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EU Nationals can I ask ......

63 replies

Jampot1 · 07/10/2021 12:08

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.

OP posts:
AmyDeirdre · 07/10/2021 18:41

Ireland

Don't hate anyone.

Haven't any time for racism or "foreigners taking our jobs" attitudes. Also a bit shocked at the British supremacy attitudes that have been obvious in the past few years (probably always there but not on the news as much).

Seems to be a bit self destructive. Still don't see any benefits of Leave and lots of negatives but don't really care. I thought Ireland would have been worse affected by Brexit but don't see any major differences, businesses and supply chains all adapted. There are cons but also pros for Ireland.

Fairly obvious what Boris etc thinks of NI too Angry. That is still worrying.

nc4565 · 07/10/2021 18:45

Don't care really. It was up to the British people to decide and they did.

I've got my settled status so I can stay Smile

OchonAgusOchonOh · 07/10/2021 18:54

@SionnachRua - In Ireland, we just have a website: arethebritsatitagain.org/
Grin

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samthebordercollie · 07/10/2021 18:59

France
I don't know anyone who hates the British. The French media are very quick to show "proof" that the Brexit has failed, with queues at the pumps, empty shop shelves and increasing energy prices, but there is no ire towards the British people.
"Newspapers" like the Daily Mail are forever publishing anti French articles and they are often bollucks or very exaggerated.
There is more interest in domestic issues here, such as the never ending pass sanitaire, mask wearing and the Presidential election next year.

Jampot1 · 07/10/2021 21:03

samthebordercollie that’s good to hear. The Daily Mail in particular do seem to like whipping up anti-French feeling!

windmill I’ve just asked my Kiwi sister-in-law about the “whinging Pom” comment ..... she’s laughingly replied “bullsh*t”.

I class myself as British but I do actually have dual nationality (EU country). I’m not planning on getting their passport but my DC might just for ease of travel. I’ve spoken to my parents about any negative attitudes to them after Brexit and they didn’t actually experience any ( I fully acknowledge that it isn’t the case for everyone) the only time they said they felt it was when they first arrived here 40+ years ago.

Thank you for all your replies, I really appreciate it. I’m going now as I there are a few silly little snide comments cropping up and I can’t be bothered with those. Again thank you for all the truthful comments

OP posts:
windmill26 · 07/10/2021 23:00

@Jampot1

samthebordercollie that’s good to hear. The Daily Mail in particular do seem to like whipping up anti-French feeling!

windmill I’ve just asked my Kiwi sister-in-law about the “whinging Pom” comment ..... she’s laughingly replied “bullsh*t”.

I class myself as British but I do actually have dual nationality (EU country). I’m not planning on getting their passport but my DC might just for ease of travel. I’ve spoken to my parents about any negative attitudes to them after Brexit and they didn’t actually experience any ( I fully acknowledge that it isn’t the case for everyone) the only time they said they felt it was when they first arrived here 40+ years ago.

Thank you for all your replies, I really appreciate it. I’m going now as I there are a few silly little snide comments cropping up and I can’t be bothered with those. Again thank you for all the truthful comments

I think your sister in law is trying to be polite. Regarding the snide comments you mentioned; you asked if we European hate you / British people,you got a good mix of replies and I am sure a few have really restrained themselves .With your post surely you knew you were opening a can of worms!
Jampot1 · 07/10/2021 23:09

windmill26 no, honestly she doesn’t do polite……at this point I could say that all people from New Zealand aren’t polite, but I won’t because that’s basically judging an entire country by an individual……and who’d be daft enough to do that !

OP posts:
CliffsofMohair · 07/10/2021 23:19

Irish. Moved home 2 years ago with DH and 2 x English born DC. Lived in NW, experienced some very hostile attitudes in wake of Brexit (“are you allowed to be here?” “You’ve taken a job from an English person”).

Love the British , hate Brexit.

Worry about how it has polarised Northern Ireland even further. Outraged that the peace and security of the province meant so little to 50% of the UK electorate.

