I am aware that the motivations of this vote for some people were different. I accept that they were for some racially motivated and for some a 'protest' vote against the establishment.
I had a few predictions: Cameron would resign, Osbourne would resign, Scotland would want independence and Corbyn would be finished. I also predicted a massive crash in the markets and the value of sterling would plummet.
I was surprised that market volatility wasn't worse and infact the FTSE closed slightly higher than it was the previous week but I expect a volatile market for some time I worked in the financial markets for 20 yrs - this is expected - financial markets react like this frequently in time of uncertainty (actually for the first time ever wished I was back advising again as these times were the best times for a financial adviser).
I had underestimated the impact on N. Ireland tbh and that does have personal concerns as my entire family live in Ireland.
However I do believe given the research I have done that ultimately we will better of and become a more globalised nation as a result. EU membership, for me created some issues around that.
Trade deals with non EU countries were restrictive under EU and this meant that trade with emerging markets and other world markets were cumbersome and terms were more favourable towards EU countries over other nations. As a predominantly services export nation and a huge import nation as we are I felt that this wasn't a benefit for us.
I also favour an inclusive and controlled immigration policy. EU migrants are treated differently than non EU migrants under the EU stipulations of free movement. I want an inclusive system where we welcome all migrants on an equal basis and controlled to meet the demands of the country. This means attracting workers based on skill set and adjusted to suit changing needs. This would also come with caveats to ease pressure on public services but essentially I welcome immigration and not closed borders or mass deportation - infact in my mind we will possibly see more immigration but it will targeted and planned and managed properly.
Both the leave campaign and the remain campaign were managed appallingly in my view. Lies, smear and fear. Unhelpful to the electorate and misleading on both sides
There are a couple of other reasons but this would be an excruciatingly long post if I mentioned them all....
However, the final blow for me and possibly the thing that swayed my vote was that David Cameron, always during his premiership spoke negatively about EU and it's need to reform, yet when he was tasked to negotiate terms (weak at best) he was unable to secure anything remotely like what we needed. He infact he negotiated a 'brake' in immigration to ease the 'problem' which actually would've had no impact whatsoever. I felt that this was a clear indication that EU wasn't really open to reform.
We are still a strong economy and we contribute billions to the EU economy in particular Germany. I feel confident that we will secure reasonable trade deals with them following Brexit - it would be economic suicide for them if not - being an 'export' nation works well for us in this instance - USA, Canada have stated publicly that they still will negotiate trade with us and recognise our contribution to their respective economies.
I am not concerned in the long term and optimistic about the future. I don't see this as us isolating ourselves but by extracting ourselves from a system that was not helping us towards becoming globalised and actually EU felt like an inward option rather than an outward option - if that makes sense.
There is much to do notwithstanding rebuilding our government but we need to look long and hard and our country and what it has become. I have never experienced so much hate and venom as I have this past week and this saddens me. Humanity is all but gone.
We need to repair our fragmented nation by pulling together and being unified. Had the vote gone the other way I would've just got on with it as I have when every other vote I have had hasn't gone my way and I have felt deeply the implications of different governments.
This isn't a time for name calling or finger pointing or looking for blame. The blame firmly lays at the door of our governments past and present who have consistently and catastrophically failed the British people who have become so disconnected they have allowed the likes of Farage to manipulate and infiltrate the masses. They have failed to invest in public services and they have failed to positively convey the benefits of immigration.
This country was built on immigration. We have welcomed immigrants to Britain for 100's of years. I am proud of that heritage and I want it to continue. The government have allowed immigration to be used as a scapegoat for their own failures and it has led to this.
I didn't ask for this referendum the issue of EU had never been a deciding point for me in any election. But when asked to make a decision I have to make a decision and weigh up the pros and cons and try and extrapolate from the plethora of facts/figures at my disposal.
I hope we can all move forward now and work towards creating a better future and bring back humanity :-) I am confident we can achieve this out of EU. I don't regret my vote.