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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell you why I voted to leave

951 replies

readingreadingreading · 04/09/2019 18:20

I'm not brave enough to say this IRL and that is part of the problem.

I refuse to believe that I, or 52% of the British population are either thick or racist. I also think that such a pessimistic view of our population is leading to more divisions.

I have wanted to leave the EU since the Maastricht treaty was signed (I even sent off for a copy of it). I always said I'd campaign to leave as soon as I got the chance. I didn't campaign as it would have meant aligning with groups such as Farage which I do think are racist. But I still chose to vote leave.

I think the EU are getting too big and have always been too bureaucratic. The countries aligned to it are too varied for a common purpose to be right for everyone.

I don't know if we have an immigration problem or not. If we do we need to be able to restrict the number of nationals of other European countries moving here. If we don't we should be a lot more welcoming to people from other parts of the world, people who really need asylum. The current situation has desperate people turned away at borders and highly skilled workers having to jump through hoops for a job where they are wanted and needed.

No of course I didn't believe there would be extra money for the NHS. However I think currently we give money to the EU and we get money back whereas giving the same money directly to British needs would be a better use of it. Not to mention the savings from all the extra MPs.

I'm old enough to remember life before the EU. We managed to travel to Europe, live and work in different countries, eat food and not go to war. I'm reasonably sure we can continue to do so without them.

I don't think the EU can last much longer and I thought (wrongly) that coming out now in an orderly fashion would be better that having it all crash down around us. I'm nervous of new laws being enacted that we have no veto on and drifting into closer integration.

I hate to watch the current mess and no, this isn't what I voted for. But if we can't get out there shouldn't have been a vote and I don't think everything can be blamed on the leavers.

OP posts:
ToftyAC · 05/09/2019 18:10

OP I agree with you and voted leave for exactly the same reasons. Unfortunately it seems we have a political system about to bloody implode any second. Mind you, I think it needs a shake up.

MaximusHeadroom · 05/09/2019 18:12

UKIP under Farage wee in no way racist though it suited the remain MSM to portray them thus

Excuse me whilst I quickly die laughing !

To tell you why I voted to leave
LaurieMarlow · 05/09/2019 18:12

Many others Indian or Pakistani who are bullish about UK bring able to trade more widely than EU rules allow

I wonder what trade they wanted to do that ‘wasn’t allowed’ on EU terms? Could you specify?

Theworldisfullofgs · 05/09/2019 18:15

A shake up and imploding are two v different things.
Whatever happens now Brexit will make people's lives worse. It'll will take years to recover.
And as I've had a really crap day (brexit related) and because Rees Mogg is an absolute knob any charitable bit of me towards leavers has now died.

Voila212 · 05/09/2019 18:24

I can understand why people voted leave in 2016 but honestly I can't fathom how they can continue to support it now and demand a no deal. There are constant reports how a no deal will negatively impact the UK yet leavers keep shouting project fear. The bank of England has forecasted that the economy will shrink by 5.5% and there could be soaring unemployment and inflation. Yet most of the comments from leavers are ' project fear, what do they know, we are leaving ' I mean come on!!! I beginning to believe even if some leavers knew the facts and the mess caused by Brexit in 2016, they still would have voted for it. Whatever about dismissing remainers, they are ignoring experts and dismissing their findings.

TatianaLarina · 05/09/2019 18:26

OP I agree with you and voted leave for exactly the same reasons

And another one who had ‘no thoughts’ on NI, and no clue ‘it would become the issue it has’? Do you, too, believe it could be ‘sorted’ with a bit of ‘goodwill on both sides’?

dirtyrottenscoundrel · 05/09/2019 18:29

Doesn’t matter what your reasons were op, we’re not allowed to leave. Too many remainers in charge.

