Why people voted leave.

[1981m]

My dad just sent me this. He voted leave abc says this outlines exactly why. Maybe it sheds light on the reasons why people voted leave and they thought they would get from it.

https://www.ft.com/content/e0b30912-1fff-11e9-a46f-08f9738d6b2b?accessToken=zwAAAWiHW374kdPgswkSH8R6dOkbwj5c41rKw.MEUCIHUvvsCAI9Z7iIQoU9I541CCOprnnTXnfRbU5fUTRJQAiEA51eFw6dS4WXhT020J1lPLgHcVFV-_ggrBRZJ4geDdyg&sharetype=gift?token=49518a36-9da1-4be3-87f1-ab4632fc7670

Not the sovereignty shit again

Send you dad this.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-white-paper-uk-parliament-remian-sovereign-eu-membership-referendum-campaign-brussels-article-a7559556.html

I can imagine people might not of felt as if the country was sovereign as the government scape goated and blamed the EU and there implied it had more influence than it actually did. If it put it's hand up and said ' yes, it's actually our policy decisions that are shit' rather than playing pass the responsibility parcel we might not be in this mess.

It would be quite useful if they actually started taking responsibility soon.

It shows that most of them didn’t have a clue what being in or out of the EU actually meant - quelle surprise

I’m glad you wrote that ssd

I got to the end and thought - so sovereignty? Again.

Yeah it's got a lot to answer for

Rebuke from former (conservative MEP) colleague of Hannan.

Someone I know early 30’s, a little older than me, told me today that she’d voted for Brexit. I asked her why and she said the “information” put about by the Leave campaign was more persuasive and eye catching. Also said she feels embarrassed by voting that way now and wouldn’t do so again.

So basically - the Remain campaign failed to put enough effort in, because they thought it was understood by all that being in the EU was better than being out of it.

It really wasn’t. Intelligent people didn’t understand that and voted to Leave. Not racist, parochial idiots, but otherwise intelligent people who were ignorant to the benefits of EU membership.

What amazes me is that there are any who would still choose to vote to leave, but I know there are.

When I briefly discussed Brexit with my only Leave-voting friend, she said “but Sovereignty” and I said “but my family and friends and society”. I remember thinking, but didn't articulate, “but I don’t see the Tory government as representing or looking after me.” Therefore Sovereignty was meaningless for me - I trusted the EU more. What I HAD noticed on trips to Germany (NRW) in the last decade or so was that this bogeyman of a place that is supposedly oppressing us reminded me very much of England 50 years ago - not edgy, not cool, not even smart, but public spirited and quick to tell off misbehaving youth -and the public transport and health services worked. Germany also of course has lots of small family businesses where the UK outsourced most of it overseas. I really think a lot of Leavers might have been happier if England was like Germany.

I definitely live in a bubble. I didn't see the Leave vote coming. I didn't think anyone reasonable would vote for it. I think it's a disaster. I have/had personal interests in UK staying close to/with the EU. My view is probable coloured by all of this.

Having said that, I know (only) three people who have actually told me they support Brexit and want us to leave, and voted for it.

One is a lovely person, who doesn't care about sovereignty as a concept, as far as I know, but has seen the brunt of the austerity cuts. She genuinely believed leaving EU would mean more money for the poor in the UK and for the NHS.

One seems to be going through early stages of dementia. She doesn't really have a lot of reasons behind her decision, apart from EU bad. Also if we weren't in the EU, we could support pensioners and the NHS.

One is quite mentally ill and elderly. He also expects us to be able to support pensioners and the people now struggling on benefits, if only we didn't have to pay so much to the EU.

So a tiny sample of three, but they all expected the Leave vote to leave the UK in a better economic situation, which would in turn be used to care for the vulnerable people within the country. It seems weird to me, as none of them are in general lacking of healthy cynicism, so I don't really get why they they think extra money (how?!) automatically means more money to the unwell.

Can't access the link.

But I have come to terms with the fact that the question on the ballot paper was basically " are you happy with the status quo." And therefore many people said " no".

A few reasons I can think of, off the top of my head:
Smarmy, condescending Cameron and George Osborne weren't great poster boys for the remain movement. How many times did I see them answer questions on TV by interviewers or members of the public with "well, I'm glad you asked that, but it's a difficult concept, so I'll put it in simple terms.... [followed by vague bullshit].

The Paris attacks had just happened. A worrying increase in European-based terror cells.

Merkel and Cameron were [appearing] positive about talks for Turkey's inclusion.

Rise of the Far Right in Europe who were vocal about 'uncontrolled' immigration and its effects on society.

Threat of Italy's banking system collapse (known, but not being talked about)

Lack of facts about what would replace the status quo. Not much discussion of the Irish border, for example.

In my circle of friends and acquaintances who voted leave did so mainly due to immigration. Some said they voted leave because it felt right and others because they don't like eu. Sovereignty hasn't really been mentioned much. But again, that's just a small sample.

Most people I come into contact with voted leave, and when I ask them why it is usually to do with immigration.
None of them are racist or xenophobic although I know these exist.
One is my own dsis, I know.
They work in factories and warehouses, typically entry level jobs and have unfortunately had a bad experience with the type of people they are working with, their living conditions, employment favouritism and much more.

Tell your DF to read the comments.

There was plenty of discussion of the NI border pre referendum. If people stuck their fingers in their ears and chanted "La la la ! Not listening ", that is not politicians fault.