentalalienation · 07/04/2025 23:19

I'm sorry you were asked that question, @Simonjt , but unsurprised. My surname is noticeably not British and I've had quite a few pointed remarks about where I'm really from. Only happened since Brexit!

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I get “that’s a nice tan you’ve got, do you speak any other languages?”. I’ve got an obviously English name, speak English wit a Manc twang 🤷‍♀️. I think what these people are getting at is that I look a bit “foreign” to them because my grandad was from the Caribbean. It never happens in Manchester (or any other city) just when I holiday somewhere like the highlands.

OP posts:
Parentalalienation · 07/04/2025 23:19

Simonjt · 07/04/2025 21:52

A colleague after brexit asked why I was still allowed to live in the UK, I had to explain that Pakistan is not part of the EU, I also cheerily pointed out that if a lot of EU citizens left the UK there would be more opportunities to us Pakistani’s to migrate to the UK, that cheered them up!

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I'm sorry you were asked that question, @Simonjt , but unsurprised. My surname is noticeably not British and I've had quite a few pointed remarks about where I'm really from. Only happened since Brexit!

ZenNudist · 07/04/2025 23:04

I know at least 2 couples in their 70s who voted for Brexshit and fucked up the export market for their businesses.

Oh , and one of the couples wanted to buy a holiday home to winter abroad but that leaves non EU options which are too expensive and take too long to get to.

DoYouReally · 07/04/2025 22:59

It's not a huge surprise that the majority of Brexit voters aren't very intelligent is it?

She's just one of many.

Clavinova · 07/04/2025 22:35

Arraminta
I think it's something like a 5th of the population are functionally illiterate?

What percentage of these people were eligible to vote in the EU referendum and bothered to vote in the referendum?

Arraminta · 07/04/2025 22:31

Never underestimate how woefully uneducated and hard of thinking a huge percentage of the British population are.

Last time I looked, our national literacy levels were lower than Cuba FFS. I think it's something like a 5th of the population are functionally illiterate? Far too many are far too thick.

Clavinova · 07/04/2025 22:27

Simonjt · 07/04/2025 21:52

A colleague after brexit asked why I was still allowed to live in the UK, I had to explain that Pakistan is not part of the EU, I also cheerily pointed out that if a lot of EU citizens left the UK there would be more opportunities to us Pakistani’s to migrate to the UK, that cheered them up!

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Haven't you got a Swedish partner though? Were you born in the UK? Perhaps your colleague thought you came to the UK under EU freedom of movement rules. Apparently nearly 100,000 people born in Pakistan applied to the EU settlement scheme.

Clavinova · 07/04/2025 22:22

ZigZagJigsaw · 07/04/2025 22:21

I’m not sure, I’ve never looked into moving to NL.

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I don't believe your colleague has either to be honest.

Original poster
ZigZagJigsaw · 07/04/2025 22:21

Clavinova · 07/04/2025 20:40

Healthcare in the Netherlands is not even free for most residents though is it? Or not for most adults at least. I thought public healthcare in NL was a mixture of mandatory health insurance, co-payments and optional top-up insurance? Likewise, healthcare in Ireland and other EU countries is not free for most residents.

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I’m not sure, I’ve never looked into moving to NL.

OP posts:
Saint64 · 07/04/2025 22:05

@Brefugee- FYI, dual nationals aren't allowed to apply for an ETA on their "other" passport. We either need to request a "certificate of entitlement" - £550 - or maintain a valid UK passport.

Simonjt · 07/04/2025 21:52

Parentalalienation · 07/04/2025 18:00

My parents live in a far-right liking place. Vote BNP / Reform and voted for Brexit because they were told that the Pakistani and Indian population would be sent home.
They had no idea that most of these people are 2nd or 3rd generation / British citizens and wouldn't be going anywhere... and weren't prepared to listen to anything other than the bigoted views that suited their narrative.
Meanwhile in the real world...
@ZigZagJigsaw you have my empathy.

A colleague after brexit asked why I was still allowed to live in the UK, I had to explain that Pakistan is not part of the EU, I also cheerily pointed out that if a lot of EU citizens left the UK there would be more opportunities to us Pakistani’s to migrate to the UK, that cheered them up!

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