MrsBadcrumble123 · 05/09/2019 18:29

@MaximusHeadroom that is not something I am qualified to sort and unfortunately the EU have held the UK to ransom over and have been totally unreasonable because they knew they could be. This does not mean that I don’t have a right to vote based on my opinion and thoughts as a citizen of the Uk just as it’s your right to do so without the risk of being labelled stupid etc. I’m not sure anyone in England, Wales, NI or Scotland - whichever way they voted - even gave a second thought as to how their vote affects anyone but themselves and family as it is their right to do!

MaximusHeadroom · 05/09/2019 18:30

Can any of these intelligent posters who keep maintaining that leaving is in the best interests of the UK following copious research please tell me what they think should be done about NI?

Cloglover · 05/09/2019 18:30

Thank you for taking the time to post. I am a remainer through and through and have felt so utterly baffled by the whole leave campaign as it seemed to be based on fear and selfishness. Your post is full of humility and the only thing I have ever read about leaving that I can respect. If you were standing next to me I would give you a big hug. X

MrsBadcrumble123 · 05/09/2019 18:34

@MaximusHeadroom again you are proving my point, you are insulting people’s intelligence... I haven’t seen one leave voter trying to insult a remainer for their opinion. It’s just so uncalled for!

Voila212 · 05/09/2019 18:35

No one is stopping us from leaving, the EU has said come up with an alternative to the backstop and they would consider it. The UK government have come up with nothing and refuse to negotiate until the backstop is removed. So who is stopping he from leaving? what is the alternative to the backstop, Boris said there was loads but hasn't given one.

Lincolnfield · 05/09/2019 18:37

I voted remain and I'm in my sixties. I'm sick to death of hearing younger people being interviewed on TV and declaring that 'it's all the old people who voted leave and they've screwed our generation.' In the next breath, I see other young people similarly being interviewed and saying things like 'I don't vote', 'I'm not interested in politics.' So how does their apathy become my generation's problem?

Shortly after the referendum, and not having a clue how I'd voted, one delightful young man told me that he hoped I'd die soon. I'm sure his mother would be very proud of him. I have to say that despite believing staying in the EU would be our better option, the bile and vitriol being spewed by some remainers is truly frightening. As we still, so I believe, live in a free country I respect the right of people to vote however they feel is best without being attacked in the vilest way, so yes OP, as Evelyn Hall famously said, I may not agree with you but I defend to the death your right to say it.

Voila212 · 05/09/2019 18:37

Us should be ye

MaximusHeadroom · 05/09/2019 18:37

@MrsBadcrumble123

I am not talking about your vote in 2016.

I am talking about today in 2019. On this thread.

Because if you don't have any solutions and neither do politicians in Britain, NI or the EU how can you still think leaving is in the best interests of our country?

Is putting the lives of people in NI at risk an ok price to pay for Brexit? Do you not care about the people in NI?

Or are you pretending that the problem will just go away?

mel71 · 05/09/2019 18:37

Ukip under Farage was no way racist?
Are you serious? I live in the area where UKIP got into power for a short while.
The damage and division they have caused here is awful. Casual racism has become the norm here. I want to move.
UKIP sure as hell brought the racists out of the woodwork here. Honestly - if read some of the local forums here - it would make your hair stand on end!
Horrible, awful party.

TatianaLarina · 05/09/2019 18:40

MaximusHeadroom again you are proving my point, you are insulting people’s intelligence

I think you’re insulting your own intelligence tbh.

MaximusHeadroom · 05/09/2019 18:41

@MrsBadcrumble123

@MaximusHeadroom again you are proving my point, you are insulting people’s intelligence... I haven’t seen one leave voter trying to insult a remainer for their opinion. It’s just so uncalled for!

Several posters who support leave have written that they are intelligent people-some stating their qualifications. You claim to have done lots of research and I am merely asking a question of those specific people. I want to hear from the intelligent ones who want to separate themselves from the rest of the leave voters.

How you can find that insulting?

libra101 · 05/09/2019 18:43

Well said OP and Miss Conduct US, I agree with your thoughts exactly.

The way that leavers have been 'stitched up' is outrageous!

