To wonder if there are any Leave voters who actually are having second thoughts about Brexit

[Bearbehind]

Following Tony Blairs call for Remainers to convince Leavers to change their mind I'm wondering if there are actually any Leavers who are worried and might prefer us not to be going in the direction we are heading.

From what I've seen Leavers are more determined than ever and really don't seem in the slightest bit concerned about any negative repercussions so they're not going to be swayed.

Who is Blair aiming his comments at?

It has made the British political elite realise that a lot of the country doesn't agree with them.

I kind of agree with this point (but not sure those same people agree with TM, Boris or Gove either). I also think it showed people that their vote actually does matter.

Nope! Wanted out for at least 15 years and no one will convince me otherwise especially not that twat Blair. Why doesn't he fuck off somewhere else and start a small war?

Yes I've wanted out for the past 15 years too, it's nothing to do with immigration. Put it in a basic way, I am fed up of this country being dictated to be Europe, being their hand puppet.

Plus a lot of remoaners are throwing their toys out of the pram and not helping their cause.

Elendon I would dispute that, to be honest.

I don't doubt that some Leave voters would have continued to complain, loudly, and I don't doubt some of the factors that led to the Brexit vote (concerns re levels of immigration, lack of democracy) would have continued to raise their heads, but in terms of accepting the vote to stay in the EU, hypothetically, would have been accepted?

Why? Well - if the statistics are correct and those with lower markers of educational attainment were more likely to vote Leave, we can deduce from that these are people more likely to be from what we can roughly describe as a working class background, and in those cases they are more likely to be used to political disillusionment. The biggest battle UKIP faces for example is not tempting Labours core voters away from Labour but getting those voters to see their vote can make a difference.

All the above is a general not specific point. I know there were numerous people with degrees in professional jobs who voted to leave (I am one of them) but since we have repeatedly heard the leavers were made up of the white working class, let's assume that's correct - the white working class are quite used to being misled and being unrepresented in government. I doubt they would have been moaning and groaning and wailing and shrieking.

The opposite of this therefore is the professional middle classes - those non racist, non xenophobic, tolerant and open minded. It also just so happens they are very used to getting their own way, to loudly objecting when things don't go their way and are accustomed to making their voices heard.

Furthermore, most Leave voters (including me!) fully expected the vote to be to remain. I suspected it would be a close one but anticipated it would fall on the side to Remain. The result was a surprise to me!

Lastly, if we assume all the above is nonsense, and while I think there are some accuracies the above points are too general to have any real substance - many Leave voters voted due to concerns about democracy, or lack thereof, in the EU. If we deduce from that democracy is important to Leave voters, they are hardly then likely to become too shrill about a democratic process.

For my part, I voted Leave in June and I would vote Leave again. No one I know has changed their minds, but then most of the people I know are vocally 'remainders'.

I know someone who has lost his job as a direct result of Brexit. He voted Remain, but I assume his parents who voted Leave must be regretting their votes.

I voted Leave and predicted a Leave win. I know of no Leave voters who are having second thoughts but do know two Remainers who have changed their minds.

As for war criminal Blair, I have zero interest in what he says, thinks or does.

Pink Rose,
Your comment about the result going the other way deserves more exploring.

As someone who campaigned for leaving, I would have accepted the result. Howeve in contrast to the behaviour of remoaners I would not have been complaining and trying dirty tactics like court challenges.

However, I would be pointing out the continuing problems in Europe.

Yes all the because multinationals big corporations benefit from Europe. No if the result had swung the other way, I believe most leavers would accept it, instead of trying tactics to block it, and undermine those who voted for the winning result.

Add to that, the problems in Europe, have made me glad to leave.

The day the result was announced I spoke to 2 friends who voted leave on a whim and couldn't believe it had actually happened.

Now Tony Blaire is on the bandwagon, along with the various liberal luvlies, has further put me off remain.

I wonder if some of the 'leave' voters insisting they would now vote differently are saying so due to the negative public reaction from some.

I don't know. I think there has been a lot of negative reaction online, but much less so in real life. I know a couple of leave voters at work who have been quite vocal about their choice. I don't think anyone has said anything to them, and I doubt they have any idea how much the rest of us are silently judging them.

I judge, yes, but I keep it to myself. When it all goes pear-shaped, I will blame them, but again, I'll keep it to myself.

What the leavers in my workplace don't yet realise is that we'll almost certainly have to make redundancies when we leave the EU, as our sector will be hit very hard. This was made clear before the referendum, but they seem to think it was scaremongering because it hasn't happened yet. The reality is, it hasn't happened yet because we haven't left yet!

As a manager, I've been asked to start preparing for a restructure in order to reduce our overall staffing. I wonder how sanguine the leave voters will be when they realise their jobs are at risk. Time will tell.

Thought about voting leave from a left wing perspective, but not for very long. Decision to vote remain confirmed every time I look at the lineup of leave 'heavy hitters' and the racism that's been unleashed since the vote.

