Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Politics

Why do Remainers support being in the EU when Brits are not compatible with Europeans?

192 replies

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 08:29

Think of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
These are all former British colonies in which people of British descent have long been socially, culturally, politically, economically dominant.

Because of the fact that the dominant social group in those countries was of British descent that meant that they spoke English, had similar political and judicial traditions to the UK, viewed British history like the Tudors and the Stuarts as "their history", and felt loyalty and amity with the UK.

But, when non-British European migration started happening to those countries post-WW2 and later Asian, African and Middle Eastern migration, things started to change.
Greek, Polish, Norwegian, Italian, Hungarian, German immigrants and their kids in Canada in the 1950s/60s etc didn't feel the same way about Britain that people of British descent did. They were more invested in their own homelands. They may have spoken English, but they wouldn't call the UK the "mother country" or feel loyalty towards it or view British history as "theirs"; rather they'd have been likely to transmit historical grievances against Britain from their ethnic homeland to Canada. An example is how many Italian and Ukrainian-Canadians in the 1960s were demanding that Canada change its national flag from the old Red Ensign flag which had the Union Jack in the corner because they didn't identify with the UK whereas most British-origin Canadians supported the old flag because they did.

Similarly, French-Canadians were demanding bilingualism in Canada and conducing terrorist actions like blowing up mailboxes which had the word "Royal" on as well as demanding the abolition of the monarchy in Canada since they didn't identify with Britain.

In Australia and New Zealand, people of Irish descent have long been the most ardent republicans since they don't feel an attachment to the UK. And, white people of non-British descent like those of Dutch and Greek descent have also been republicans, tend to be the ones most strongly in favour of Australia changing its national flag to remove the Union Jack, and tend to have little care for the UK. This is because they are not of British descent so feel no attachment to it.

This fundamentally goes to show that blood is thicker than water.
Australia, Canada and New Zealand were only loyal to Britain and only strongly identified with it because people of British descent dominated those societies and because they are "blood" relations of British people. By contrast, continental Europeans are generally indifferent to, if not hostile to Britain, since they are not "blood" as proven by the actions of their diasporas like Greek-Australians demanding Britain gives the Elgin Marbles to Greece, thus showing a pro-Greek not pro-British stance whereas an Anglo-Australian would likely favour Britain; or a Cypriot-Canadian demanding that Britain evacuate its bases on Cyprus, thus favouring the Cypriot/Greek position rather than the British one as an Anglo-Canadian may be inclined to do.

Think also about the Dutch settlers in Soutb Africa causing issues. Their disdain for Britain led them to fight the Boer Wars and push for a South African Republic in 1961.

So, given all of that, why would you want to be part of the EU, which is not just a "trade zone" but an attempt to forge a European superstate? Continental Europeans, as demonstrated by the behaviour of their diasporas in Anglosphere nations, are not "blood" or loyal to Britain in the way people of British ancestry are? They are inclined to follow their own biases and cultures and traditions, which often are opposed to the UK, because they are not "us".
They are and their diasporas are either indifferent, or hostile; but they are definitely not loyal.

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 12:39

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 11:40

36 million people voted out. The Guardian tried to paint the majority as stupid and racist. Most of the home counties voted out. Most rural areas voted out. The cities voted remain. The conversations I had do not reflect what you experienced. There were plenty of reasons other than racism to vote out. Particularly as Europeans are mostly white. But it was a useful trope at the time.

I’m fully aware how many voted out thanks - however I do think many were fed ‘not the whole story’ -don’t forget that plenty from the leave campaign were feeding the ‘we can be part of the single market/customs union’ angle too and - the ‘we hold-all the cards’ mentality - 28% didn’t vote and clearly didn’t give a shit - personally if you don’t vote you can’t object that much - I think the Brexiters are making a hoo ha because they know full well that it wouldn’t be the same result now, now everyone has the full picture.

Dragonflytamer · 22/03/2026 12:16

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 12:06

Yould like to have more in common you mean. So would I. I would be a lot slimmer and better dressed for a start.

Yes that is true. I'm sadly getting more and more of an American waistllne...

DeftGoldHedgehog · 22/03/2026 12:10

I am British and a European, thanks. I feel about as much kindred spirit with the US just now as with other less civilised nations with a dictator in charge, i.e. very little.

XelaM · 22/03/2026 12:09

The OP just proves what morons Brexiteers are 🤦‍♀️

Notonthestairs · 22/03/2026 12:09

Brexit knocked 8% off GDP according to the NBER.
It would be foolish to ignore it.

