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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:
thesealion · 22/03/2026 09:52

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:34

Yes, but European countries don't call UK the mother country or show deference to it or loyally fight to defend it due to a desire to protect their kin like Canadians, Australians and NZers of British descent did/do. They treat UK as one of many European nations rather than the mother country which is the centre and is deferred to.

You think Britain should be treated as a superior “mother country”? I think you’re seriously overestimating the numbers of Canadians, Australians or New Zealanders that think this. That’s not a stance I want anything to do with, way too colonialist and white supremacist for me. So yes, I want to be in the EU because I don’t think the UK is exceptional or better than other countries.

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 09:51

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:40

I suppose those Canadians and Australians you refer to aren't ethnically British which is the whole point. Or, they have been indoctrinated by anti British nationalism which has sought to distance from Britain in those nations since the 1960s

Oh, do explain about ‘ethnic Britishness’. If Canadians who are not ‘ethnically British’ are ‘disloyal’ and don’t genuflect when referring to ‘the mother country’, are you suggesting the same is true of British people living in Britain whose ancestors came over with the Normans, the Huguenots, escaping the Nazis or in the Windrush?

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 09:49

Catcatcatcatcat · 22/03/2026 09:48

What a load of shite!

UK is part of Europe. I feel totally “compatible” with that fact.

HTH

Does "Europe" feel the same about you though...

Catcatcatcatcat · 22/03/2026 09:48

What a load of shite!

UK is part of Europe. I feel totally “compatible” with that fact.

HTH

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 09:48

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 09:42

I definitely want back in the EU. I would say it is a generational thing primarily, Older Brits simply still had some WW2 trauma vis a vis Germans/Spain/Italy/distrust of French and cliches of Eastern Europeans with their past Russian ties. WW2 and Cold War trauma essentially in their psyche.
Brexit was a negligent accident that happened due to demographic voting patterns. It is really as simple as that. Thrown in with a few self serving politicians and Russian bots. Cost us all dearly into the many billions.

That's a massive over simplification of an issue that wasn't black and white at the time. Reasonable people should be able to understand both sides have good and bad points, even if they don't agree. In fact most people seemed perfectly able to at the start of the Brexit debate. It just got too unpleasant and polarised and the UK political discourse has never recovered. In fact the way we debate has got far nastier.

Notonthestairs · 22/03/2026 09:48

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:40

I suppose those Canadians and Australians you refer to aren't ethnically British which is the whole point. Or, they have been indoctrinated by anti British nationalism which has sought to distance from Britain in those nations since the 1960s

Brexit swiped 8% off GDP.
It made the UK poorer.

The argument isnt an emotional one. Its an economic one.

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 09:46

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 09:43

Your husband is just one example. Without going into the rights and wrongs of keeping the Elgin Marbles it isn't a clear open and shut legal case. And plenty of people are interested in the British keeping hold of them. And some are interested in giving away artefacts.

We shouldn't be intolerant of badly worded posts in my opinion. Some people are young or not as well educated as others. And debate is a good thing surely. He/she is trying to have a debate. Shutting down debate is one reason we have the politics we currently have.

There’s badly worded and there’s Rule Britannia, blood is thicker than water, motherland twaddle. Come on , now.

FancyNewt · 22/03/2026 09:44

I have news for you OP. We aren't the big wig colonialists anymore. No one gives two shits what we do.__

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 09:43

My generation and younger less focussed on race/religion/othering, more focussed on common experiences and common histories.

EspanaPorfavor · 22/03/2026 09:43

But if you think Canadians are ethnically British because of history, you must agree that a majority of British people are ethnically European because of history…

Or do you have a cut off point? And if so, how did you decide it?

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 09:43

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 09:36

OP is completely ignoring history and facts. She/he posted a load of rambling word soup that has no bearing in reality.That’s the main issue with her post, not the love or (lack of) for Europeans and vice versa.

My English OH thought the Elgin marbles were actual marbles, just big and possibly Turkish. I (European) had to educate him on that. You can tell by that how much interest he has in the Brits keeping a hold of them.

Your husband is just one example. Without going into the rights and wrongs of keeping the Elgin Marbles it isn't a clear open and shut legal case. And plenty of people are interested in the British keeping hold of them. And some are interested in giving away artefacts.

We shouldn't be intolerant of badly worded posts in my opinion. Some people are young or not as well educated as others. And debate is a good thing surely. He/she is trying to have a debate. Shutting down debate is one reason we have the politics we currently have.

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 09:42

I definitely want back in the EU. I would say it is a generational thing primarily, Older Brits simply still had some WW2 trauma vis a vis Germans/Spain/Italy/distrust of French and cliches of Eastern Europeans with their past Russian ties. WW2 and Cold War trauma essentially in their psyche.
Brexit was a negligent accident that happened due to demographic voting patterns. It is really as simple as that. Thrown in with a few self serving politicians and Russian bots. Cost us all dearly into the many billions.

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 22/03/2026 09:42

You do realise that British people also have a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds, right?

