EU Nationals can I ask ......

[Jampot1]

Firstly let me say this is a genuine, non goady thread, I really am just after your own personal view.

After Brexit what are your views of Britain and the British people, not the politicians, but just ordinary people. People like you, who are deciding what to eat tonight, when to do the ironing ...... just living an ordinary life. Do you hate us all, as some of the Press would have us believe? Does Brexit bother you, do you even think about it?
I’m asking because I was reading the news today and with everything going on with France I actually thought to myself “they hate us” and then I wondered do the ordinary members of the public in EU countries feel like that ?
Personally I’m just trying to get through life and the politics of other countries aren’t on my radar. But how do you genuinely feel?
If you do reply, please, would it be possible to say what country you’re from.

No, I don't really think about it. Nor do I hate anyone, what an odd thing to say. I did, however, feel very unwelcome around the time when Brexit happened. It wasn't that anyone in particular made me feel that way, but there was general atmosphere that made me sad and uneasy.

I don't hate anyone, but I've been made to feel unwelcome on quite a few occasions after the referendum. I am more distrustful now than I was before.

I am Spanish, have lived in a variety of countries including UK (the country that's still home for me), currently in Germany. I have dual nationality, both are EU passports. I keep a close eye on both European and UK news as it affects me, my friends and relatives all over the continent and the isles.

I most certainly don't hate any British people. And I never would due to Brexit unless we count Boris Johnson. I know people who voted both leave and remain, I don't categorise them according to their Brexit preferences. Some of the loveliest people I met in England were leavers. I don't give it a second thought in day-to-day life though. It's as if you told me you were married or single. Couldn't care less.

I don't know of anyone in the EU who genuinely hates British people. What I do find sometimes is an attitude of 'well, can't say they don't deserve X' or 'you can't have your cake and eat it'.

For example when some people complained about the EU Covid passports, and that some countries didn't reciprocate with NHS passes (this goes both ways as the UK didn't recognise EU passes at the beginning). People not realising what they - or those around them - voted for and getting enraged when rule changes affect them. Passport validity, need for visas to work or study, higher cost of importing certain items, border controls, extra tax.

I find some British people just expected for everything to continue like before - to be out of the EU but still benefit from some of the things they offer.

In my line of work it's become much more difficult to work and travel between the UK and the EU, which is something many of us do on a weekly basis sometimes. I'm in performing arts and you need special work permits, passports for the equipment we carry, customs declarations every time you go in and out. You get a call to work in Birmingham tomorrow but you're currently in Austria - not so east to just jump on a plane anymore. There's a lot of paperwork involved. Our accountants are certainly busy.

I do feel sorry for those people who voted remain and are now suffering consequences of Brexit. People whose children won't benefit from school exchanges, students who won't be able to take part in Erasmus. Families who won't be able to visit their relatives with such ease anymore. Those who would've liked to take a gap year and spend a few months working in different countries and learning the culture. It will still be accessible to those with money, but kids from a poorer background won't have it so easy anymore.

I think it's sad that culture and science and many other industries will suffer the effects of Brexit for a while. Highly skilled professionals are looking for work in other countries. If you look at the BBC Proms, they presented an almost 100% British programme this year - the level was so much lower than in previous years. It had nothing to do with Covid because we were touring all over Europe during summer.

At the end of the day the EU isn't perfect either, and both EU and UK have behaved like spoiled children in this. I try not to judge either party by its politicians, my opinions would be very different then.

Some friends' parents who thought all EU immigrants were scroungers who came over for the benefits and to steal their jobs were surprised to learn I had a degree, paid my way and actually contributed to UK society. I think many people with these ideas have never actually had a conversation with an EU immigrant to learn what their life really looks like.

Must add, I moved to the UK shortly after the referendum and thankfully have never felt unwelcome or uneasy. But I was in London and my social circle was very international and of a young age.

Thank you so much your replies …. I think our Press has a lot to answer for.

