I voted for Brexit and according to some people that makes me thick, a racist and a xenophobe. Everyone is entitled to their views as I am to mine. My views were not influenced by a red bus, what I read in the papers, social media or the Russians. I don’t think that the UK is any better than anywhere else. I never thought the process of leaving would be simple. I have no particular political affiliations, I have voted Liberal/Liberal Democrat, Labour, Conservative and Green in my time. We also need to co-operate with the rest of Europe, indeed the world, on many issues. So why did I vote Leave?
Waste of money, when so many are in need. For example, does the EU parliament really need to move between Brussels and Strasbourg every month? Some put this cost at £150m per annum. How much does it cost the EU to give protected status to things like Cornish pasties? Are there not more important things to worry about? We all need to co-operate on the big things but the involvement in the minutiae must cost countless millions.
I never believed that the whole amount we sent to the EU every week, whether it be £350m or any other figure, would automatically be sent to the NHS. Out of that amount would have to come things like agricultural subsidies and scientific research grants. However, as we pay more in than we get out, then whatever is left over from the aforementioned could go to things like the NHS.
Whilst I appreciate that the EU has done a lot in terms of things like workers’ rights and protections, the fact that there are currently 28 countries (and this is likely to rise) means that community wide regulations do not always work well in every country. There is also no reason why we couldn’t preserve those rights out of Europe and if a party sought to reduce those rights then we could vote them out. I believe that it is the eventual aim for the EU to become one entity and I really worry that in the future people will become angry with one size fits all politics and regulations and somewhere down the line there will be an almighty revolution leading to death and destruction. History has already shown us this can happen, as with the break-up of the Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia. Whilst most people are happy to live with their neighbours they also want to be French, Italian, or whatever, and we should be able to celebrate our differences.
In the UK we already have a population outside of the M25 bubble who believe that Westminster does not listen to them. If all rule-making moves to Brussels (or Strasbourg, depending on the time of the month, as it were) how many more people will feel disenfranchised? President Macron has already stated that he would not give the French people the opportunity to vote on leaving the EU as he believes they would want to do so.
We were last given a chance to vote regarding the EEC which bears no resemblance to the current EU. We in the UK were never given a vote on things like Maastricht and the Lisbon Treaty. I feel that if we continue to be a member we do not know what is likely to be brought in in the future and I fear that ordinary people will have no say. It is all very well to say that we would have representatives in the EU Parliament but they no more listen the views of ordinary people than our own Parliament. I really do not think it will end well and it really troubles me.
Immigration. I do not want people who have settled here to be “sent back” (unless convicted criminals), nor do I truly have anything against individuals wherever they come from. However, the numbers do worry me. We do not have infinite resources.
There is a housing problem. We do need more houses but it is all very well to say just build more and all will be well but this effects our environment, the very air we breathe. We physically cannot keep absorbing the numbers we have recently been experiencing. We have to be able to provide and care for everyone already here. If we build on all available land how will we ever come close to growing enough food for everyone? People need transport, more roads mean more pollution. Water – concerns have only recently been raised about water supplies. The more people, the more we need, what will happen in times of drought which are likely to increase with climate change? What will happen to our wildlife if their habitat is built on? Humans don’t have the monopoly on somewhere to live.
I am not saying that no-one should ever be allowed to come and live here (whether EU or RoW). If we have a need for certain workers then we have a need, but for the sake of where we live and the air we breathe we have to take control of it.
Finally, people from the UK have lived and worked in the rest of the world for hundreds of years and I don’t see how not being in the EU will stop that from happening. OK, it may involve a bit more effort but if it is what you want and the country involved are happy to accept you, why not?
Sorry for the rant but if my views stated above make me thick, racist and a xenophobe then I guess I will just have to accept it.
And no, I will not be going out to 'celebrate' on Friday evening.