Although we hadn’t planned for it, return home has worked out well. DC have settled and integrated. Watch through fingers at the supply chain issues and petrol shortages.

theadultsaretalking · 08/10/2021 00:17

Eastern European married to a Western European (don't want to be too outing). Lived and worked in this country for over 20 years - professional jobs/health care in our respective countries, so definitely net contributors.

Don't hate the British people, but feel desperately sad for the country, that I love - it changed so much from a welcoming vibrant place of the 2012 Olympics to a sad and insular island. I am not saying nationalism is unique to the UK - plenty of idiots in our respective countries also. What saddens me the most is that UK seemed to be the most progressive in terms of positive multiculturalism, where everyone was welcome, and this seems to have been lost.

It also made us question our assumptions about us being a part of this country and accepted by the locals and it definitely stopped feeling like our home, to the point that we have now decided to move back, something we didn't plan at all.

It is desperately sad to be honest.

Geamhradh · 08/10/2021 07:05

@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.
Could you write to the government please? I'm just translating a piece of legislation (62 pages) that gives very clear definitions in several places "You are an EU national...." "EU nationals ..." "In the event that you are not an EU national..."

I'm sure the legislation writers, lawyers, parliament's etc will be ever so grateful for MrsFin of Little Wapping in the Hollow's insights into international law.

Or, y',know, you could just educate yourself and engage brain before bashing on the keyboard.

silja1234 · 08/10/2021 08:17

Don't hate the British people, but feel desperately sad for the country, that I love - it changed so much from a welcoming vibrant place of the 2012 Olympics to a sad and insular island. I am not saying nationalism is unique to the UK - plenty of idiots in our respective countries also. What saddens me the most is that UK seemed to be the most progressive in terms of positive multiculturalism, where everyone was welcome, and this seems to have been lost.

I completely agree with the above post, especially the last sentence. I'm from Finland and arrived here in the 1990s, and while this is my home and I don't hate anyone, I do sometimes feel less welcome than before. I never even used to think about someone possibly resenting me being here, but in the last few years I have felt that and it has been very strange.

Some people seem to react (hostile stares) if you speak a different language in public and I've noticed being 'cold shouldered' sometimes when arriving in a new community for example, especially outside London. I've also had some people confiding in me about their resentment of, for example, there being 'too many' Asian people in particular schools, and I've noticed lots of racism towards Eastern Europeans.

It felt unreal waking up to the result of the Brexit vote, and feeling that a large part of the country that I had called home for 20 years suddenly seemed to want me out!

I feel really sad and shocked at the popularity of the dog whistle politics of Boris Johnson and his cabinet. He appears to me completely false and appealing to the most base instincts of people, courting popularity by stoking xenophobia, racism and old fashioned British exceptionalism.

My country isn't perfect and there is appalling racism and ultra right wing support, but I do believe in the integrity and values of our Prime Minister and her cabinet. The contrast to BJ seems really stark and I'm amazed every day that people here aren't thoroughly sick of him and his lies.

pointythings · 08/10/2021 08:39

I'm a Dutch national living in the UK - been here 24 years and my DDs were born here. None of us have UK nationality because my late husband was a US national.

I don't hate the British, but I am bewildered at their refusal to take responsibility for the consequences of Brexit. Looking at everything that's going on - shortages, fuel panic, impacts on trade - it should be obvious that while the negative impacts aren't 100% due to Brexit (because they are also happening elsewhere), Brexit is absolutely making them worse (because the impacts are less bad elsewhere). And yet the British press, government and Leave-loving public seem determined to not own what they voted for. I don't get it.

My family and I will probably leave at some point. We're so glad we haven't naturalised (Holland doesn't allow dual nationality). It's a shame, because I do love the UK, I love my friends here and I vertainly don't hate the British. I feel sorry for them though, especially the ones who did not vote for all this.

Keladrythesaviour · 08/10/2021 08:45

@EileenGC what a beautiful post. Thank you.
As a remainer the points you make break my heart.

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