AIBU to ask if anyone here still thinks Brexit is a good idea?

[Sundiamond]

There was a time when the board was alive with argument around Brexit.

Does anyone still believe that Brexit is a good move and we, as a country, will gain more than we will lose?

No no, a thousand times no !! Never was and never will be a good idea.

It will be a disaster.

@Tellmetruth4

I don’t know why Brexiters aren’t volunteering to give up their jobs, reduce food intake etc. They’re the ones who said it was a price worth paying.

Remember when it was likened to WW2 and people said they'd go back to growing their own vegetables 'in the spirit of the blitz'.

It takes a special kind of stupid to actively vote yourself into a much poorer way of life.

But sure, we can make all our own laws now? How long before holidays, sick pay, maternity rights are under threat?

There was a time when the board was alive with argument around Brexit.

Ah, those heady pre-covid days when all we had to worry about was Brexit...we didn't know how well off we were.

Catch up OP, Bexit's been done to death. All the arguing, swearing and accusations didn't make anyone change their mind.

I think it’s the best thing for our country, yes. People can’t see it now, but they will.

@Sundiamond one of the most incompetent? Which other governments came close? I know Lord North made a grave error over the 13 colonies in north America, and Anthony Eden over Suez, but surely nothing comes remotely close to the current incompetent lot.

Brexit is done and dusted.

Its the trade deal that is key
and if the UK Govt keeps the IMB breaking international law
neither the EU nor the USA nor any other significant country
will trust the UK to keep its word.

@emilyfrost

I think it’s the best thing for our country, yes. People can’t see it now, but they will.

Intrigued to hear your reasons...

I think leaving EU will give third countries like Africa a better opportunity for trade with UK.

@ConcernedAuntie

There are some ways it could work out well. I read an article recently, (I think it may have been in the Guardian but I can't find it now) which said that it could mean that a lot of manufacturing could be bought back to the UK to save on tarrifs etc. This would mean more jobs and controls over manufacturing methods. Could also create opportunities for our young, home grown designers as well if other countries don't want to sell us their products.

Who knows.

I'm a remainer but I will admit this could be a very good thing. Less Chinese fakes on the market would be good thing all round, buying my Christmas presents on Amazon has been a real eye opener as to how much counterfeit tat sits in their warehouse!

All the Brexit voters I know are anti-racist and in part motivated by disgust at the EUs treatment of non EU migrants. I know not all Remainers support Fortress Europe but I have seen them defend on this website.

If you really wanted a discussions with those who support Brexit there are better forums then this

Anyone will be immediately shouted down

My personal view it’s not in our best interests but we had a vote and what sealed our fate was our politicians who overwhelmingly voted for Article 50

Will we totally collapse economically no, are we heading for a difficult few years probably (would anyway with covid)

Will we be a fairer society in 10 years maybe but that shall be political view of the majority of people and who they vote for

Politics goes round in circles we are I think moving away from populist politics that is divisive

I think it’s the best thing for our country, yes. People can’t see it now, but they will.

That’s ... vague

Me!

Stupidest fucking thing ever. If people had thought about it for even a second they'd have known it was a stupid idea.
It was like when your husband complains he had to put your socks in the washing basket without realising the million things you've just done for him.

Fishermen thought "oh let's stop foreigners fishing our seas" now its happening its "oh shit, europeans aren't going to buy our fish!" You couldn't have thought about that three years ago?
"Let's stop foreigners coming over here and taking all our jobs" to "oh no, all those europeans aren't going to come over here and do our jobs that we dont want to do or contribute to our NHS!"

Did anyone really think that little old us could go to the whole of Europe "we don't want to give you any money anymore, we dont want you to be able to come to our country, we dont want you to put rules on our products or animals care etc, but we want to be able to go to your country whenever we want, use our NHS at your hospitals, sell you everything we always did, buy everything we always did, all at the same prices, and we dont want any additional customs at the ports" and Europe would go "well we don't have any choice but to accept those terms that are terrible for us but fantastic for you."
Is that what people thought would happen?
Are people surprised that Europe went "err no."?

I think leaving EU will give third countries like Africa a better opportunity for trade with UK.
In what way ?

@Medeaaah

It's a bloody brilliant idea to show people how propaganda works.

Exactly my thoughts.

I’ve not heard a single coherent plan before or after the referendum. It’s a mush of sound bites and the support of sound bites. It’d be a start to get past the moaning of how shit being part of the EU was and illustrate what the UK is meant to be trying to achieve in the next five to ten years. People get very angry when you start asking what the future is meant to be like under brexit.

I do worry about time sensitive drugs like cancer treatments (isotopes) being stuck on lorries in Kent for days. Ditto perishable food.
It will cost an absolute fortune to move production/manufacturing back to the UK. There will be no economy of scale.
I know a couple of people who voted for Brexit, spectacularly missing the point that the entire redevelopment of, and massive investment in, their home city came from EU grants.

I suppose a lot more things will have to be transported by air.

Politics goes round in circles we are I think moving away from populist politics that is divisive

That would be a great silver lining, unfortunately I don’t see it happening. I think social media entrenches peoples views more rigidly than has previously been the case throughout history. They pick a side and stick unwaveringly to it.

A relative is a Labour councillor in an area with a large Bangladeshi community. They voted Leave in high numbers and told her it was because if fewer people from EU took the hospitality jobs, then more jobs would be available for people from their countries. Given some Brexiteers' views about "furriners taking our jobs", I can't imagine they're going to welcome more foreigners who are non-white. And the reaction might not be pretty

The daughter of a friend of mine is doing a phd on demographics or statistics or something like that. She explained to me a while ago that she though the UK was expected to become the first minority white country in Europe precisely BECAUSE of Brexit. She said that immigrants from the EU were very different from other immigrants, in that they were largely young fit single people who come for a bit, often don't stay, if they do stay they very often marry and have families with the local population. There are almost no cultural or religions barriers to this. After one generation, they are completely indistinguishable for white British people. Immigrants from Asia and Africa have to jump huge barriers to get here in the first place, they have to really want to come and usually stay long term. Also, because of the arranged marriage system a spouse is often found from the home country who also then moves to the UK and this is sometimes still even having in the third generation of UK citizens. They also tend to have a slightly higher birth rate and have children slightly younger (this was significant apparently). Anyway, Brexit is believed to accelerate this because EU immigrants won't be coming anymore because few are likely to be bothered to put in the effort it will take to come here.

@listeningquietly

The CAP scheme has significant negative effects for Africa and effectively locks them out of trade. The true cost of farming etc in EU countries is offset with subsidies that aren't available in places like Africa and we are so used to paying subsidised prices that countries like Africa can't compete. It's well worth a Google of the negative effects of CAP on Africa.

Oh and as for people who still think Brexit's a good idea, yes, loads of them do, loads really want 'no deal' as well.

The post about changing demographics is the only thing that makes me happy about Brexit, only because I can't wait for this to dawn on the stupid racists who voted for it. Serve them right.

One of the best things is that millions of people who were, for decades, effectively disenfranchised have become politically active. Whether or not you agree with their views, it’s clearly good for democracy to have as wide a participation as possible.

I’m no expert but I suspect that the return of some areas of manufacturing would mean we could no longer meet our emissions targets. We do like to palm those off onto other countries if possible.