Reasons as to why you voted leave?

[Firstimemam]

Ladies & Gents,

This is really old news but I am new to mumsnet & would be interested as to why exactly you voted "leave" rather than "remain". Just your very honest opinion, I am not here to judge, just very intrigued.

[Songsofexperience]

Because being in the EU does nothing for me.

Being out of the EU will do nothing for you. Be sure of that.

[Songsofexperience]

One leave voter answers: Here’s one reason: I don’t want to be associated with the shameful behaviour of fortress Europe.

Another leaver answers immigration

Mutually incompatible.
Leave will leave everyone frustrated.

[Songsofexperience]

I'm not sure if it was clear that the U.K. couldn't trade with a country outside of Europe

NOT true.
We can and do trade outside of the EU but have to follow the rules established within the framework set by trade deals negotiated by the EU- of which we are a full member and have had significant clout in shaping. Those EU trade deals are OUR trade deals, they were just done collaboratively. As a team.

[Bourbonbiccy]

Thank you @SpitefulBreasts. It has been nice to read an eloquent reason for leaving. I think if more people followed in your footsteps we would have a clearer understanding.

I do also think that the remainers should not jump in so harshly on a thread asking for leavers opinions and reasons. It only encourages the leaves to stay l

[billysboy]

I voted leave as I think you are always better paddling your own boat

[Julykthat]

As a single, non political person (I vote and read the news but my knowledge would be far from comprehensive) I realise I have very little control over what my country does.

Being part of Europe or the UK or just England will not change that. I have no control over who will be the next Prime Minister or what policies they will bring with them or how they will handle Brexit. Just as I have no control over what the EU do. So in or out I cannot see what difference it will make to any changes coming.

Depressing thought isn't it?

(I am not actually British or living in the UK but Irish living in Ireland but have just as little control over my own government. Brexit will (is already) affecting us and will continue to do so in a, most likely, negative way. I can do nothing at all except watch and hope.)

[Peregrina]

Those EU trade deals are OUR trade deals, they were just done collaboratively. As a team.

Until 2010 when Cameron deliberately started to pull away from the collaborative approach. My DB can quote a law to do with Transport. Industry people in the UK said that this law could be improved by....... - DB would give you 4 pages of notes on suggested improvements here - it was his line of work. Our Government didn't bother to listen to them ("we've had enough of experts", don't forget.) and just nodded the legislation through. It could have been improved by the UK, the UK as represented by the Tory party chose not to bother. There is a good chance that if UK experts thought there could have been improvements, other Governments would have done to.

It was to do with buses and I just wonder when Cameron ever bothered to catch a bus in his life.

[ContinuityError]

My parents voted in the referendum to join the Common Market, I've no idea how they voted,

No they didn’t - the 1975 referendum was to remain in the EEC.

There was no vote in the U.K. to set up a European Parliament

The EP was set up in 1952 - 21 years before the UK joined the EEC.

There was also no vote to agree this.

Yes there was - UK MPs ratified the Maastricht Treaty.

The accounts of the EU Governmental departments have never been signed off by a professional accounting company.

The EU accounts are audited and signed off every year by the ECA (which is described as independent of the Commission).

Same as UK government accounts are audited by the NAO - unless you also think that “The corruption in the UK Government is too big and too toxic for any reputable company to get involved with“?

The corruption in the EU Government is too big and too toxic

Yet they caught up with Farage and the other UKIP MEPs’ corrupt misuse of EU funds.

[Jason118]

It's an interesting thread and I think shows the huge influence of the UK press over many years, deriding the EU. Pretty much all of the reasons given in genuine belief are either untrue or not due to being in the EU. Such a shame that we are tanking our economy, but the power of the media is not called that for nothing.

[Peregrina]

Back in 1975 the Daily Mail was all for the Yes vote for us to stay in the EEC. They now have a Remainer Editor. I think some of the rhetoric has been toned down, but he has a fine line to tread - he doesn't want to lose a large chunk of his readership if he comes out for Remain.

[Songsofexperience]

I voted leave as I think you are always better paddling your own boat

Fine if you're ok with said boat being a leaking dinghy: that's what "managed" no deal will do to us.

[SpitefulBreasts]

@ContinuityError
Posters like you are the reason I have never bothered to comment on Brexit on Mumsnet, and also the reason that I never will again.

[billysboy]

Songsofexperience I am not saying that it will be a smooth transition or without pain for a lot of people however do you think where we were 3 years ago when we voted was such a great place to be ?

[ContinuityError]

@SpitefulBreasts

Good.