@EileenGC

I am Spanish, have lived in a variety of countries including UK (the country that's still home for me), currently in Germany. I have dual nationality, both are EU passports. I keep a close eye on both European and UK news as it affects me, my friends and relatives all over the continent and the isles.

I most certainly don't hate any British people. And I never would due to Brexit unless we count Boris Johnson. I know people who voted both leave and remain, I don't categorise them according to their Brexit preferences. Some of the loveliest people I met in England were leavers. I don't give it a second thought in day-to-day life though. It's as if you told me you were married or single. Couldn't care less.

I don't know of anyone in the EU who genuinely hates British people. What I do find sometimes is an attitude of 'well, can't say they don't deserve X' or 'you can't have your cake and eat it'.

For example when some people complained about the EU Covid passports, and that some countries didn't reciprocate with NHS passes (this goes both ways as the UK didn't recognise EU passes at the beginning). People not realising what they - or those around them - voted for and getting enraged when rule changes affect them. Passport validity, need for visas to work or study, higher cost of importing certain items, border controls, extra tax.

I find some British people just expected for everything to continue like before - to be out of the EU but still benefit from some of the things they offer.

In my line of work it's become much more difficult to work and travel between the UK and the EU, which is something many of us do on a weekly basis sometimes. I'm in performing arts and you need special work permits, passports for the equipment we carry, customs declarations every time you go in and out. You get a call to work in Birmingham tomorrow but you're currently in Austria - not so east to just jump on a plane anymore. There's a lot of paperwork involved. Our accountants are certainly busy.

I do feel sorry for those people who voted remain and are now suffering consequences of Brexit. People whose children won't benefit from school exchanges, students who won't be able to take part in Erasmus. Families who won't be able to visit their relatives with such ease anymore. Those who would've liked to take a gap year and spend a few months working in different countries and learning the culture. It will still be accessible to those with money, but kids from a poorer background won't have it so easy anymore.

I think it's sad that culture and science and many other industries will suffer the effects of Brexit for a while. Highly skilled professionals are looking for work in other countries. If you look at the BBC Proms, they presented an almost 100% British programme this year - the level was so much lower than in previous years. It had nothing to do with Covid because we were touring all over Europe during summer.

At the end of the day the EU isn't perfect either, and both EU and UK have behaved like spoiled children in this. I try not to judge either party by its politicians, my opinions would be very different then.

Some friends' parents who thought all EU immigrants were scroungers who came over for the benefits and to steal their jobs were surprised to learn I had a degree, paid my way and actually contributed to UK society. I think many people with these ideas have never actually had a conversation with an EU immigrant to learn what their life really looks like.

Great post

No. I hate Brexit, but it's not something I think about day in day out. I'm still in civil terms with my British friends who supported it - although absolutely won't talk politics with them. I'm just trying to get on with my life just like everyone else. It adds extra annoyance into my life, but I have bigger problems, if I really want to worry about something.

I'm Irish.

I think that it was all a bit turkeys voting for Christmas. At the beginning, it kind of felt like the UK were flexing and threatening to flounce out of the EU only for the EU to call their bluff. I remember logging in to Mumsnet the day the UK voted to leave the EU and seeing all the posts from people who's lives depended on an EU-related job, who voted for brexit 'just to make a point'. Farmers and Fishermen who voted for Brexit but still expected to keep their EU subsidies and were fucked without them, People who's kids were on EU bursaries or studying in Europe voting for it.. and it absolutely baffled me. Just...why?

I've UK family members who voted for brexit, and from talking to them, the fundamental reason for their pro-brexit stance is they want the UK to be like it was prior to UK joining the EU when the NHS was new and sparkling, there was economic prosperity and neighbours all helped each other. But the darker side of their reason are that they want the UK to be 'whiter'. They are openly derogatory about immigrants now, and I feel very saddened that they are like that - and wondering if they were always like that, or changed somewhere along the way. Either way I think far less of them than I used to.