I know not all leavers are racist, but I'd be personally appalled to be in the same camp as Putin, Farage, Trump, Banks, Le Pen and even the useless Jeremy Corbyn. Then there's Bo Jo, Gove, IDS, Kate Hoey and so on

The remain side isn't all wonderful either but does at least have the overwhelming backing of the kinds of authorities I tend to respect - all the universities, nearly all economists and scientists, most environmentalists and most business people and their reps. I know experts aren't fashionable, but I'll believe them over Gove and Farage anytime.

It just feels like a massive mess which nobody really understands. There was no plan. Tony Blair isn't helping, and should really just fuck off.

People should be happy if they voted remain, but would vote leave given a second chance. They have what they want.

The thing is 20, it's just as easy to profess to be "appalled" to be in the same camp as Cameron, Osborne, Blair et al.

As with most things, it's best to just make up your own mind. With something as stark as 'leave' or 'remain', you simply have to. Partly because to do otherwise is foolish but mostly because with only two choices, someone can reach the same decision as you, but for entirely different reasons and really, do their reasons matter?

For my part, there were politicians and individuals I respect who were on both sides of the camp.

At any rate, many of the 'there will be job losses' show that not all remainers voted for pure unselfish reasons either. That's fine and I don't expect them to - but if you vote in your self interests, don't be surprised when others do the same.

Howeve in contrast to the behaviour of remoaners I would not have been complaining and trying dirty tactics like court challenges.

Couple of things I don't understand about this:

How is making sure the due process of our democracy is followed 'dirty tactics'?

And how come Leave is all about the 'voice of the people' yet the people who disagree with them - Remainers should just stay silent?

Voted leave and am happy with how things are going.

Everyone I know who voted leave feels the same way.

Democracy happened last year, we were given the option to leave ir remain, just over half voted to leave. So it has to happen.

At any rate, many of the 'there will be job losses' show that not all remainers voted for pure unselfish reasons either. That's fine and I don't expect them to - but if you vote in your self interests, don't be surprised when others do the same.

I've never heard anyone claim that voting Remain was an unselfish act? It certainly wasn't for me - as a non-British citizen there are potentially enormous consequences for me of Leaving - of course my vote to Remain was a selfish act!

At any rate, many of the 'there will be job losses' show that not all remainers voted for pure unselfish reasons either. That's fine and I don't expect them to - but if you vote in your self interests, don't be surprised when others do the same.

My own job isn't at risk. Is it selfish to not want to put others out of work, knowing that they have bills to pay and families to support? Personally, I will find that quite difficult. If that makes me selfish, then I accept the charge.

I'm not afraid for my own future in a post-Brexit Britain. I'm highly qualified and have skills that will protect me in the difficult times ahead. It would also be relatively easy for me to work abroad if the need should arise. If our economy crashes, it will hit those at the bottom of the socio-economic spectrum far harder than it will hit me.

I voted for the future of our country and for the next generation, not for my own self-interest. I accept that many leave voters did the same, but obviously, I think they made the wrong choice.

Surely the vast majority of voting is driven by what serves the voter best?

I voted for remain but over the last eight months, have certainly become more of a remainer, probably a remoaner!

I live next to one of the biggest leave areas in the country. (Mysteriously, it's one not often in the media though). Most people I spoke to there at the time said it was because of the Muslims. I have no idea how they feel about it now. I know they don't represent all leavers. (I know lots of leavers who aren't racists) And I personally know four leavers who have died since the vote (all over 75).

I feel really sad for my black and Indian friends who've been abused or intimidated - some for the first time in their lives - since last June. And I feel sad for my Polish and Bulgarian friends who are feeling very insecure.

I think many of us didn't fully understand the consequences last year. That said, I'm puzzled by leavers who eight months on are STILL believing bizarre things like:

1. Brexit is a vote against the elites. Um. What? How? What do you think is going to happen next?
2. That the normal people of this country are going to do well out of this. 'Once we leave the EU the rich will have to pay the poor more money.' I mean WTF? Where are they getting these ideas from?

Hard brexit means we are all going to suffer: Its not about whether Tarquin gets his Gap-year in Florence, its about the NHS, about Social care, agriculture, science, research. And for some people, it will be about being able to afford to eat.

Many people didn't realise that in June. Many people did yet think the upheaval is worth it. It's pretty gutting either way.

[Cue loads of posters telling me to 'get over it' or 'fuck off to another country] :)

Ginger, the remain vote has been frequently put forward as, if not the 'unselfish' vote, certainly the moral one; the path you would have taken were you a decent person.

Broken, not wanting to put others out of work is a perfectly valid reason for not wanting to leave the EU. However, it only focuses on one set of people: others have had their jobs vanish or working conditions majorly compromised due to the influx of cheap and available labour from Eastern European countries and it isn't a selfish act to prioritise them in our votes either.

As with most things, we end up supporting those we know about: if you know people (or are a person) who may have their job compromised by leaving the EU then wishing to stay in the EU is perfectly normal, acceptable - but that in itself doesn't turn it into a superior vote morally speaking.