Why do Remainers support being in the EU when Brits are not compatible with Europeans?
intrepidpanda · 22/03/2026 12:08

If a liverpudlian and a glaswegian marry and live happily together one will still be liverpudlian and the other glaswegian. Doesn't mean they cant create a bond and live in harmony.
Same goes for Britain and finland/czechia/France etc

CremeEggThief · 22/03/2026 12:08

Scarlet for your ma for having ya, OP- old Dublin saying...😳🙈😳

quantumbutterfly · 22/03/2026 12:07

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

Hmm

Op, your stance of loyalty to the mother country is playing out with Russia at the moment.
Some countrybods of Russian neighbours will talk of ethnic Russians settling and giving mother Russia a reason to dominate the country. It is what started the encroachment on Ukraine back in 2014.
In China it is part of the reason Tibet is no longer independent, though the inability of Chinese mum's to carry to term at that altitude was an issue.
I doubt Gorbachev would have made that move, he believed in giving countries the choice of independence from Russia, it lost him his job but gained him admiration and loyalty elsewhere.

Power blocs ebb & flow through history. The British empire has ebbed,the soviet empire is in it's death throes, the Chinese empire is in tacit expansion of influence mode.
Not sure where the equilibrium will settle.

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 12:06

Dragonflytamer · 22/03/2026 12:03

I feel I have more in common with a typical French women than a typical American. Other than language I think the UK and US have very little common.

Yould like to have more in common you mean. So would I. I would be a lot slimmer and better dressed for a start.

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 12:05

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 11:48

Yes we know there is a demographic of white privilege home county rural private school type that also voted out. But it isn’t the majority of that type, far from it. Those of us who know plenty of that type know that to be a fact. We also know that some of them are also now pro Reform. Labour is actually pushing them that way with their own divisions and farmer and private school VAT. Labour should not have done that. It’s dangerous territory.

The majority of Conservatives at the time voted out and they weren't all private school. The Home Counties aren't all stuffed with private school voters. Leave voters are comprised of lots of different types of people with different thoughts and views.

The trouble with your assessment is that based on your own bias and views you are lumping leave voters into the same box and giving them the same motives. That meant that the guardian trope (and how you portray leave voters) of racism fell on fertile ground and has damaged political discourse ever since. Its getting worse. And Labour opening up the Brexit can of worms again is extremely depressing as its all going to start all over again.

Dragonflytamer · 22/03/2026 12:03

I feel I have more in common with a typical French women than a typical American. Other than language I think the UK and US have very little common.

ValidPistachio · 22/03/2026 11:56

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

You sound like a moron.

ZenNudist · 22/03/2026 11:56

Tldr

A brief scan tells me OP has not got a single functioning brain cell, has never heard of economics, and doesn't understand geopolitics. Nor indeed are they capable of understanding the evidence of their own eyes about how unsuccessful and damaging BrexShit is for the UK.

curious79 · 22/03/2026 11:53

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 08:41

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Go outside and touch some grass mate.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Notonthestairs · 22/03/2026 11:51

Regardless of who voted for Brexit, it’s damaged our economy.

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 11:48

Yes we know there is a demographic of white privilege home county rural private school type that also voted out. But it isn’t the majority of that type, far from it. Those of us who know plenty of that type know that to be a fact. We also know that some of them are also now pro Reform. Labour is actually pushing them that way with their own divisions and farmer and private school VAT. Labour should not have done that. It’s dangerous territory.

Wednesdaytoday · 22/03/2026 11:45

Weeelokthen · 22/03/2026 11:25

It can be googled instead of me giving you a long winded response. 😁

@EspanaPorfavor has already provided a potted version. You should thank her for making the effort (as I already have) and saving you from having to Google it yourself 😄