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:40

I suppose those Canadians and Australians you refer to aren't ethnically British which is the whole point. Or, they have been indoctrinated by anti British nationalism which has sought to distance from Britain in those nations since the 1960s

OP posts:
EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 09:39

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:34

Yes, but European countries don't call UK the mother country or show deference to it or loyally fight to defend it due to a desire to protect their kin like Canadians, Australians and NZers of British descent did/do. They treat UK as one of many European nations rather than the mother country which is the centre and is deferred to.

What century do you think this is?

HotRootsAndNaughtyToots · 22/03/2026 09:38

What a load of nonsense

EspanaPorfavor · 22/03/2026 09:37

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:34

Yes, but European countries don't call UK the mother country or show deference to it or loyally fight to defend it due to a desire to protect their kin like Canadians, Australians and NZers of British descent did/do. They treat UK as one of many European nations rather than the mother country which is the centre and is deferred to.

Do you think Canada/New Zealand/Australia defer to Britain and call it “the mother country”?

My Canadian and Aussie friends most certainly would be in hysterics at the thought of this but I’d be interested to hear why you think it is the case?

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 09:36

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 09:15

OP you're getting a lot of abuse on here which is a shame. Obviously most posters love the Europeans (presumably you are differentiating between those the other side of the Channel and us; we are still Europeans). But do you think the Europeans feel the same way about us? Or have ever felt the same love even before Brexit?

I am half British, half an other side of the Channel European country and I'm not so sure.

Edited

OP is completely ignoring history and facts. She/he posted a load of rambling word soup that has no bearing in reality.That’s the main issue with her post, not the love or (lack of) for Europeans and vice versa.

My English OH thought the Elgin marbles were actual marbles, just big and possibly Turkish. I (European) had to educate him on that. You can tell by that how much interest he has in the Brits keeping a hold of them.

KoalaKoKo · 22/03/2026 09:36

Your tie to a specific identity or a bond with a particular landmass isn’t “in your blood” people who shared your DNA existed long before “Britain” was created - naming of landmasses and ascribing identity to people living there is a manmade/artificial construct. That sort of thinking is a small step away from bigotry. British people aren’t “different” or “special” because of their blood - people don’t feel attached to Britain because of “blood” it’s learned behaviour.

Also you do realise Britain when it invaded lots of countries often brought people home with them and also mated with the natives so there is no “pure British” blood line - would all the other countries bloods mixed with the British blood not be having a bit of an internal struggle!

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:34

EspanaPorfavor · 22/03/2026 09:17

I’ve reread the long OP and the premise of the OPs argument is that those of European descent don’t feel British whereas those who are of British descent do.

They then strangely seem to link this to whether or not we should feel European. Because Europeans don't feel British. But British remainers aren’t identifying as individual European countries, rather as European as a whole.

In the same way, I as an Englishwoman do not feel remotely Welsh but I do feel British. I don’t feel German but I do feel European. I don’t suppose the Welsh particularly want an English flag flying in Cardiff but we wouldn’t extrapolate that as them being incompatible with Great Britain.

Yes, but European countries don't call UK the mother country or show deference to it or loyally fight to defend it due to a desire to protect their kin like Canadians, Australians and NZers of British descent did/do. They treat UK as one of many European nations rather than the mother country which is the centre and is deferred to.

OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 22/03/2026 09:30

Sanchez doesnt support dictatorships for heavens sakes.

Blueblell · 22/03/2026 09:24

I think this thread is a bit late - have you been asleep for a long time

dottiehens · 22/03/2026 09:23

EspanaPorfavor · 22/03/2026 08:43

I feel culturally European in the present, you are looking at history. British history is ugly too. The places you have mentioned are far away and expensive to visit, with (especially the US) a very different culture to my own as a Brit (guns, politics, education system…)

I speak other languages, I travel Europe as it’s in my backyard, I have friends from all over the continent.

It isn’t a popular opinion but I honestly think closer union in Europe is a good thing. European values are much more compatible with each other and there is strength in numbers. Look at Trump threatening to ruin Spain financially because they had the balls to say “no to war” but not being able to follow through because Spains in the EU. Starmer on the other hand has a very uncomfortable tightrope to straddle. I’m obviously a remainer.

Spain is not Pedro Sanchez btw. He supports dictatorships.

Kelim · 22/03/2026 09:21

This really sounds like you've been on a deep Youtube run and have lost contact a bit with the world.

Go to the pub, OP, and talk to some humans in your actual community. Get your feet on the ground again.

EspanaPorfavor · 22/03/2026 09:17

I’ve reread the long OP and the premise of the OPs argument is that those of European descent don’t feel British whereas those who are of British descent do.

They then strangely seem to link this to whether or not we should feel European. Because Europeans don't feel British. But British remainers aren’t identifying as individual European countries, rather as European as a whole.

In the same way, I as an Englishwoman do not feel remotely Welsh but I do feel British. I don’t feel German but I do feel European. I don’t suppose the Welsh particularly want an English flag flying in Cardiff but we wouldn’t extrapolate that as them being incompatible with Great Britain.