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Politics

Why do Remainers support being in the EU when Brits are not compatible with Europeans?

187 replies

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 08:29

Think of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
These are all former British colonies in which people of British descent have long been socially, culturally, politically, economically dominant.

Because of the fact that the dominant social group in those countries was of British descent that meant that they spoke English, had similar political and judicial traditions to the UK, viewed British history like the Tudors and the Stuarts as "their history", and felt loyalty and amity with the UK.

But, when non-British European migration started happening to those countries post-WW2 and later Asian, African and Middle Eastern migration, things started to change.
Greek, Polish, Norwegian, Italian, Hungarian, German immigrants and their kids in Canada in the 1950s/60s etc didn't feel the same way about Britain that people of British descent did. They were more invested in their own homelands. They may have spoken English, but they wouldn't call the UK the "mother country" or feel loyalty towards it or view British history as "theirs"; rather they'd have been likely to transmit historical grievances against Britain from their ethnic homeland to Canada. An example is how many Italian and Ukrainian-Canadians in the 1960s were demanding that Canada change its national flag from the old Red Ensign flag which had the Union Jack in the corner because they didn't identify with the UK whereas most British-origin Canadians supported the old flag because they did.

Similarly, French-Canadians were demanding bilingualism in Canada and conducing terrorist actions like blowing up mailboxes which had the word "Royal" on as well as demanding the abolition of the monarchy in Canada since they didn't identify with Britain.

In Australia and New Zealand, people of Irish descent have long been the most ardent republicans since they don't feel an attachment to the UK. And, white people of non-British descent like those of Dutch and Greek descent have also been republicans, tend to be the ones most strongly in favour of Australia changing its national flag to remove the Union Jack, and tend to have little care for the UK. This is because they are not of British descent so feel no attachment to it.

This fundamentally goes to show that blood is thicker than water.
Australia, Canada and New Zealand were only loyal to Britain and only strongly identified with it because people of British descent dominated those societies and because they are "blood" relations of British people. By contrast, continental Europeans are generally indifferent to, if not hostile to Britain, since they are not "blood" as proven by the actions of their diasporas like Greek-Australians demanding Britain gives the Elgin Marbles to Greece, thus showing a pro-Greek not pro-British stance whereas an Anglo-Australian would likely favour Britain; or a Cypriot-Canadian demanding that Britain evacuate its bases on Cyprus, thus favouring the Cypriot/Greek position rather than the British one as an Anglo-Canadian may be inclined to do.

Think also about the Dutch settlers in Soutb Africa causing issues. Their disdain for Britain led them to fight the Boer Wars and push for a South African Republic in 1961.

So, given all of that, why would you want to be part of the EU, which is not just a "trade zone" but an attempt to forge a European superstate? Continental Europeans, as demonstrated by the behaviour of their diasporas in Anglosphere nations, are not "blood" or loyal to Britain in the way people of British ancestry are? They are inclined to follow their own biases and cultures and traditions, which often are opposed to the UK, because they are not "us".
They are and their diasporas are either indifferent, or hostile; but they are definitely not loyal.

OP posts:
RedTagAlan · 22/03/2026 08:33

Well, I am a Brit, and looking in a mirror, I am European.

So there is that I suppose.

Buzzlightfear · 22/03/2026 08:40

This is the weirdest load of shit I've ever read 😄

I'm British, wouldn't say I'm 'loyal' though, would quite happily live elsewhere if the opportunity arose.

You know we're heavily descended from anglo Saxons, normans and vikings (from continental Europe) right?

Overtheatlantic · 22/03/2026 08:40

Humans migrate. They always have and always will. They migrate for better living conditions in order to survive. Those who take your, very narrow, and very modern view, will ultimately perish.

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 08:41

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Go outside and touch some grass mate.

LilyCanna · 22/03/2026 08:42

A question for you, OP: Would you agree that leaving the EU and imposing loads of unnecessary and expensive trade barriers with our closest and largest trading partner has been very economically damaging for the UK?

I find a lot of your post about the importance of ’blood’ and common ancestors very creepy. It’s exactly the sort of thing a white supremacist would write.

EspanaPorfavor · 22/03/2026 08:43

I feel culturally European in the present, you are looking at history. British history is ugly too. The places you have mentioned are far away and expensive to visit, with (especially the US) a very different culture to my own as a Brit (guns, politics, education system…)

I speak other languages, I travel Europe as it’s in my backyard, I have friends from all over the continent.

It isn’t a popular opinion but I honestly think closer union in Europe is a good thing. European values are much more compatible with each other and there is strength in numbers. Look at Trump threatening to ruin Spain financially because they had the balls to say “no to war” but not being able to follow through because Spains in the EU. Starmer on the other hand has a very uncomfortable tightrope to straddle. I’m obviously a remainer.

RafaistheKingofClay · 22/03/2026 08:43

I’m intrigued by the idea there is a ‘British position’ on anything.

EmmaOvary · 22/03/2026 08:43

We shouldn’t be part of Europe because it isn’t ‘loyal’ to us? What a load of sinister, neo-colonialist bollocks.

