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?

I'm in Australia. I have lots of people asking me what the fuck is going on. Or sending me funny Brexit memes. All of my Pommy friends are relieved to have emigrated far away from the shit show, and are watching on in horror.

I’m also down under. The initial vote to leave was considered astonishing. Now the situation is seen as bewildering and the political motivation unfathomable, and that applies to all the parties. Features fairly frequently on the news especially sbs news.

OP
Not very great I should imagine

I live in Australia so not exactly in a position to throw stones at anyone else's situation. We've had a revolving door of Prime Ministers in the last few years, ridiculous egomaniacs.

Live in HK. Tbh it doesn't get that much press here. Locals only care about it in as much as it affects them, so people in financial markets care about it a bit. Most people don't have it on their radar. Usual number of expats seem to be moving back this summer regardless.

Fruends/ relatives in Finland, Holland, Italy, Germany and France. They all, without exception, think we have completely lost our minds and are totally confused.

It’s interesting that the biggest supporters of Brexit abroad are Trump and French National Front supporters....Some of them even attended the pro-Brexit March.

Scandinavia here - it looks absolutely baffling. It's humiliating and confusing and yes, the politicians look unreasonablty entitled. Nobody can understand wtf is going on. I cringe every time one of my scandi friends brings it up.

Yes, unfinished, empty vessels make the loudest noise but I'm aghast at the influence they're wielding. Vile people with vile beliefs and international links spreading their tentacles via social media intent on violent disorder. Football hooligans with hi vis vests. Repellent and very dangerous.

Well things are going so well in Europe, aren't they? The gillet jaunes in France, the Vise grad group continuing their sweet undemocratic way while still getting shed loads of money from the EU. I seem to remember that it took Belgium almost a year to form a government recently. The palpable rise of the populist Right in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Italy. 10 Spanish mp's are still under arrest following the Catalonia protests.
I agree Brexit is crap, but let's not pretend that the EU isn't facing it's own problems. The big difference is that Cameron asked the people what they wanted.

I expect you're making a point gone2far. What is it?

“Look, squirrels!”?

@InionEile - Other Irish people might be more charitable.

Not really. Pretty much everyone I know thinks it's typical British arrogance, to think that they can just do what they want with no regard for the consequences. GFA in the way? No problem, it's only the paddies, we'll rip it up. Rules in place to avail of the benefits of the EU? They don't apply to us. After all, surely they know who we are? They'll just give us what we want.

There is also a lot of incredulity at the lack of understanding and knowledge in the general UK populace wrt politics and economics. And as for the notion that running a second referendum is undemocratic - that just shows a lack of understanding of democracy.

Mostly, we're really pissed off at the cost to us to date in no-deal preparations and the potential costs to us, both economic and human, particularly if the peace process is threatened.

That said, the negative feeling is towards the british establishment. Most people wouldn't hold any negative feelings towards the British people on an individual level.

I am on the West Coast of the USA. I have not lived in the U.K. for 22 years, we did live in Germany from 2009-2015 the rest of the time in the US,

My American husband and various others have attempted to discuss what Brexit is all about with me and tried to decipher what they are reading on-line and hearing on the radio and TV. They are generally completely baffled and also are very unclear of the reasons people want to leave. I am of little help.

I am confused because when I phoned home after the vote; my brother with a business in the City of London, a best friend in Croydon and a best friend in Norfolk all voted to LEAVE! I was completely shocked and didn’t understand how they felt leaving would benefit them. They also seemed very vague about and it and clearly were not even sure what form of Brexit that had voted for.

I was very surprised that family and friends had voted to leave and so I mostly feel like I must be out of touch with the U.K. after being away so long.

Now is seems like the political class are trying to demonstrate to the world how completely incompetent they are and by extension ALL BRITS. My friend in Croydon today said she wouldn’t be surprised if the U.K. has a civil war in the future. She said she feels like the U.K. is fracturing and breaking down. She frequently witnesses serious violence in her area.

In summary the U.K. appears to be having a nervous breakdown.

I'm in Australia. We have had a revolving door of PM's but we have not driven off an actual cliff as the UK seems determined to do. I have never seen a stable developed country unravel like this.
Also Australia is pretty sceptical that suddenly we are going to get a great trade deal with UK and you have all really loved the Commonwealth all along.

The UK is also managing to make the federal government and even our glorious leader look highly functional in contrast.

In Australia and this was actually discussed over the water cooler this morning. As said many times already in this thread we think it is a shit show and are wondering what the hell is happening over there. We are finding it fascinating like the proverbial train wreck.
There was some sympathy for Theresa May because from here it she seems she is being blamed for the mess but it seems that everyone is throwing her under the bus whilst not offering any other solution.
We also thought that you cannot keep offering referendums until you get the answer you want. You voted. You got an answer. Do it.

It hasn’t made any waves in Asia. I have family there.

A friend lives in Afghanistan and works with the UN - she would prefer to live in the UK then there. I have another friend in Saudi Arabia who says the same.

My point is (thanks for patronising me) that Europe has has latently got just as many problems. Brexit, as I said, is a shit storm. But one day it'll be done. There will be a similar reckoning in Europe soon enough but it will be (even) messier because those in power will never allow referendums. The result of the upcoming eu elections will be many eurosceptic MEPs taking seats in the EP. So no, I think the EU has enough problems coming up and that Brexit is only a forunner

...and that any smug Europeans would be better off checking what's going on at home

and that any smug Europeans would be better off checking what's going on at home

The stuff you mention is not inconsequential, but predominately in the margins. No one ever said the EU was perfect.

However your average German or Scandi would be well within their rights to be smug about their orderly, prosperous, well run countries when comparing themselves to the UK train wreck.

I suspect most Europeans are dismayed and confused rather than smug.

Ah , "Look, smug squirrels".

Squirrels are genetically smug

Ida, your sense of bewilderment was felt across this country the morning after Brexit. Politicians stood in slack jawed astonishment, especially the Brexit ones who thought they'd lose. All the complacent people who didn't bother to Vote - because who'd be mad enough to Vote leave? it'll be fine -
discovered, too late, that voting makes a difference. I pray for a second referendum. If that were to support Leave I'd have to admit defeat and acknowledge the whole country has lost its wits.