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?

[Jeevesforgets]

Lots of people feeling that they have done a mistake are signing a petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215. Don't know whether this would work

[Justontherightsideofnormal]

Wow sounds like Scotland will be getting very over populated ........ Sounds cosy!!

[Notsogrimupnorth]

Daddymcdad - do you know of many others in your wonderful country who have signed the petition or do you know of many ways to get the message firmly out there? We could do with their clout ;)

[Wynona]

Lulu, I thank you for your honesty. People who voted Leave had a democratic right to do so. I wish the result had been different but it cannot be changed. The petition will not achieve a re-run. I now have a choice to either be angry with my darling parents or accept that they did what they thought best. My parents are loving kind people and I will make every to make sure my DC knows that and respect them.

I can see where it went wrong. They read the daily mail, they are surrounded by like minded people. When as a family, we tried to debate it they would change the subject as they did not want the children to see a family arguing.

They watched Question Time and thought they were well informed. DMIL told me that she didn't understand finance and maybe as a remainer I should have helped her understand what a single market means.

We must cherish our parents and grandparents and maybe listen and learn from each other a little more, but equally it would have helped if they could have been more open to debate. For now, we must work together and find a way forward. Yesterday I was cross and angry, but our country has been through worse times that this. Please not more hate.

[Helmetbymidnight]

indy100.independent.co.uk/article/the-mail-has-explained-what-brexit-means-and-its-readers-seem-shocked--Z1772TI4aNW

Here is a link from the Independent from the Mail - the comments are priceless, it would be funny if it wasn't, you know, not funny.

[MumsTheWordYouKnow]

I voted remain, but you are not alone, at least you realise your mistake and it is very representative of what others have done which exactly tells why we shouldn't have had the vote in the first place under such a load of scaremongering nonsense. Don't blame yourself. It is frustrating. Out of the many conversations on Facebook I had a chat with a man who was adamant and spouting about the democratic process and sore loser kind of thing. After I'd put many points to him he eventually relented and actually said he wasn't sure he'd done the right thing. So my point is even those who really felt strongly if they'd been given proper information instead of voting on gut instinct or propaganda I think a lot more would voted remain. Look how well that petition is doing. I wonder what happens if it makes it past 17m.

[pickles90]

Anyone who voted out are twats... this country has just fucked up the future for us and our kids... just imagine your child says I waby to travel around Europe... sorry kid you now can't afford it and also to do that you will need a visa for each country oh and I'd you need medical help while your out there your gonna pay a big fine for that. And considering the jerks that made all these promises like giving the NHS more money... well that was a lie as they are now saying they never said that... and it has also come out that the imergrant situation won't be changing either... well done Brexit you won but have lost so much!

[Cathaka15]

Decisions are made everyday that effect people negatively. Laws that are passed that can change people's lives in an instant. Either by public vote or government laws changing. This was one of them. It will effect people for sure. But people who voted out felt their lives were being effected worse by staying on the EU. No need for visions attacks.

[LillyC]

I wish I could vote! But I couldn't, so had to watch it unfold. Why did people voted without checking what it meant? Why didn't people went to check for the facts rather than believe in lies? All of the leave arguments already started to fall 1 by 1. This is the future of our children and grandchildren. My biggest hope is that the government won't proceed ahead with it, because it's an economical suicide. Oh yes, that's right, this is not voting for the government where you can choose a different one in 4 years. It's way bigger than that. And I won't even get started on the increased levels of racism against people who are working hard and paying their taxes (some are even english)

[emeraldlakes]

Jeevesforgets - That is not a petition reserved for leave voters who wish they voted a different way. Many of the signatures are from remain voters expressing their displeasure in the result. Not to mention that it has been hijacked from people overseas adding their own signatures. I read earlier that it is being investigated for fraud.

[BonerSibary]

None of this explains why you feel your firm taking cases to the ECHR is indicative that we don't get enough say in the EU Rishaar. Nor does it address the question of why leaving, and getting no say at all, is preferable.

[Mynamesnitrainman]

Because it's true. How on earth can we change anything from the outside? Cameron had already agree some changes to our EU position but now we won't have a voice at all. Freedom yes, but it is negative freedom because we have lost the means and ability to exercise that freedom to actually do anything.

[UnderTheGreenwoodTree]

Thank you, sleeponeday - excellent posts.

[emeraldlakes]

Anyone who voted out are twats...

Nice argument there. Name calling adds nothing to a discussion. I'm getting fed up of the hysteria. It's strange that so many are convinced of the future when very little has even happened yet, it's all speculation.

[gunting]

Emerald the petition has had the fraudulent signatures removed and still stands at over 3m. The signatures from overseas come from Brits abroad and Brits using proxies. I use a VPN which makes my computer look like it is based in Korea for example when really I live in Preston.

[Galdos]

Wow. This thread just about encapsulates the whole debate - and more. There are even reasoned principles set out, something the campaigners on both sides failed to communicate clearly during the campaign. The voting analysis shows that Brexiters were generally older, out of London, in deprived areas, and in poorer socio-economic groups. The Remainers were generally younger (75% of those under 24 voted 'remain'), from London and other prosperous areas, or Scottish.

The referendum was a stupid idea, but hey, we are where we are. It has laid bare a stark polarity in the UK, which was evident before, but seemingly ignored by the ruling elite. I wonder why Osborne, with his austerity cuts hitting the poor most, thought those same voters would vote for what he advocated?

