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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:
FiatLuxAdAstra · 22/03/2026 09:17

I really don’t agree with your take on history.
Canada was a French colony for centuries before Britain took it by war. In this case, the British immigrants were the ones changing culture and viewpoints.

The US doesn’t view British history as their history. In fact schools teach very anti British sentiments by glorifying the Revolutionary War and characterising the British monarchy as tyranny. Currently the US disparages the gun free UK, seeing the British as weak and villainous. The homophobic joke ´He’s not gay, he’s British’ plus almost always casting villains in film and TV with British accents show just how little they think of British culture.

I can’t speak on Australia and New Zealand, but I have said enough to show that your sweeping generalisation doesn’t apply to all the countries you listed.

The EU already has diverse cultures, languages, religions and peoples. I don’t think we British are incompatible with other Europeans. In fact our language is the most common second language in Europe which indicates to me that we are more compatible than say the Spanish with the Polish.

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.

Mixerfixer · 22/03/2026 09:12

The EU is not the same as Europe.

Zonder · 22/03/2026 09:08

RedTagAlan · 22/03/2026 08:33

Well, I am a Brit, and looking in a mirror, I am European.

So there is that I suppose.

Same. I am a European.

And that blah about the Elgin marbles, well that's about justice and doing the right thing, which transcends "blood".

None of this matters really since I doubt the OP will return after this splurge.

dwordle · 22/03/2026 09:08

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.

But we are European, and very compatible. We need to rejoin and if you listen to our Australian and Canadian friends.... their argument for us is being part of Europe. I think Canada could soon join to some degree in the future

catinateacup · 22/03/2026 09:06

All I can say is: what a load of old bollocks, OP, which is completely ignorant of the history of British and European culture, art, philosophy, politics, religion and language.

Find yourself something else to obsess about.

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 09:03

PineConeOrDogPoo · 22/03/2026 08:55

RAGEBAIT AI POST by Bot

Username is a few days old and has 2 posts

IGNORE!!

I think this person may be perfectly sincere. I think it’s the same one who used to post, in apparently genuine bafflement, asking why Britain had ‘stopped dominating’ other countries and hadn’t used its Industrial Rev tech to keep other countries ‘weak’ and not let them copy it - after a nc.

ComradeAmoeba · 22/03/2026 09:01

H34th · 22/03/2026 08:56

That’s a lengthy post, but it doesn’t present a strong argument for anything. I expected you to mention how some Brits seem to lack European values entirely- like the young, foul-mouthed ones on scooters, the owners of XL Bully dogs, people wearing tracksuits or leggings even at restaurants, dirty public spaces, lack of appreciation for the arts and music, the population seems less healthy, education levels are declining, less aspiration... I anticipated an argument along those lines…
Which European countries have you been to recently?

I think OP is busy arranging celebrations for QE's 100th birthday, so might not have much time for travelling...

UpTheWomen · 22/03/2026 08:58

Oh, OP, as an actual historian I am here to tell you that this is all patent nonsense. If this rambling excuse for a theory has been sold to you by someone who is trying to justify the UK leaving the EU, you should stand back and look at it with a more critical eye. It’s just xenophobia and jingoism dressed up as pseudo-history. You might as well have added ‘make Britain great again’ at the end. If, as others have suggested, you are headed to university to study history, you need to be ready to be much more critical of your sources.

ComradeAmoeba · 22/03/2026 08:58

PineConeOrDogPoo · 22/03/2026 08:55

RAGEBAIT AI POST by Bot

Username is a few days old and has 2 posts

IGNORE!!

Oh. AS is so useful.

H34th · 22/03/2026 08:56

That’s a lengthy post, but it doesn’t present a strong argument for anything. I expected you to mention how some Brits seem to lack European values entirely- like the young, foul-mouthed ones on scooters, the owners of XL Bully dogs, people wearing tracksuits or leggings even at restaurants, dirty public spaces, lack of appreciation for the arts and music, the population seems less healthy, education levels are declining, less aspiration... I anticipated an argument along those lines…
Which European countries have you been to recently?

MrTiddlesTheCat · 22/03/2026 08:56

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 08:53

Blood traitor! Grin

🤣

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 22/03/2026 08:55

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 08:54

I don’t think they’d last a week. Imagine — studying foreign history? Or events in history where Britain has its ass handed to it? The idea.

They could start with 1066… bloody French coming here and taking our land!

PineConeOrDogPoo · 22/03/2026 08:55

RAGEBAIT AI POST by Bot

Username is a few days old and has 2 posts

IGNORE!!

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 08:54

bozzabollix · 22/03/2026 08:51

I have a History degree. My world view is about as different to the OP as it can be. A history degree would be very enlightening for them. Not sure how much they’d enjoy it because of that enlightenment.

I don’t think they’d last a week. Imagine — studying foreign history? Or events in history where Britain has its ass handed to it? The idea.

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 08:53

MrTiddlesTheCat · 22/03/2026 08:52

I'm British and think the Elgin marbles should be returned.

Blood traitor! Grin

Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 08:52

I am away in Amsterdam for a week , I can assure you as someone who has been to many places you mentioned that I feel more in common here than I did in US- you sound like one of those people who just said ‘well we can trade with the commonwealth’ a

Serenity75 · 22/03/2026 08:52

Has someone been reading a bit of 19th century social darwinisim? Do you feel that human evolution is a battle between races where only the strong will survive and that life should be a struggle (or dare I say a kampf) to weed out the weak? That was nonsense 100-150 years ago and it remains a nonsense today.

the EU is a fantastic trade and cultural organisation that allows lots of small countries to pool their strength and resources. Not perfect, but a damn site better than what came before it.

Also, Europe is culturally pretty similar on a macro level and let’s be honest the differences add strength and not weakness.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 22/03/2026 08:52

I'm British and think the Elgin marbles should be returned.

PineConeOrDogPoo · 22/03/2026 08:51

Did you know that the UK is the biggest single export partner of Vlanders? Geographical Proximity is very important. The English language is a mainly Germanic one with French influence. The UK is geographically and culturally part of Europe. It made a lot of sense to have common trade agreements.

bozzabollix · 22/03/2026 08:51

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 08:47

OP, are you the same annoying poster who was planning to do a history degree and kept coming on here asking why Britain had stopped ‘dominating’ other countries and had let other countries copy the tech it invented during the Industrial Revolution?

Because I really don’t think you should do a history degree. I think you should get out more. Also do some reading of actual books.

I have a History degree. My world view is about as different to the OP as it can be. A history degree would be very enlightening for them. Not sure how much they’d enjoy it because of that enlightenment.

CSIGrissom · 22/03/2026 08:50

This is hilarious!

Honestly, what drugs are some mumsnetters taking last 2 weeks. Is it distributed via MN? I think I would like some😂

DamnBuster · 22/03/2026 08:49

What a bizarre post. Who cares about blood? We want the benefits we used to have from being part of the union. That's it.

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 08:48

Everlil · 22/03/2026 08:47

What have I just read?!! What a load of cobblers! Do you have any experience of living in mainland Europe? It doesn’t sound like you do. I would say there are far more commonalities between the UK and France, Spain, Germany, etc than the UK and the US.

I don’t think the OP leaves his bedroom much.

Everlil · 22/03/2026 08:47

What have I just read?!! What a load of cobblers! Do you have any experience of living in mainland Europe? It doesn’t sound like you do. I would say there are far more commonalities between the UK and France, Spain, Germany, etc than the UK and the US.

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