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Original poster

To think Brexit has robbed us of so much?

512 replies

elzober · 17/08/2022 22:44

A friend of mine from America recently obtained citizenship of an EU country due to family links. She's now ready to look for a job and open to anything as she doesn't have a degree but worked in the family agricultural business back home. She's fluent in English.

A few years ago I would have been able to invite her to stay with me here in the UK, help her get established and set her up to apply for one of the many jobs over here. But now I can't do any of that.

The ridiculous part is I know local businesses that are really struggling to recruit, can't find people locally and have struggled with the lack of EU workers since Brexit. Particularly in hospitality, agriculture and travel.

Why did we close the door to people who filled these vacancies and contributed to society and paid taxes?

She would have been a decent tax payer, nice member of the community but she's not allowed in.

She's probably going to Ireland now as apparently there's lots more opportunities there since we became an isolated island.

I will never forgive the Conservatives for this shambles. Don't get me started on the fact that a British passport is now worthless and we've lost our right to live in 27 countries. Madness.

OP posts:
MotherofPearl · 17/08/2022 23:38

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 17/08/2022 23:28

What is the point of this thread? Brexit was an awful decision in my view, but it has happened and we won't be able to rejoin for decades, if ever. These threads just stir the shit and cause fights.

Because the people who voted and campaigned for Brexit need to take responsibility for its repercussions.

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 17/08/2022 23:40

MotherofPearl · 17/08/2022 23:36

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/brexit-this-graph-showing-most-powerful-passports-from-2010-2022-is-sobering-331318/amp/

In 2010 the British passport was ranked the most powerful in the world. According to this article and graph, it's now slipped to 13th.

Show quote history

OFC it’s dropped. I’m not sure I trust your source more than CNN, but we can agree it’s slipped a bit since Brexit. Inevitably.

What I’m objecting to is the “we’re all doomed” style hyperbole of calling it “worthless”. It’s far from “worthless”.

bellac11 · 17/08/2022 23:40

A huge, national act of self harm

We have lost a huge amount, nothing more to say.

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 17/08/2022 23:42

MotherofPearl · 17/08/2022 23:38

Because the people who voted and campaigned for Brexit need to take responsibility for its repercussions.

Show quote history

What are we going to do? Round them all up and haul them onto the tumbril ? Will that help?

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 17/08/2022 23:44

Because the people who voted and campaigned for Brexit need to take responsibility for its repercussions.

These threads won't make them do that!

Rosewaterblossom · 17/08/2022 23:44

In 2002 I was being paid £5 per hour to work in a fish and chip shop as a teenager. In 2015 I was earning £7.50 per hour as a supervisor as a 30 year old. My wage has only gone up due to NMW going up by force. I'm also qualified with years of experience yet on just over £10 an hour now.

Wages are a shit show in this country and yes I fully blame the cheap Labour bought in from the EU over the past 20 years. Maybe if it hadn't been allowed to happen and exploited by employers I might actually be on a more livable wage now. Now employers are moaning they can't recruit.. I wonder why!

MotherofPearl · 17/08/2022 23:44

Yes I agree @HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd that the British passport is far from "worthless." It's just a pity that it has slipped.

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 17/08/2022 23:44

Bubblebubblebah · 17/08/2022 22:55

It's not worthless, but it should certainly be cheaper now🙈

That’s a good point. They should reduce the fee a bit. Wouldn’t ease household budgets much but it would be nice to see the price of something go down for a change. 😊

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 17/08/2022 23:46

MotherofPearl · 17/08/2022 23:44

Yes I agree @HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd that the British passport is far from "worthless." It's just a pity that it has slipped.

Yes. It is. But I’m not going to spend the next two decades in a spiral of negativity.

We need to get on with things while we wait for the reversal, which will come eventually. There are more urgent problems that need attention.

MotherofPearl · 17/08/2022 23:49

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 17/08/2022 23:44

Because the people who voted and campaigned for Brexit need to take responsibility for its repercussions.

