Are you afraid? Brexit.

[Puddelchen]

I feel very uneasy about what the future holds for us after Brexit but am I just overreacting? Can it really be so terrible? Why is no one around me talking about this in real life, you would think it would be a hot topic.

If people protested in the streets and I mean en masse, would that have the Govt. withdraw article 50 ?
Would they do it because, 'Well, it's the will of the people'.

Would protesting this actually make a difference?

But Chocolate85, it is all so unnecessary, especially when we don't know what the advantages of leaving will be, do we?
I think this is the crux of it. We do not know what the advantages of leaving are and have heard no convincing or persuasive arguments in the two and a half years since the vote. All we've had is slogans and nebulous statements about it all being fine in the long term. Meanwhile, the government's own impact statements show that we're in for a very rocky and hideously expensive ride. If people aren't worried about that (particularly a no-deal scenario), they're not paying attention.

Also, it would be good to be able to control immigration, because we already have a housing shortage and our NHS and social services are stretched to breaking point, so it does seem sensible to put the brakes on immigration, which won't happen if we stay in the EU. So, that is what I hope for, although I think the next few months will be very difficult.
Defenbaker. You've really bought the anti-immigrant rhetoric hook, line and sinker, haven't you? You've even used the exact wording ('breaking point') from Farage's hideous pre-referendum poster. We are dependent on immigration to keep our economy going, our NHS going etc. If immigrants don't come from the EU, they will come from further afield. The state of the UK's housing, health and social services is all down to successive governments' policies and poor planning, so who will you scapegoat once we leave the EU?

I'm very scared as I'm type 1 diabetic, so insulin dependent and will die without it

If people protested in the streets and I mean en masse, would that have the Govt. withdraw article 50 ?

We did. 700 000 marched in London alone.

Immigration was always a red herring as the lack of control wasn't an EU issue anyway.

Not in the least

Booked hol for next year
And certainly no hoarding etc

But yes, I'm worried about Brexit. I'm also getting bored of being patronised by some older leavers for not knowing anything about the EU. It was only a module in my MA. The EU is far from perfect but that wasn't a reason to leave either.

It seems to me that if you are not worried then you are just in denial or are very wealthy and more concerned about the tax status of British overseas territories. My parents require meds and a prolonged period of food / medicine shortages could have serious consequences. I also do property development (on the side) and employ 5 men, none of whom are concerned and advocate 'no deal'. Up until now I have tried not to worry them but a no deal outcome effectively means they will be out of a job the next day. They don't have significant savings, can't afford not to work, have mortgages and some have families, so whilst it may be easy for them to naively cheer on brexit and think they will be unaffected as they are not foreigners, they could be hit very hard within a couple of months.
In some ways I think this may need to happen across the UK for some to realise that project fear is very real.....jobs, homes and possibly lives lost - the true cost of misplaced nationalism, economic ignorance and blind trust in self serving politicians...unfortunately disastrous for those most vulnerable

I don’t think TM would allow no deal to happen, I think she would ask to extend the time limit. But if any of the brexiteers ends up replacing her they might go for no deal, they’re rich enough to weather the storm and have the contacts to make sure they’re all right Jack.

I’ve prepped and have lots of tins etc, I’m most worried about the ill and already poor who inflation would hit hardest. But if we don’t pull back the economy quickly, and can’t service the 2 trillion of debt payments, we might have our credit rating downgraded which could be a downward spiral. Could we ever got to Greece’s Level where commitments for public sector wages and pensions can’t be met ? Benefits can’t be paid? I’ve no idea really but that I think would be the worst case I could imagine.

Will probably never happen but that’s why I voted remain - we were already in a difficult place due to the debt the country is in even before the referendum. It’s the debt that was causing austerity not the EU. The debt had not gone away and is huge

I'm a Brit living on the continent, married to a local, with small kids. So I'm really really worried about myself, my family and my fellow-British migrant friends, but I'm even more scared about those I love back home. I have EU-born friends in the UK, settled for many years with families of their own. I have elderly parents and aunties/uncles that rely on certain medication and the NHS. I have friends/family whose businesses or jobs will not survive. It's terrifying.

{If people protested in the streets and I mean en masse, would that have the Govt. withdraw article 50 ?

We did. 700 000 marched in London alone.}

A couple of marches is nowhere near enough for this magnitude of issue, it needs to be EVERY weekend, Saturday and Sunday.
The Gilets Jaune protest in France had it's first main 'event' back in November and has been protesting (traffic restricting) at many points around the country every day since, although stepped up at weekends.
Unfortunately the far right element have jumped on the bandwagon and subverted to original peaceful protest and turned it into acts of mass vandalism.
If your MP is in the 'no deal' camp, you need to be picketing their offices every day and writing to them repeatedly. If you lie down they will trample on you.

Housing is a number of issues. The most important one is that successive governments don't want to sort it out. They could, by various means but they simply don't want to. Houses are seen as a way to make a profit in the UK, rather than an asset that people live in.
Land banking and many regulations around renting need radical reform. it won't happen because the big house building companies are good chums with the Tory party.

I tend to think that capitalism will out, therefore by hook or by crook regardless of govt intervention, big business will find a way to keep things moving. I’m aware I may be kidding myself though but feel utterly powerless to stop it so have to go with the relentless optimism.

Apprehensive...

