Genuine q, what does the UK gain from this?

[dragonsarebest]

I voted Remain, but we lost and I want to be optimistic, so I'd genuinely like to know what benefits we can look forward to following Brexit. I'm really not interested in arguing, point-scoring or vague "taking control" statements, but I would like to understand what the positives will/could be for my family and me once the UK is officially out? Thanks.

I do think that the glimmers of hope relate to healing the domestic political schisms.

Haven't found anything else here, I agree.
Very interesting thread and question.

there is no EU Army and to create one would need the unanimous approval of all member states!

fullfact.org/europe/hunt-eu-army/

YY Alis!

“The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK will never be part of a European Army. We have consistently said that we will oppose any measures which would undermine member states' competence for their own military forces, or lead to competition and duplication with NATO, which is the cornerstone of our defence”.
fullfact.org/europe/hunt-eu-army/

I absolutely despair Element.

How can we "move on together" when people clearly still believe flagrant lies!

I do think that the glimmers of hope relate to healing the domestic political schisms

Genuine question- how do you see that happening?

For the last decade cuts have disproportionally hit young people and working people, while pensioners have seen their incomes protected through the triple lock. Between this, the growth of student debt, the vast increase in housing costs and decimation of secure work, young people's quality of life has declined while that of pensioners has got better.

Despite this, older people voted for this situation - one where they are isolated from the effects. They should bear some of the pain.

It is horrifying that no one actually can give us any real positives at all of this. The best anyone can suggest is that we will suffer now but avoid some suffering later. That requires us to accept that the later suffering would have been inevitable. But in terms of how this will make anybody's life better, the silence is deafening. People were voting for a vision. There really was nothing more than that.

a vision of unicorn glitter farts and pixie dust

It is horrifying that no one actually can give us any real positives at all of this

So much of it is contested prophecy, isn't it?

The only real way to know is to wait and see.

Re the EU army. We were being governed by undemocratic people. There were a lot of things we said we couldn't do, but were forced to do them anyway:

“The lack of influence is quite marked. Over the past twenty years… there have been 72 occasions in the Council of Ministers where the United Kingdom has opposed a particular measure. Of those 72 occasions, we have been successful precisely 0 times and we have lost 72 times. That is a fact.

Has anyone on this thread looked at the currency exchanges the last few days? Our £/$ is going up again, the Euro/$ is going down. They need us more than we need them. I stand by this.

Benefits

higher taxes
lower growth
lower wages
more cuts.

also to the person up the thread who thinks we should have electoral reform, don't you remember the 2011 referendum where we voted no, and as so many people have said we can't have another referendum on a subject we've had before - that's democracy apparently.

And yes I voted remain and in 2011 for PR+ - if that had gone through we wouldn't be in the giant shitstorm that's about to hit. But hey I’ve already have had to cut jobs.

But, Dacre, whilst we wait and see if there is any upside at all, people will suffer the effects of this in very real and painful ways. All of that real suffering will happen in order to 'wait and see' if anything good comes out of it? It just makes me despair.

And the poster who suggested a benefit will be greater 'diverse immigration', I wonder how tiny a fraction of Leave voters saw that as a possibility, far less a positive!

More "facts" loobyloo.

Well done Cameron - good job -

www.personneltoday.com/hr/employers-face-years-uncertainty-brexit-vote/?cmpid=NLC|PTPT|PTDIR-2016-0629

So, I've just re-read back the thread and the only specific positives I can find are lightbulbs and Hinckley Point. There must be more than that...?

More broadly however, Brexit may lead to a more agile decision-making at government level, a more engaged and critical electorate, potential for democratic restructure (both for political parties and electoral process), and addressing the causes of the disaffected.

I hope that this will make young people seek and value accurate information.

For many years we have heard complaints about dumbing down and this appears to be exactly that on a national level. I am aware and do appreciate that there are interesting, well researched arguments out there on both sides. However, I've found the leave side overrun with points of view presented as points of fact. Relevant argument has been replaced with a bombardment of deliberately misleading content which hijacks the discussion and steers it away from useful debate.

I hope this doesn't happen again.

So, I've just re-read back the thread and the only specific positives I can find are lightbulbs and Hinckley Point. There must be more than that...?

More broadly however, Brexit may lead to a more agile decision-making at government level, a more engaged and critical electorate, potential for democratic restructure (both for political parties and electoral process), and addressing the causes of the disaffected.

I am so grateful for all the links that have been posted, really interesting.

This is Paul Mason's plan. Haven't read it all yet. He argued for Brexit, but not now, I think.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/25/britain-rainy-fascist-island-progrexit-brexit

Alisvolatpropiis - apologies. Maybe we didn't bail out Greece but pls see below does it matter who we bailed out, we bailed out other countries though, because of the EU

The first question to answer is how much the UK has paid towards the eurozone bailouts so far: The UK has provided a total of €6.5bn (£5bn) via the EU for two bailouts: €3bn for Ireland in November 2010 and €3.5bn for Portugal in May 2011

This is only going to get worse as the poor countries become poorer

surely it's debatable if lightbulbs that use much more energy is a benefit.
Especially in light if Hinkley not going ahead (possibly).

Hisname I am clutching at straws a bit... :)

Hey well looby at least on the bright side if the UK goes tits up the EU won't have to bail us out.

Well yes, it does matter who we bailed out and when, facts are important not minor details which can be ignored when it suits your argument.

There is a reason we were exempt from bailing out Greece which crashed after Ireland and Portugal...

I think we will probably all get better at growing our own vegetables, which is something to celebrate.