And I admire sleeponeday for the thoroughness of the research and briskly efficient summaries of some of the issues. Would that the Remain campaigners had been as straightforward and articulate!

[user1466970324]

1. Don't feel bad. We live in a democracy and you were entitled to vote.
   
2. If you ask these sorts of questions on places like this it creates a long, ongoing debate in which you will probably be insulted!
   
3. David Cameron held a referendum and gave the decision to the British public, we need to respect each others views and opinions!
   

Oh and I voted out...

[user1466147966]

I am an Spanish mother of four children. I love the UK, and feel so sad about this situation. We, European citizens and British as well, are going to loose something great, wich is truely friendly relationship. If there is a problem with immigrants (and I am really aware of this) Britain should have change their laws. But unfortunately they decide just to end a relationship which means a bigger problem itself. Moreover, not thinking about thousands of Britains leaving in Europe. Building boundaries does not resolve a problem. It just create a bigger one. So sad about a Country I really love.

[ToothFaerie]

I voted leave and did it for everyone on earth. If you think staying in an autocratic dictatorship is what this country is about then it is good your vote failed. We are now able to help our European family to do the same as us and go back to a TRADE agreement not a political amalgamation. The only people to gain from us staying is the corporate bastards we want out of our live.

As for the HR person saying they are going to fire people tomorrow when the legal processes are not it action, you are the people we voted against. Nothing will change for years, we now need a government to extricate us from this quagmire and define new areas of trade and investment. We will still be selling/buying in Europe. Grow up people, stop listening to the MSM shrill.

[PastoralCare]

You can't tell who these people are, what is the proportion of "leavers" vs "remainers".

Regardless that number is very impressive.

[specialsubject]

if you want to have a go at changing things:

forget the e-petition, waste of time. None of the 27 e-petitions that made it as far as being debated have resulted in any change that I can see. Farting around on the internet is not the way. Especially when this petition is full of fraud.

it is entirely obvious from the voting stats (the only true ones are the totals and the local splits, all others are from small sample opinion polls and are pure extrapolation) that nearly half those who voted didn't get the result they voted for. The only surprise is which way it turned out. Even our dumbest politicians know there's a problem.

so...

Write to your MP (there is an online portal to do this). I hope he/she is more active than mine who does sod all at the best of times.
get politically active - locally is a good start.
join a political party.

I think we may get a general election next. Encourage everyone to VOTE. Not piss about on the internet, not spew bile at those who disagree, but VOTE. Nearly 30% couldn't be arsed on Thursday. Shame on them.

and before you vote; do some reading. Ignore campaigns, ignore rock stars and footballers. All the relevant legislation is available online and there is plenty of informed comment about. Read as much as you can.

as I'm sure many did, on both sides.

[emeraldlakes]

the petition has had the fraudulent signatures removed

That's good news. I understand VPN but there were still claims of false signatures purposely added. Nevertheless I still doubt it will be taken seriously. Or at least hope. Along with all the urges for parliament to ignore the result.

[TopSop]

I'd like to feel sympathy for you, OP, because I'm generally quite a reasonable person. But I can't because I'm really shocked. And angry. My (half white South African, half Swiss) DH just told me something awful, in tears. He came back on Friday from a business trip to the US, promoting British industry to the US Navy. He flew back into Heathrow. He got to passport control, with his SWISS passport, and was asked where his final destination was. "Here", he said, "I live here". The immigration official laughed in his face and said "Let's see how much longer that lasts", then threw his passport back at him. DH kept his head down, and said nothing. He felt ashamed. He just wanted to get home to his family. This was on FRIDAY. The day after the vote. So NOBODY tell me that everything will settle down, or that it's all panic being whipped up by the media. This is real life. It's affecting my family. Including my elderly in-laws who are terrified because they are here on their Swiss passports, on the basis of the free movement of persons thing and now they think they are going to be deported. Try reassuring a pair of confused 80 year olds who thought they had found a safe place to live until they die, but who now feel unwelcome in a country that has been their home for the last 13 years. And it is SHIT! All caused by a bunch of people who thought... Well, goodness knows what they thought. I respect their right to vote in accordance with their conscience, if they had actually done some research, but frankly they/you were wrong. We are now planning our own little Brexit! Thank the lord for Swiss passports and the ability to speak German. My kids are getting quite excited about moving away from their home country, their friends, everything they know. My 10 year old got his first German lesson from me tonight.
The people that this directly affects are those who actually had no vote - all those EU and EEA citizens who live and work here, but had no say. I hope you're all proud of yourselves, and enjoy your 'freedom'.

[maxandmoo]

Well said SallyAnn7300, it seems to me that the people who are behaving in an appalling,aggressive and quite frankly rather immature way are currently the remain camp. Strange, but not one of them mentions TTIP, which was one of the major reasons for me voting out, along with the seemingly endless grants and loans given by the EU to large manufacturers to relocate their business to other EU countries, thereby effectively asset stripping the UK. No apparently, it's because we are all dumb, toothless beer swilling racists. BTW I am the brown skinned daughter of an immigrant, and understand the true meaning of racism.

[Thisisnotreallymyname]

Admire you admitting it - but it was made clear this wasn't a Protest vote - it was for real - so bit late now 😳