DP is convinced we will crash out with no deal. I am beginning to think he may be right. If this happens there will be a lot of disruption imo and some prices (like fresh food from the continent) could go up significantly. There will also be a lot of moaning when people can't get the stuff they are used to in the shops. And I feel very sorry for anyone living near Dover/m20 which will be a nightmare. I also feel for people who need medicine for critical illness. Personally I think we will adapt as necessary and I've lived before in countries where food shortages for some goods was normal so am used to disruption to some degree. Also, because of the field I work in, crashing out would have the potential to radically change how we operate, so I am likely to be more in demand in the short term at least.

Long term the ability of Britain to compete with the rest of the EU is more of a worry for me. I fear a long slow decline into mediocrity with a shrinking population.

Those that have mentioned the Brexit talks at work being scary - can you tell us this things you have been told?
I have had my head in the sand, but am now thinking we may start stocking up a bit at home.

Of course I'm scared. You'd have to be stupid and/or in denial not to be.

We're probably in a better position than most, in that our mortgage is paid off and we do have the option to shift to another non-EU country if we really have to, but my friends and family will be stuck here, my parents are reliant on various essential medications and my job will almost certainly go in the event of a no-deal exit. Tbh, it's at risk with any kind of Brexit, but no deal would be catastrophic.

I haven't really started stockpiling in any great quantities yet, but I have been filling my freezer and will start stocking up the cupboards in the coming weeks. Important to remember stuff like toilet rolls, cosmetics and sanitary protection - will add those to my list.

There is a part of me that's still in denial, I guess. I'm still hoping/believing that we really cannot be so stupid as to wilfully inflict such suffering on ourselves. However, it's all getting frighteningly close now, and there doesn't seem to be any immediate prospect of a way out. Sheer madness.

{I have had my head in the sand, but am now thinking we may start stocking up a bit at home.}
Poster 'Bellinisurge' is doing sterling work on the preppers topic on MN and suggests that everyone should consider the period from say 28 March onwards to be the equivalent of 3 days being snowed in and being unable to get to the shops. So that would be 3 meals a day for all your family and some extra toiletries, bottled water, torch and batteries, loo rolls and check your first aid kit is up to date. Most of this you will probably have, but digging them out and checking would be good.
If you want to put a bit more away then do but unless things start to get really nasty in mid March then this should be sufficient.

Yes,scared.I think many people have unwarranted faith in the governments ability to organise and keep things going.Some years ago there was a small change in the organisation of my profession,it was a total shambles because no one in charge had thought through properly what the effect of the changes would be on the ground.
Brexit has exactly that feel,it's all big ideas and inspiring talk but if the details don't work at the point when we leave then we are buggered,at least for a while.
And most politicians are behaving like a load of children.

Thank you @1tisILeClerc . I don't care if people voted Leave or Remain. I don't even care if people are full of bluster about how uneventful and fab NoDeal is going to be. In real life, you can take some practical steps to get a buffer of food in. You don't have to become a prepper.
It's going to start getting all over the media. Which will get people het up. You don't have to say anything to anyone. You can be all front about how you think it's all silly scaremongering if that helps you. But please consider some of the sensible budget friendly advice on here and elsewhere.
I think Jack Monroe has stuff on her website and (of course) a book coming out about cooking from tins. If that's your thing or even if it isn't (I don't like JM,but not from a prepper POV) , give it a look.
We want emergency services to focus on the people who really need help. If you can keep out of the way for a bit, that's really helpful.

Yes I am afraid.
We have a small dairy farm ... not sure how we will survive if imput costs go up massively and there are zero tariffs on stuff coming in to compete with our product, it doesnt bode well. That and the question mark over farm subsidies.
on a personal level I've started prepping - I did a lidl shop yesterday and got loads of tins of tomatoes and baked beans, olive oil, toilet roll etc. I am going to do more in the next few days as I think that as soon as the government make no-deal public announcements, goods on shelves could start to diminish and prices increase as people begin to panic buy.
I have a solid fuel cooker and wood burning stove - I will order another tonne of coal in the next few days so that will give me some peace of mind.
I have 2 chest freezers with plenty of meat so I am luckier in that sense than most.
I do fear civil unrest and a complete breakdown of society as we know it and can't understand why most people around me seem to be burying their heads in the sand.

I'm a little bit frightened but mostly still angry. A deep calm anger at the many factors that led to this act of self destruction.

Angry about years of austerity, angry about inequalities , angry about food banks and wealth disparity. Angry at the deceits of Leave politicians, angry at the press, angry at the xenophobic element in the vote, disgusted at my FIL, and disgusted at my friend's Mum who recruited friends to support Leave to keep muslims out and purports to be an exemplary Christian etc etc

I'm glad that I brought up my DDs to be gritty. I think they'll cope, but I'm so angry that their futures are so affected by this.

www.businessinsider.com/no-deal-brexit-percentage-british-food-imported-shortages-2019-1?r=US&IR=T

I don't want to scare people more but I don't think this is equivalent to 3 days of snow. Some items will still be readily available (e.g. if wholly produced in UK or outside EU) but others will not be about for weeks I expect, while they are stuck at Dover. I presume the gov will prioritise border controls on essentials and non-essentials (like dried food) will take longer.

@Aliceinwanderland - three days is a start. People can make their best judgement as to what suits their space, budget and circumstances generally after that. Again, loads of advice on Preppers topic . But it can be overwhelming to start getting anything. And hammer your budget if you take a scattergun approach. Also your family might not be onboard and it can cause friction with spouses and stress with kids if you suddenly start getting loads in. Take it steady.