I feel that the UK is heading into trouble - it'll right itself after several years, but in the interim for many it'll mean a lot of hardship - and no politician will struggle or suffer, it will be people on low incomes, people who are on disability benefits, pensioners and other vulnerable who'll get flung into poverty and despair. And all the money that the government claimed they'd save from EU coffers will never get put where it needs to go most.

Ireland is going to struggle a bit too, our economy will likely take a dip what with being so geographically close we always had a lot of common trade and all that, but it won't be to the extent the UK will experience, as we've got the EU at our backs.

My Dh is an EU national, he certainly doesn’t hate brits. He always enjoyed living and working here, but he is increasingly frustrated by the EU/EU nationals being blamed for everything by the UK gov. He has paid tax here for 26 years (engineer) and barely used the NHS.

Hate is a strong word ...I wouldn't say I hate, maybe dislike. I sometimes felt unwelcome well before Brexit (I have been living in London on and off for 27 years).The Brexit result was not a total surprise,just really crystallised the unwelcome feeling.
Some people decided to just listen to the silly narrative spouted by some of the Press,like the "Europeans stealing jobs,Europeans come here for the benefits" etc...now we are all paying for it.
On a positive note for myself and my family ,we have settled status and our European passports so in the future we can stay or move on (something that the people that voted for Brexit decided to forfeit ! ).

Thanks for your replies ….. I know Brexit is an emotive subject so that’s why I’m asking for your opinions on a “person to person” level.
Windmill when you say dislike, do you mean our Government or “me” personally because I’m British?

I'm Irish. Over here we're all baffled that Brexit was voted in. It felt like watching a car crash. The press on this side of the pond did a very good job in reporting on the situation and predicting what might be the outcome. I always had the feeling that British people didn't get the same clarity and honesty from their politicians and the press. I don't feel any animosity towards British people but I do feel that the concept of "Great" Britain is long gone, the empire, the colonies, the commonwealth the overseas territories, the notion of ruling the waves, instead Britain waives the rules. I've often wondered what version of history is taught in UK school, here in Ireland we were taught about joining the EU and what the benefits have been for us and other member states. And we learned about the illegal occupation of Ireland for 800 years and the deaths of about 1,000,000 Irish men, women and children during the famine and the forced emigration of another 1,000,000 people whilst enough food existed on the island of Ireland to feed the entire population but the absentee landlords resident in England had it exported for profit whilst burning tenants out of their cottages to evict them. We don't blame ordinary decent English people for that, I'm sure your Press at the time didn't give it any great coverage. If it comes to it, I'm pretty sure we won't let you starve.

The situation in Northern Ireland remains very delicate and peace is balanced on a knife-edge. BoJo and his lackeys don't give a flying fuck (my first MN swear word) about Northern Ireland who voted to remain, same for Channel Islands and Isle of Man whose residents didn't even get to vote. I feel huge sympathy for families in Britain trying to cope with fuel shortages and some empty shelves in supermarkets.

I used to enjoy shopping from Joules, Boden, Land's End and a few more, and trips to London for theatre and shopping, that's just too much hassle now, that's the effect of Brexit on me apart from the worrying feeling in my stomach about Northern Ireland. As my DC are in their teens now I feel that third-level education and career opportunities may be a little more limited.

My Dh is an EU national
There's no such thing as an "EU national". The EU isn't a nation. Although sometimes it thinks it is, and behaves as if it wants to be, and I think that's why many people wanted to leave - because of the EU's ambitions to become another USA.

You’re kidding right. If any country wants to follow the USA it’s the UK under the Tory party.

Anyway if all you can do is nit pick my terminology that’s says more about you tbh. My DH is a DUTCH engineer. That clear enough for you!

@MrsFin

My Dh is an EU national There's no such thing as an "EU national". The EU isn't a nation. Although sometimes it thinks it is, and behaves as if it wants to be, and I think that's why many people wanted to leave - because of the EU's ambitions to become another USA.