TatianaLarina · 05/09/2019 18:46

that is not something I am qualified to sort and unfortunately the EU have held the UK to ransom over and have been totally unreasonable because they knew they could be. This does not mean that I don’t have a right to vote based on my opinion and thoughts as a citizen of the Uk just as it’s your right to do so without the risk of being labelled stupid etc.

But you don’t actually have an opinion on the NI border problem, so you say. As conveniently you’re not ‘qualified’ to sort it out.

You have the right to vote based on not having any opinion?

syskywalker · 05/09/2019 18:46

You have proven that you are no better than any other leaver. You’re answers are wholey inaccurate.

The UK already has the right to restrict who they let in. They just don’t make use of it unlike a lot of other EU countries. The UK has taken the smallest amount of asylum seekers compared to any other EU country.

The laws to live and work in other countries 50years ago (pre-EU) where much more relaxed and less strict than they are now.

And even after leaving the EU there will be no money to go directly to internal needs. Hate to break it but the UK is broke and there will still be pre-contracted payments that Esprit leaving will cost the UK more.

And the £ has been damaged beyond repair, and is so weak holidays are getting astronomically expensive unless you were lucky enough to buy your house for a oh I don’t know £3,000 or 30,000 way back when you’re buggered. But I suppose you you’re alright as you’re old enough to remember pre 1974 which makes you a pensioner I’m guessing, as you’d be over 60 to even have a basic understanding of what travel and work abroad was like before the Common Market vote.

And who gave you the right to screw the lives of the next, at least 3 generations when you’re life is near it’s end or even over from a work and usefulness point?!

Do you hate your Grandchildren? Your great grandchildren?

So in total all your points are mute as you’re utterly misinformed!

TatianaLarina · 05/09/2019 18:47

An not any opinion ^

keffie12 · 05/09/2019 18:57

No the vote should never been given. If parliament Cameron and co didnt understand how complex it was to leave how the hell were the British public supposed too.

I knew the main contention, the elephant in the room would be the N.I border. That alone is why it should never have been called. Ex is Irish so I know too much on this alone as to what would happen as the Good Friday agreement is the main complexity which cannot be ignored.

Cameron arrogance knew no bounds. He didnt think he would lose. Boris caused this chaos for the sake of 10 months. He didnt believe in leaving. Plenty of proof of that. Look back at Boris and Gove the next morning. Both subdued. Cameron though checkmayed them both. Resigned and left them with the mess. Dont blame him to be honest doing that.

This would not have happened if Boris had stayed remain instead of posturing for leave. He did that with Gove to put himself in the place for taking over from Cameron next year. He would have got the job anyway as most love Boris, or did, as a cheeky, funny, buffoon type character. So he has caused all this for 10 months.

It was always going to end up a """""" show! No one could have written this though.

If you break up a marriage, after many years you dont just walk away with thats it. Leaving the E.U is far more complex than that with 100s of areas that have to be changed.

Incidently if we leave no E.U laws will change straightaway as they will have to be enshrined into U.K law as we cant leave without laws. Then they can be gradually changed with the agreement of parliament which will years. I could ho on about why Brecit is insane. I dont and you dont want me being here all night.

Yes I am a remainer and part of one of the many lobbying groups on this so have followed, got involved and have as much an idea as anyone can wants going on. I have somehow managed to stay sane. Various meltdowns have bought me knew management techniques on it

PS: Your the only person poster who has tried to be eloquent over reasons for leaving, I have heard.

I dont think anyone thinks that all people who voted leave are racist or thick. Alot are. Not all.

Jogonandshutup · 05/09/2019 18:58

Reading reading reading fantastic post - there is zero chance at all that every single person on Mumsnet is a ‘remainer’.

syskywalker · 05/09/2019 18:59

And anyone who thinks that 52% of the population voted leave shows how misinformed they are. It was 52% of the electorate that voted but only about 30% of the adult population old enough to do so back then, which probably makes it about 20% now, now so many have turned 18. Luckily not everyone of and close to pension age is that misinformed and un-smart.