These threads won't make them do that!

I know. I guess I'm just sad and frustrated by it all, and long for even just one person who voted for it to admit that it was a mistake. But the people who should really be taking responsibility and who are most to blame - Cameron, Farage, Johnson and others - will never, ever do so, so it's all a bit futile as you say.

bellac11 · 17/08/2022 23:50

I would be more than willing to pay a reasonable price for a 10 year EU passport which gave me back my rights that I lost in terms of travel/work and ability to reside/buy property

The problem is the other issues about trade wouldnt change for me on an individual level, we've lost a huge trading bloc opportunity

Original poster
elzober · 17/08/2022 23:51

Not surprised to see the 'well it doesn't affect me' brigade out in force. That attitude is part of what got us to this point.

And to the 'be quiet it's done now' crowd - the point is, it was a massive con and the fallout and consequences are not 'done', we're just starting to see the effects. You May be Happy to let this Government off the hook but I won't be.

OP posts:
bellac11 · 17/08/2022 23:51

MotherofPearl · 17/08/2022 23:49

I know. I guess I'm just sad and frustrated by it all, and long for even just one person who voted for it to admit that it was a mistake. But the people who should really be taking responsibility and who are most to blame - Cameron, Farage, Johnson and others - will never, ever do so, so it's all a bit futile as you say.

Show quote history

Cameron was a remainer, in his defence

His problem was that he pushed the referendum through, didnt put parameters around the legality issue of it and then disappeared after the damage was done

Sandra1984 · 17/08/2022 23:52

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 17/08/2022 23:35

People like you who voted for this mess will never realise what youve lost sadly
he biggest one for me are the travel and job opportunities that have been lost

Show quote history

Some people live happily in their little English bubble, they don’t have a business affected by EU trade, nor they care about working, living or retiring abroad or lack of nurses. They seem to take some pride on it too.

ChateauMargaux · 17/08/2022 23:52

@qpmz - Many Australians come to the UK on ancestral visas but also on special arrangements which have been established. The UK has not yet established these special arrangements with individual EU countries. I live in the EU and it is unquestionably, more difficult now, to come here and to neighbouring countries, to work. Instead of having an automatic right to live and work here, UK citizens have to apply along with the rest of the world, for permission - it is not straightforward and it is not easy.

HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 17/08/2022 23:55

elzober · 17/08/2022 23:51

Not surprised to see the 'well it doesn't affect me' brigade out in force. That attitude is part of what got us to this point.

And to the 'be quiet it's done now' crowd - the point is, it was a massive con and the fallout and consequences are not 'done', we're just starting to see the effects. You May be Happy to let this Government off the hook but I won't be.

Yeah I know. I was going to move to France, so I had to pause my plans and now if I still can, it won’t be until my 50s and it will be more complicated…yada yada. It was shit. Lots of people lost something.

What good does banging on about it do though?

The next referendum will almost certainly see us rejoin, albeit on less favourable terms, so it’s just a waiting game,

Ludoole · 17/08/2022 23:56

I voted to stay purely because I was concerned about my job. Mainly export.

Our work has dropped massively- to the point I've lost 25% of my wages, but I am grateful I still have a job. .. even though some days I have nothing to do but watch netflix 10 hours a day...honestly though I am so scared of my future. I guess people decided for other reason and we have to live with the democracy.

Noname99 · 17/08/2022 23:57

Any slightly competent British National can still live and work in Europe if they want to - if you can’t manage a bit of visa paperwork then you were not going to manage the process of relocating anyway. So fed up of these posts now.
And now all people who want to work here are treated the same rather than frankly racist policy of favouring Europeans who are, guess what, oh yes …… predominantly white.
And posting articles about fruit picking shows how deep the cognitive dissonance has gone …these migrant workers were treated appallingly. There is a reason why it was predominantly Eastern European non skilled workers. Because no British person would take the job. Back breaking, long hours, appalling pay as farmers can claim board and lodgings as part of it with workers often living in overcrowded crappy caravans. Disgraceful …. this ridiculous romanticism of it all as if seasonal workers and migrant workers here were are floating about Britain enjoying fantastic job opportunities. Those professional workers can and still do relocate if they do wish. We aren’t any shorter of professional workers than any where else is at the moment but, yes, we are no longer able to exploit EU nationals to serve us coffee, take care of our sick and elderly or pick fruit - thank goodness.

