To tell you why I voted to leave

[readingreadingreading]

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.

[goldfinchfan]

I feel so similar to you OP.

I have disliked being in the EU for almost 30 years....nothing to do with immigration, but to do with the ridiculous rules and terrible waste that still goes on. eg they still throw fish back that is caught and dead...cos of quotas.
The constant moving between 2 cities.
I also am worried about what is happening now.

[mooncuplanding]

*if there was ever a second vote I’d vote leave 🙄

[theoriginalmadambee]

Thank you OP.
I'm not British, I have been trying to understand the leaver's position. When I have asked on various threads for background only one (1) has answered.

I can sort of see where you are coming from, not sure I agree. But I'm relieved your reasons aren't as racist and romantic (Britain will go back to the glorious olden days) as we are shown in media here.

Sorry about the way your politicians go about it though.

[HermioneWeasley]

thank you for sharing OP. The people I know who voted leave are neither thick nor racist.

[LatteLove]

Well put OP. I too am too scared to tell anyone in real life how I voted

Bit pathetic, no?

Just what do you think will happen? If you think it’s all going great and what you voted for, then you should be proud to stand by it. If you think it’s a shitstorm, why not be brave enough to say you were wrong?

[Autumnintheair]

The dancing bear, I certainly agree on that!

[Namenic]

The spot checks and passport checks still mean a border and infrastructure - which is objectionable to those who want a united Ireland I think.

Similar things at the Irish Sea are objectionable to those who think NI should be treated the same as other parts of uk (ie should not need these checks at all - like you don’t to enter Cornwall or wales).

[needmorespace]

True enough. To cross the border you just need proof of citizenship. A passport or high security driving license will do, or a government photo ID and birth certificate. Freight is just randomly spot checked for customs compliance, most is just waved through

that sounds pretty much like, erm, a border???!!!
In contravention of the GFA.
FFS

[Ylvamoon]

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 strongly disagree. The EU is a "Club" and as such, it has to offer some special perks to its members. Freedom of movement is one of them as well as free movement of goods.
You mentioned as an example Switzerland for the continuation of this as example. But you will find that Switzerland is "special" in many ways. Firstly, it's a key North / South trade route. It has a very strict immigration policy. You need to take a passport when travelling, as you can get checked at borders, especially if they are on a man hunt (most of it won't even be public). Fright is often placed on trains, lorries are checked and sealed by custom officers. The EU does benefit from a good relationship.
OP What has Britain to offer that would guarantee a special trade/ movement relationship?

[onefootinthegrave]

Rubicon please stop peddling the lie that Corbyn is antisemetic. Antisemitism is everywhere, not just in the labour party as well you know.

[colourlessgreenidea]

Why not just vote for the status quo then, @greeni**


Is that question to me? If so, I did exactly that - I voted ‘remain’, as I stated earlier.

I don’t know why you are assuming that I didn’t.

[Ravenblack]

@readingreadingreading

Excellent post. Very well worded, and from a clearly intelligent person!

[Symptomless]

I didn't get a vote but while I appreciate that EU isn't a perfect union, it seemed to me naive to think that the government would be willing and able to handle the situation and the negotiations with any skill. No plans had been put forward at that point, nobody seemed to have thought how to leave.

[Autumnintheair]

Latte!

Have you been living in a vacuum! Just today on here I've read several comments from people who have been drumming it into elderly mothers, fathers and elderly relatives where they are wrong...

I have people coming up to me rabid and frothing... 'isn't it awful' and assume I'm a remainer. They are so closed minded and vitriolic I stay silent.

[ColaFreezePop]

I know 3 of the 12 million people who didn't vote.

Two have moved out of the country for good to a non-EU country and no longer have ties here. They didn't think it was fair that they should decide for those who live in Britain and the EU that they should vote. They still believe this but are annoyed with the screw up the UK parliament is making of it.

One was abroad for a year in an EU country and ignored all my detailed instructions of how to get a vote. He regrets it now and wished he pulled his finger out.

Other non-voters I've met or heard stated they were completely confused who to vote for. With the rubbish the Leave side was stating and the lack of detailed information the government was pushing on the Remain side I can understand.

[LatteLove]

@colourlessgreenidea no, not you another poster called greeni who said she didn’t vote :)

@Autumnintheair but over 50% of the country voted for this as we keep getting told. You won! Why be scared?

[Juells]

Didn’t before and I think the fact we actually can’t leave the EU is terrifying in itself

You can't leave the EU because you have so many red lines that it's impossible to make a deal with you. You can leave with no deal, but you don't want that either. What you want is all the benefits of being in the EU, without being in the EU.

The spot checks and passport checks still mean a border and infrastructure - which is objectionable to those who want a united Ireland I think.

You have no understanding of what the GFA was/is.

[Lifeisgood1]

What about all the people that are going to be medically affected by leaving? People on insulin, people on drug trials for example cancer patients who are part of a European trial that will stop when we leave the eu? I think if you made a decision you should be able to have the courage to follow it through in real life. It's great that you have shared your point of view and an interesting one too. I have many people and friends who will sadly be affected by leaving. I have seen doctors been told not to prescribe certain medication as there is no guarantee that they will be able to get it when we leave. I have seen pharmacists already telling parents that one of the medications that are being affected 're adhd medication. So I stand by my decision to remain and I'm not afraid to say it in real life!

[beanaseireann]

I agree OP that the EU is too big and too bureaucratic - jobs for the boys.

[colourlessgreenidea]

@colourlessgreenidea no, not you another poster called greeni who said she didn’t vote

Ah, sorry for the confusion - my phone often adds an ‘i’ when I’m trying to bold so I wondered if that was what had happened in your post

[LatteLove]

I voted no in the Scottish referendum. There was a lot of hate online and IRL from people who had voted yes. I went to an event at my kids’ school the day after the ref and people I’d been friends with for years wouldn’t even speak to me. But I was still pleased with my vote and not ashamed to tell anyone how I’d voted.

[Timeaftertime42]

I'm a remainer so I disagree with you op, however, thank you for putting your point across in an intelligent way. I don't think it can ever do any harm to understand each other's perspective.

[MerryChristmasHarry]

You aren't BU to tell us your reasons, you were being VU to think that because things were fine and doable before, in a totally different world, that has the slightest bearing on whether they are now. You were also BU to consider finances only in respect of the block grant, and not the indirect financial benefits we get from being in the EU such as the location of the City of London financial sector here and the money that pays into our coffers.

[Autumnintheair]

Ylvamoon

What are you disagreeing with?

The fact that people very happily settled and lived and worked in eu countries before the agreements?

I even had remainer spitting at me.... My parents were poor immigrants and they only came here thanks to the eu!
I owe the eu!

They emigrated in 1965