How is Great Britain looking from abroad?

[longwayoff]

I've seen various remarks that other countries are confused by our current situation, although surely Ukraine's running it close. Any comments from outside UK mumsnetters?

Yes, from here it looks completely absurd. The Yeltsin years in Russia were less of a shitshow.

I’m from the U.K. but living and working in the ME. The Europeans that I work and socialise with are horrified that it’s such a shit show and can’t really believe it. There’s a lot of bewildered head shaking (from me too).

It's looking pretty fucking confused frankly, and the analogy about the kebab shop seems pretty accurate.

I've given up trying to follow what's going on. I've lived overseas for over 11 years (non-EU country, but BOTC) and at this point it's like watching a car crash in very slow motion.

They are building a massive lorry park on my side of the channel. That's to park all the lorries that will be blocked at the border.
It's a shame because this area was a nice grassland area and now it's a massive parking with a huge fence.

Massively confused. Every time I think I have a grasp on the actual legal process, the actors themselves behave in such illogical ways that I think I must surely not understand some procedural issue. It doesn’t help that when you try to understand by reading the brexit board, many of the posters are adamant that X or Y will happen. At first I took them at face value, but now realize they are just engaging in wishful thinking and not basing their assertions on any facts.

I try not to judge, be cause here in Canada we still get it wrong a lot of the time. Our politics lurch left and then right every few years, and still ignore the problems in our North.

But still, you lot have a crazy pants situation going on!
No one knows what's going to happen, who will be in charge, what it will cost, or how to make anything better!

Originally from the UK. Been living in Spain for 11 years, long enough to take nationality thank goodness. People seem to be shaking their heads in pity about the state of the UK. What a mess.

A friend is on a school trip there at the moment (she's a teacher and her class are in London for the week), she's been messaging me WTF all week.

Was in Trier, Germany a few weeks ago. They had a parade on. One of the floats was about Brexit. Big banners with London Bridge is falling down on it.

They where flying the Union Jack upside down (a sign of distress). Don’t know if it was intentional or not.

An unbelievable mess and a lot of entitlement (sorry).
I have really tried to understand your 'way' of politics during Brexit... Still none the wiser 😀.
Scandinavia here.

Living in Canada. The kindest take on it is that people are loving the drama. It usually seems more like pointing and laughing though.

That said, I imagine it varies depending on your social circle; there's almost certainly not a uniform Canadian view (or one for any other country).

Complete mess, a joke and just confusion. I spend everyday here in Spain angry and sad. No one will hire me as they don’t know what will happen with Brexit, they are refusing my application for a bank account. I’m so angry at people in the uk messing with my life especially those who voted as a joke or didn’t understand the consequences. I wasn’t born in the uk but a country that was owned by them at the time so I might be forced to live in a country I wasn’t born in!

A place Europe now considers a joke.

Was chatting to some Spanish friends (am in Spain atm). Yes we are a laughing stock. It’s embarrassing.

It looks very depressing from here. My Dad came to visit recently and was asked "So what do you think about Brexit?" over and over again.
It got on my tits.

Am British but have been in the Middle East for nearly 10 years. Honestly, people here aren’t really talking about it and it’s not getting much media coverage. I feel quite distant from the whole thing.

DH was in Germany on business last week. It came up...

I live in France and honestly no ones mentioned it to me. Unsure why, seeing as it now feels like it's the elephant in the room

Like an absolute car crash of a shit show.

My circle tend to swing between finding it hilarious, in a disbelieving way, and being horrified that it’s happening.

I'm in Ireland, 6km from the border. It's mentioned. A lot.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername I read on another thread that the tone is quite annoyed due to all the hassle it's causing Ireland

In both Romania and the Netherlands it's implied quite heavily that the UK's been stupid.

That's what one friend sent me

It's cringeworthy. It's difficult for us to keep up with the Brexit news. Before the first vote, DH wanted to move us back. My husband finally gave up after two years into this mess and we finally bought a home here.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I'd say about two-thirds of the country feels like you do, furious and or embarrassed for us and a third are still at the unicorn farm, ticket in hand, waiting for the wonder that will be brexit. Parliament is discussing the revoke petition signed by 6m people a t the moment and a group of naked people have glued their hands to the rails of the Strangers Gallery which overlooks the debate.MPs are continuing with business dropping in occasional remarks like 'bottoms up'. I'm sorry people, two thirds of us didn't want this and I hope it will be revoked.

I'm
On holiday in nz.

Everyone here totally like "WHAT THE FUCK!!" And "CAN YOU EXPLAIN BREXIT CAUSE ITS A MYSTERY." Or the other unanswerable "why?"

Apart from
The one Trump lover who thinks Brexit should be hard and fast.

I’m in Ireland and it looks like a total shit show. What are you up to? It’s like you gave a group over over excited 5 year olds a decision to make and expected a good outcome. Irish people from the Republic of Ireland are generally horrified by what’s unfolding and the prospect of needing a passport to visit my sister 50km up the road.

I live in the UK, but I'm American. I'm not really sure who's looking worse, to be honest!