Rosewaterblossom · 18/08/2022 00:02

Noname99 · 17/08/2022 23:57

Any slightly competent British National can still live and work in Europe if they want to - if you can’t manage a bit of visa paperwork then you were not going to manage the process of relocating anyway. So fed up of these posts now.
And now all people who want to work here are treated the same rather than frankly racist policy of favouring Europeans who are, guess what, oh yes …… predominantly white.
And posting articles about fruit picking shows how deep the cognitive dissonance has gone …these migrant workers were treated appallingly. There is a reason why it was predominantly Eastern European non skilled workers. Because no British person would take the job. Back breaking, long hours, appalling pay as farmers can claim board and lodgings as part of it with workers often living in overcrowded crappy caravans. Disgraceful …. this ridiculous romanticism of it all as if seasonal workers and migrant workers here were are floating about Britain enjoying fantastic job opportunities. Those professional workers can and still do relocate if they do wish. We aren’t any shorter of professional workers than any where else is at the moment but, yes, we are no longer able to exploit EU nationals to serve us coffee, take care of our sick and elderly or pick fruit - thank goodness.

Excellent post.

TheLeadbetterLife · 18/08/2022 00:04

The Brexiters (Eurosceptics as they used to call themselves) spent 40 years moaning non-stop about the EU. Not to mention people like Boris Johnson spreading propaganda and lies in his trashy newspaper column. They can bloody well suck up the Remainer moaning now. People can accept Brexit, but they don’t have to like it or pretend it’s anything other than a shitshow.

vdbfamily · 18/08/2022 00:05

If she had a qualification for a job on our s hortage list she can apply and get a visa.

Original poster
elzober · 18/08/2022 00:05

TheLeadbetterLife · 18/08/2022 00:04

The Brexiters (Eurosceptics as they used to call themselves) spent 40 years moaning non-stop about the EU. Not to mention people like Boris Johnson spreading propaganda and lies in his trashy newspaper column. They can bloody well suck up the Remainer moaning now. People can accept Brexit, but they don’t have to like it or pretend it’s anything other than a shitshow.

Amen! I won't stop moaning until something changes.

OP posts:
HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd · 18/08/2022 00:06

TheLeadbetterLife · 18/08/2022 00:04

The Brexiters (Eurosceptics as they used to call themselves) spent 40 years moaning non-stop about the EU. Not to mention people like Boris Johnson spreading propaganda and lies in his trashy newspaper column. They can bloody well suck up the Remainer moaning now. People can accept Brexit, but they don’t have to like it or pretend it’s anything other than a shitshow.

What about those of us who aren’t Brexiters and are just sick of everyone moaning constantly?

Bubblebubblebah · 18/08/2022 00:07

And now all people who want to work here are treated the same rather than frankly racist policy of favouring Europeans who are, guess what, oh yes …… predominantly white.

It was an agreement within a trading bloc🙄 it's not racist to have reciprocal agreements within trading block... We have EU, Africa has relatively new trading bloc too. Many places create agreements with nearby countries which include immigration requirements agreements. And even If you are not white but have the nationality of EU you were not stopped from moving around either. In some cases even with just residency.

madaboutsaffron · 18/08/2022 00:10

Not surprised to see the 'well it doesn't affect me' brigade out in force. That attitude is part of what got us to this point

Oh for gods sake if your point is valid do you really need to completely invent things? I have seen ONE post saying this, and a whole lot of people quoting it. The vast majority support you. Out in force, really?