Because I believe misinformation should be called out every time and the less twaddle that is posted then the less calling out I have to do.

[Songsofexperience]

Because I don't want to be part of a federal state.
The EU is not remotely a federal state

Because I don't want an EU Army.
There is no EU army

Because I don't want to play second fiddle to Germany.
You mean you don't like Germany being our equal. Germany has kept some of its industries. We lost ours during Thatcher years and now insist on letting her 'heirs' kill off what's left.

Because think the EU is old fashioned and expensive.
Philipp Hammond estimated the cost of no deal at £90 billion (and thats just to handle the short term shock) compare with the £10 billion annual fee to stay in the EU. What's more expensive?

Because I think while there is so much poverty in the world the money spent on fancy buildings and even fancier salaries is a disgrace..
Global inequality is a disgrace but do you really want our society to emmulate developing countries where abject poverty and slums neighbour rich areas with not much in between? I can tell you where you and I would be most likely to end up (unless you're a senior Tory or an oligarch bankrolling that sorry mess)

Because I believe we should go global and beyond the cliquey bubble called the EU.
Just lol. We have global relevance now and we will lose that.

[Dapplegrey]

Op there already are hundreds of threads on this subject.
Or maybe you just wanted another bunfight.

[Songsofexperience]

Songsofexperience I am not saying that it will be a smooth transition or without pain for a lot of people however do you think where we were 3 years ago when we voted was such a great place to be ?

3 years ago- and now- has not been a great place for those who've suffered from austerity. Brexit will result in austerity on steroids: the pie will get smaller for everyone except a tiny minority.
The Tories brexit is institutionalised inequality sold to you as the great Independence Dream. I don't feel angry with voters who chose leave in good faith but I am raging against the pied pipers who would have them believe it's a good idea.

[HumpHumpWhale]

I really relate to your post, Firsttimemam. I am also an immigrant and I do take the vote to leave personally. Plus, I'm an economist, so I'm really really worried about the consequences. I do think the debate on here has degenerated, though. Which is a shame. As I desperately, desperately want to feel that there are people who voted leave for good reasons, and not just because they want me and my mixed race immigrant family out.

[Ohdearthefootball]

Dapplegrey the OP is new to mnet as she has explained twice if you'd bothered to read. She also put her pov across as a German living in the UK which is a different slant.

I for one, feel so sad that the OP feels uncomfortable speaking German to her little boy, I'm totally heartbroken and ashamed that she feels like this. I'm devastated about Brexit, 3 years on I still can't believe it might really happen.

Personally give me being part of an EU superstate any day over being a poor, forgotten, bigoted little rock isolated forever out in the North Sea.

[Ohdearthefootball]

Hump you are more than welcome to be here in my book 🤗

[Iambuffy]

spiteful
Ah, yes.
Facts and actual statistics upsetting your rosy leaver lies?
Interestingly, beth Rigby at sky has written a very interesting and pretty scathing article on the promises made by both hunt and johnson at their hustings.
Its lies.
All lies.
And its high time the press woke up to what they are enabling by not calling these politicians out.

[1tisILeClerc]

Firstimemam
Thank you for your lovely explanation of your situation.
From what you have said, you highlight the point of the EU, the ability to live where you want with who you want, which enriches your life. I am sorry that you are feeling less welcome and 'self conscious' about being a German European.

{It costs €114million a year for the move between Brussels and Strasbourg.}
Not that significant when you consider all 500 Million Europeans contribute to it, so roughly 20p/year.

Lightbulbs. Part of the changes necessary to reduce the effects of climate change as they are considerably more efficient, therefore using less power. They also cost less to run, which although may go unnoticed in a domestic setting (when you are running washing machines regularly etc) but as a product development/scale of manufacture exercise they will make a noticeable difference to power wasted and the release of greenhouse gasses.
No doubt some mourn the passing of oil lamps fuelled by whale oil.

[KennDodd]

As for Leave voters having venom directed at them. I very nearly lost my job as a direct result of Brexit (we get EU funding) some of my colleagues did lose their jobs. I don't think you've seen anything yet. My mum thinks it's all worth it if it gets people like HumpHumpWhale and Firsttimemam out of the country, she has said as much. I'm ashamed to be English.

[Antigonads]

The EU has done many good things and as I always say, is a great idea in principle but it has, in my opinion, become too large and too cumbersome. It needs a massive overhaul and I voted Brexit in the hope it would kickstart a change for the better.

However I see now that I was wrong.

[Hithere12]

Op there already are hundreds of threads on this subject
Or maybe you just wanted another bunfight

She’s already explained her reasons for starting the thread which are perfectly valid.