I regret the way I voted.

[lulucappuccino]

After a long day reading Facebook (didn't announce on there that I'd voted out), colleagues talking and family (who do know how I voted) complaining, I really wish I'd voted to remain.

I read a few bullet point articles and felt swayed by the amount of money were were paying to the EU. But I feel as though I'd partly not researched enough and also believed the hype.

Seeing the pound falling and friends worried for their jobs etc, I feel as though I've done something really bad. In fact, I'm sure I have.

Does anyone else regret the way they voted, whichever way that was?

That petition is ridiculous.
I agree, but I hope it brings debate in parliament about making sure these things are put in place and thought of before future referenda (referendums?)

Paris7 I honestly can't imagine how anyone could think Europe will make this painless for us. They will want to make an example of just how very, very bleak a future awaits those who leave, to prevent the public in any other member state considering it as a good option. It's simple common sense that we are going to be punished as harshly as they can manage.

We are screwed. Royally screwed. And while I'm sure there are some with valid and thoughtful reasons for leaving, even though my ideal state is not a low-tax, high flexibility one, on the evidence of this thread alone there are many more who have no real understanding of what they have done.

A lot of people in this area went on about "putting the Great back into Britain." It literally has no meaning - it's an advertising slogan worthy of M&S strawberries, not a decision of huge constitutional importance. Other people here went on earnestly about how our grandparents all managed. Well, firstly no, I don't think two huge world wars are indicative that things on the diplomatic front were managed better at all, personally - 70 years of peace in Western Europe is a phenomenal achievement. Phenomenal. We seem to lose sight of that because it's all we have ever personally known. And secondly, why do they imagine we were able to thrive economically before Europe? A bloody enormous trading block called the British Empire, that's how. What are the Brexiters planning to do; invade East and South Africa, India, much of the Middle and Far East and South East Asia and tell them that they have to trade with us on our terms from now on? Because short of that, how exactly are we going to mimic the economic success of our forbears? That success was built squarely on the back of colonialism, just as our more recent success has been built within the EU. We have never, ever, in recent history, genuinely gone it alone. Not ever. The myth about World War Two and Plucky Little Britain conveniently ignores the fact that we had a bloody great Empire at our back. Sure, we have to work with Europe; we can't just exploit and give orders. But since when was that something to be ashamed of? Equal trading, where both sides benefited, and both sides had standing to negotiate a good deal?

Economy wrecked, social and employment protections removed, and the country handed over to people who make Cameron look like a hippie. And people are saying "be calm, trust us!" when by the Leave camp's own admission, they have no plan whatsoever for what happens now, and many seem oblivious to what exactly they voted to do.

Lulu, please dont let all the comments get to you. I have been upset since the result but not because I regret my LEAVE vote but because of the nasty facebook comments from friends of friends. I voted Leave, I knew exactly what I was voting for, I am a mother and also a business owner who sells worlwide. I am not a racist, or UKip supporter, or uneducated or an idiot who voted after reading tabloid headlines (as everone thinks all out voters are). I also have nothing against Europe or immigration. I did my research and decided I didnt like what the EU was about and we could manage and grow better without it.

We might be a small country but we are important and Im pretty sure deals will be struck that benefits everyone. So we have not destroyed this country, dont believe the haters, no-one really knows exactly what will happen, remember there were a lot of MPs who voted out too who are more knowledgeable than us and they wouldnt have done that if they thought it would head us for a recession and break the country.

Also, everyones going on about how half the Leave voters didnt know what they were voting for, well how do they know that all of the remain voters knew what they were voting for and not just because Mike in accounts said it was the right thing to do so it must be?? It works both ways.

I have bitten my tongue so much in the last couple of days, I darednt even put my opinion on facebook for fear of being pitchforked at the school gates! Probably going to get slated on this website but I dont really care. The EU are unfair and use the UK, I believe they need us more than we need them. Yes it might dip for a short while but we will bounce back on our own two feet and be stronger for it.

Things are a mess because Leavers weren't voting for something, only to end something. They were naive to assume all our remain 'experts' would stick around to deliver something that they knew wouldn't fly. Without a plan 'b' and a dream team to make it happen, chaos was the only predictable outcome.

Sadly, I think there are quite a few "leave" voters who are regretting their decision, more will over coming months. Many of the campaign's claims have been acknowledged as "mistakes" - and for many it was a protest vote. Unfortunately referendums don't work like general elections.

On the positives, Boris must be waking up with one hell of a "morning after" feeling.

KissMyArse - oh yes, I've got almost as much contempt for them too!

it's an advertising slogan worthy of M&S strawberries, not a decision of huge constitutional importance

But the one I despise the most is the senior Daily Mail editor I know who feels 'really bad' but was just 'doing their job'.

Why does everyone think that all leave voters didn't know what they were voting for? I considered both sides before voting.
Do you remain voters know exactly what you voted for?? We have no idea what changes the EU will make in the coming decades, only that as a member state we would be powerless to oppose them. If you dont understand the sovereignty issues surrounding your remain vote then shame on you.
Finally- I didn't vote for a conservative government in the last elections, but that's what we've got for the next few years... And they got a lot less of the votes than leave did in the referendum!! That's democracy for you I'm afraid!

I'm not saying I agree with them btw, I do in parts but I didn't vote because I didn't want a referendum.
I know a lot of people are calling us none voters lazy, but we aren't.
If enough people who didn't want this also didn't vote it would have sent another message. maybe, the outcome would have been different.