An EU National is a national of an EU country. Is that phrase difficult to understand?

When you say "it thinks it is" and "it wants to be" what or who is 'it'?

Where, how or when did you form the opinion that the EU wants to become another USA?

@MrsFin

My Dh is an EU national There's no such thing as an "EU national". The EU isn't a nation. Although sometimes it thinks it is, and behaves as if it wants to be, and I think that's why many people wanted to leave - because of the EU's ambitions to become another USA.

Sorry but this is a daft comment. It's clear that "EU national" means "national of one of the EU member states". You are just looking for any excuse to slate the EU.

@Jampot1

Thanks for your replies ….. I know Brexit is an emotive subject so that’s why I’m asking for your opinions on a “person to person” level. Windmill when you say dislike, do you mean our Government or “me” personally because I’m British?

It's a mix of Politicians past and present and the people that got sucked in by the rhetoric. I dislike that I have been put in the position to apply to be able to stay here after 20 something years of paying taxes and contributing. It was made very clear that whatever I do and whatever my feelings are towards this place and the native population I will never fully belong. To be honest the only reason we are still here after the vote result in 2016 is because we just bought a property and because my husband career was and is still going very well,otherwise we would have left without looking back. The plan is to move on at one point in the future.

I really admire British culture and it was a big trip for me and my family to visit London when I was a teenager.

I like British people, but I hate your government. Most of my criticism is not for the people it is for the government.

I personally feel that they have done a major disservice to you all. They have intentionally put you in a worse position and I don’t think it is right for the British people to suffer.

I don’t see how what is happening is going to help the average British family have a better quality of life. And that makes me sad and just wishing that the British people would really give Boris and his cronies a good kick in their asses.

I know people think whenever I criticise the Uk and compare to Sweden, that I’m being mean spirited. But I’m not.. this is my point of reference to compare. My criticism comes from concern that this beautiful culture and land is being driven into the ground by a bunch of greedy, money grubbing goons who only have their own interests at heart.

I was born and bred in the UK but have lived half my life in the EU and now am a citizen of an EU country since Brexit.
I can't tell you what EU nationals living in the UK feel about British people but most people in my EU country have no particular opinion on the British. If anything they feel a bit sorry for how things seem to have gone so badly wrong in recent years. But they don't think about the UK on the whole at all I would say.

@MrsFin

My Dh is an EU national There's no such thing as an "EU national". The EU isn't a nation. Although sometimes it thinks it is, and behaves as if it wants to be, and I think that's why many people wanted to leave - because of the EU's ambitions to become another USA.

And there, ladies and gentlemen, speaks the considered voice of the Brexshitter.

And the rest of us are now stuck on this island with the likes of this ignoramus...

My first trip to London really made me want
To come and live. When my husband and I had the chance. We applied for resettlement and were approved, but I think we just felt that we would be better off back home. So are in the process of moving back to Sweden. What has changed for me is having the feeling of security.. I don’t feel this here anymore unfortunately. I can’t pinpoint if it is Brexit or just seeing just the terrible job the government is doing. I have no confidence in them at all.

I just think turkeys voting for Christmas. I don’t hate the British people, but I really hate part of the British press and think they have a lot to answer for.

I'm Irish. No, don't hate british people. However, I do feel a bit sorry for you all ending up where you are now, even though the majority did vote for it. To be honest, to me, I feel that they must be a bit dim to have done so.

I do feel frustration and annoyance at the complete lack of consideration for northern ireland amongst the majority of british people. Any one who had any interest in maintaining peace would not have voted for brexit.

MrsFin

Nice one 🙄

I don't know anyone in the country I live in who thinks badly of people in the UK. There was a fair amount of incredulity after the Brexit referendum that the British people could have voted for what was offered, but apart from that, it isn't really discussed. I know of no-one who hates the British for Brexit. Why should we? It is not our problem.