ComradeAmoeba · 22/03/2026 08:44

This reads like a load of chatgpt nonsense, tbh.

Simonjt · 22/03/2026 08:44

“This fundamentally goes to show that blood is thicker than water.”

OP this doesn’t mean what you seem to think it means.

Shedmistress · 22/03/2026 08:46

Welsh parents.
Born in Canada.
Lived in UK for 46 years.
Now live in France.

Your post is utter piffle.

Wait til you find out where the English Language originated from. You are going to need a lie down, shall I pull up a chaise longue for you?

AlexRidersButt · 22/03/2026 08:46

But we are European. The U.K. is a European country just like Greenland is a North American country.

ou sound like that old Sun headline "Heavy Fog Hits Channel - Continent Cut Off." Ridiculously anglo-centric.

I assure you the people of Canada and Australia do not think of the Tudors as "their" history.

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 08:46

Buzzlightfear · 22/03/2026 08:40

This is the weirdest load of shit I've ever read 😄

I'm British, wouldn't say I'm 'loyal' though, would quite happily live elsewhere if the opportunity arose.

You know we're heavily descended from anglo Saxons, normans and vikings (from continental Europe) right?

Never happened . Grin

Nevermind the education and law reforms they made , which were the basis of British law that no other European could possibly adhere to. Because “not British”. Grin

Thecows · 22/03/2026 08:47

EspanaPorfavor · 22/03/2026 08:43

I feel culturally European in the present, you are looking at history. British history is ugly too. The places you have mentioned are far away and expensive to visit, with (especially the US) a very different culture to my own as a Brit (guns, politics, education system…)

I speak other languages, I travel Europe as it’s in my backyard, I have friends from all over the continent.

It isn’t a popular opinion but I honestly think closer union in Europe is a good thing. European values are much more compatible with each other and there is strength in numbers. Look at Trump threatening to ruin Spain financially because they had the balls to say “no to war” but not being able to follow through because Spains in the EU. Starmer on the other hand has a very uncomfortable tightrope to straddle. I’m obviously a remainer.

I think it's a very popular opinion to try and move closer to Europe. Brexit has been a disaster. We are so diminished by it.

Shedmistress · 22/03/2026 08:47

RafaistheKingofClay · 22/03/2026 08:43

I’m intrigued by the idea there is a ‘British position’ on anything.

Run Away GIF

Erm...

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 08:47

OP, are you the same annoying poster who was planning to do a history degree and kept coming on here asking why Britain had stopped ‘dominating’ other countries and had let other countries copy the tech it invented during the Industrial Revolution?

Because I really don’t think you should do a history degree. I think you should get out more. Also do some reading of actual books.

Wednesdaytoday · 22/03/2026 08:47

Synergy basically. There's no Great in Great Britain, that ship has long sailed. With Europe we are in a better position, they are our closest neighbours.

Everlil · 22/03/2026 08:47

What have I just read?!! What a load of cobblers! Do you have any experience of living in mainland Europe? It doesn’t sound like you do. I would say there are far more commonalities between the UK and France, Spain, Germany, etc than the UK and the US.

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 08:48

Everlil · 22/03/2026 08:47

What have I just read?!! What a load of cobblers! Do you have any experience of living in mainland Europe? It doesn’t sound like you do. I would say there are far more commonalities between the UK and France, Spain, Germany, etc than the UK and the US.

I don’t think the OP leaves his bedroom much.

DamnBuster · 22/03/2026 08:49

What a bizarre post. Who cares about blood? We want the benefits we used to have from being part of the union. That's it.

CSIGrissom · 22/03/2026 08:50

This is hilarious!

Honestly, what drugs are some mumsnetters taking last 2 weeks. Is it distributed via MN? I think I would like some😂

bozzabollix · 22/03/2026 08:51

NervesofSteel · 22/03/2026 08:47

OP, are you the same annoying poster who was planning to do a history degree and kept coming on here asking why Britain had stopped ‘dominating’ other countries and had let other countries copy the tech it invented during the Industrial Revolution?

Because I really don’t think you should do a history degree. I think you should get out more. Also do some reading of actual books.

I have a History degree. My world view is about as different to the OP as it can be. A history degree would be very enlightening for them. Not sure how much they’d enjoy it because of that enlightenment.

PineConeOrDogPoo · 22/03/2026 08:51

Did you know that the UK is the biggest single export partner of Vlanders? Geographical Proximity is very important. The English language is a mainly Germanic one with French influence. The UK is geographically and culturally part of Europe. It made a lot of sense to have common trade agreements.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 22/03/2026 08:52

I'm British and think the Elgin marbles should be returned.

Serenity75 · 22/03/2026 08:52

Has someone been reading a bit of 19th century social darwinisim? Do you feel that human evolution is a battle between races where only the strong will survive and that life should be a struggle (or dare I say a kampf) to weed out the weak? That was nonsense 100-150 years ago and it remains a nonsense today.

the EU is a fantastic trade and cultural organisation that allows lots of small countries to pool their strength and resources. Not perfect, but a damn site better than what came before it.

Also, Europe is culturally pretty similar on a macro level and let’s be honest the differences add strength and not weakness.