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 11:40

Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 11:33

I am originally from a midlands mining town , I’ve been back twice I. Last few years , it is bloody awful, does it look any better post EU - of course not - do I understand the motivation- ? Well when listening to conversations it seems an extremely large percentage thought it ‘would get rid’ of Muslims ( of which they have remarkably few it seems when you look around) - and they magically thought they would suddenly get loads of investment - so do i understand the motivation, yes I do, do I think they got it totally wrong - 100% . But as I said on my previous posts I don’t think the issues in places like this relate to the EU - most people I know who can move out of there and have other options open have done so . Meaning that you end up with a bit of a desolate place full of low paid jobs and old people ( and I’m 64) - and the few immigrants who have moved in ( and it’s not tons) do so because it’s very cheap housing relative to nicer places. If you are talking about familiarity , am in a shopping centre just outside Amsterdam at moment, I’m in Starbucks, just been in sports direct, Holland and Barrett and spec savers - all with great English too, so yep it feels very familiar except cleaner , no potholes and with better service and lighting - get a grip and stop believing the colonial crap ( and it is pure fantasy bullshit) Farage and co feed the isolationists and disaffected with . If the EU split up then it’s different matter as we would all be in the same position competing for investment and business- as it is we have given a lot of our best business to our competitors just over the water , the amount of European headquarters of big global entities here is staggering, new commerce and industry everywhere. You only have to look around ( and we have been to several big city’s here this time plus several very large towns/small cities) to see there is far more buzz and money about

36 million people voted out. The Guardian tried to paint the majority as stupid and racist. Most of the home counties voted out. Most rural areas voted out. The cities voted remain. The conversations I had do not reflect what you experienced. There were plenty of reasons other than racism to vote out. Particularly as Europeans are mostly white. But it was a useful trope at the time.

hahabahbag · 22/03/2026 11:37

I am compatible. End of argument

Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 11:33

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 11:09

Your take is the take of someone who (presumably) voted Remain and doesnt understand the motive of the majority who voted Brexit. That's just a lack of imagination on your part. I can imagine ticking either box pretty easily on the basis that there were good and bad points in 2016

I am originally from a midlands mining town , I’ve been back twice I. Last few years , it is bloody awful, does it look any better post EU - of course not - do I understand the motivation- ? Well when listening to conversations it seems an extremely large percentage thought it ‘would get rid’ of Muslims ( of which they have remarkably few it seems when you look around) - and they magically thought they would suddenly get loads of investment - so do i understand the motivation, yes I do, do I think they got it totally wrong - 100% . But as I said on my previous posts I don’t think the issues in places like this relate to the EU - most people I know who can move out of there and have other options open have done so . Meaning that you end up with a bit of a desolate place full of low paid jobs and old people ( and I’m 64) - and the few immigrants who have moved in ( and it’s not tons) do so because it’s very cheap housing relative to nicer places. If you are talking about familiarity , am in a shopping centre just outside Amsterdam at moment, I’m in Starbucks, just been in sports direct, Holland and Barrett and spec savers - all with great English too, so yep it feels very familiar except cleaner , no potholes and with better service and lighting - get a grip and stop believing the colonial crap ( and it is pure fantasy bullshit) Farage and co feed the isolationists and disaffected with . If the EU split up then it’s different matter as we would all be in the same position competing for investment and business- as it is we have given a lot of our best business to our competitors just over the water , the amount of European headquarters of big global entities here is staggering, new commerce and industry everywhere. You only have to look around ( and we have been to several big city’s here this time plus several very large towns/small cities) to see there is far more buzz and money about

Zonder · 22/03/2026 11:32

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

Your imagination is clearly very active. Perhaps it would be good to actually speak to some Americans, Canadians and Australians so you can see what it's really like instead of imagining.

Weeelokthen · 22/03/2026 11:25

Wednesdaytoday · 22/03/2026 10:11

Originally? Can't say I do. Are you going to explain?

It can be googled instead of me giving you a long winded response. 😁

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 11:09

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 11:04

@Pineneedlesincarpet - history books will always oversimplify, like it or not. Pretty confident my version of events will be seen as the status quo. You can throw in some democracy apathy amongst the young too for good balance.

Your take is the take of someone who (presumably) voted Remain and doesnt understand the motive of the majority who voted Brexit. That's just a lack of imagination on your part. I can imagine ticking either box pretty easily on the basis that there were good and bad points in 2016

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 11:04

@Pineneedlesincarpet - history books will always oversimplify, like it or not. Pretty confident my version of events will be seen as the status quo. You can throw in some democracy apathy amongst the young too for good balance.

TiredShadows · 22/03/2026 10:54

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

You can like to imagine that all you want - but you may want to look into how Canada is building stronger ties with the EU as part of reducing its reliance on the US as the US government grows more unstable.

The UK drastically needs to remove its reliance on the US - our government is pushing towards a digital society where most of our digital infrastructure is US-reliant. This is major part of why the British government is having to walk a tightrope at the moment. We can't say no with our full chest to a country that could pull a major part of our infrastructure. Many countries are moving towards digital autonomy or at least spreading the risk around so no one other country can axe its digital infrastructure - the UK hasn't yet and is already suffering for it.

Swipe left for the next trending thread