I even know some Polish people who voted out
they also believed that immigration would be cut to a minimum and that it would deter any more Romanians from entering.

My point is that to call people names for the reasons why they voted for in or out is ridiculous. Some were informed and some weren't on both sides.
There are many reasons people made the choices they did, some out I know didn't even consider immigration at all.

I chose not to lie down with dogs. That gives you fleas. Even if I knew nothing about the issues, I'd know a tosser if he stood up in front of me with his fake-buffonery and his self-interest

Sadly, you are right to feel terrible as should those who did not bother to vote or did not bother to check the facts before they put their cross in the box.

A petition just gets a debate in parliament - nothing more. If educated people voted leave - shame on you!

Time to learn the hard way. Act in haste - repent at leisure.

I have been asking "who benefits from Brexit?". I am still waiting for a sensible answer.

I voted remain, and would do again.

The leave voters are the real traitors to the United Kingdom, but what's done is done.

We need to stop this Brexit madness any way we can!

Yes, I regret my vote enormously - not my Remain vote for the referendum, but my tick in the box for the conservatives at the last general election. I apologize profusely.

And, whilst I'd like to have sympathy with you OP, I feel the same way about you as I do about my neighbour who also voted leave and has now said she regrets it. It's too late for regrets. I don't want to hear regrets from people who voted to leave, I want to hear how this is going to work. No-one has (obviously) been able to give me an answer.

Revision

Wtf should people feel guilty just because they don't agree with you.
I'm proud not to have voted and can say "referendum, not in my name"

You see I didn't ask for it, or want it, so had nothing to do with it.
If you didn't want it and voted, then shame on you for not sticking to your principles. Nobody forced you.

Voted Remain and will do so again should the opportunity arise.

goneto agree with everything you say. The majority of MPs in parliament are pro EU and there are already rumblings by high-ups about another referendum. That doesn't mean it will happen but it's not pie in the sky either.

I think leave voters have been greatly let down by BoJo et al. They should be leading from the front and reassuring people. Yet they have simply disappeared.

Why are Leave voters apparently cringing in terror of mean comments from the other side? (Why aren't you proudly telling everybody you meet instead of anonymously on MN? It is a great future you've chosen for us, right?)

On the one hand, you keep reminding Remain voters that Leave is the majority and it's democracy and you won and that's that. On the other hand, you're about to be torn limb from limb by hordes of vicious Remainers.

Is this perhaps an admission that the Leave majority is really Not All That? After all, if Leave had won convincingly, there wouldn't be hordes of dissatisfied people waiting to pitchfork you disagree with the result and who have to be silenced.

I know you didn't say you agreed with Leave NewLife, but you were talking about Leave voters you knew who object to immigration because of the impact on them, and then saying they understood real issues. They don't understand that particular issue, if they voted Leave because they thought it would stop immigration.

Rishaar, while there's a valid point in there about not knowing what the EU will look like in future, you've got the powerless to oppose bit arse about face. Being a member is the only way you get any say. Not being a member, when your neighbours are, means you're powerless to oppose but the consequences will still affect you.

Mumtoharvey why do you think the UK is important , in what respect & how do you think that will help us? We are a small country & we do not have the clout that the EU has. As for MPs knowing better than the rest of us I really admire your optimism, if nothing else.Some MPs will be well informed but plenty aren't.

Meggy

Yes. Cameron created this.

I voted to remain but always worried the leaves would have it. I feel more despondent today than I thought I would. I'm gutted. I worry England will be isolated and laughed at. (I use just 'England' on purpose). I worry our jobs will go kaput because of us losing out financially. I feel angry that the Leave campaign told leaver voters that EU money could go to the NHS and now they're backing out of that. I'm angry that the Leave campaign told leavers that they'd curb immigration but they're not saying that anymore now that the future deal we strike with the EU might include keeping the free movement of people in return for us staying in the single market. The communities that most benefitted from EU money won't get it. We've all been shafted.

I've signed the parliamentary petition for a second referendum. There won't be a second referendum and it would be chaos if there was, but I feel it's a loud protest vote. It will remind the politicians that when they say 'the British people have spoken' it is in fact only just over half the British people who wanted to leave. To the colleague who regrets her vote, maybe sign the petition and it might be a way you can reduce your regret a little?

I'm glad I voted remain.but not happy with the results. I wish there is some way to remain in even after referendum. By looking of all problems caused after referendum, Someone please find a way back in

There's so much misinformation on here from remain voters I doubt you actually knew what you voted for either.

Also don't talk about me 'ruining the lives of your children' I have children 3 of them - I'm bringing them up alone after my husband died - I work hard I study hard and I run a business.

I guess through my life I've learnt to be resilient in turbulent times and I'm not drawn into the mud slinging that those who don't get the result they want seem to do.

That's a reflection on you not me.

No-one is saying immigrants are being sent home - quite the opposite - really stop watching bbc news and pretend you know what's going on in the world - EU and non EU countries have stated public ally they want to negotiate trade deals and are looking for a calm and measured process.

This is business there is no room for emotion they can't afford to delay or be difficult anymore than we can.

Just stop with this incessant finger pointing - it's futile. If Brexit happens it happens if it doesn't I dread to see the fallout then - whatever the outcome half the population would be unhappy. It's democracy.

You clearly haven't lived through any sort of crisis before - lucky you but you clearly haven't learned how to adapt and accept change as you fear it so much.