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Politics

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

192 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:
Catcatcatcatcat · 22/03/2026 10:22

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

Honestly you sound unhinged

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 22/03/2026 10:23

The thing is, I am British and you are presumably British. And yet it is abundantly clear to me from your post that we have absolutely nothing in common. Your world view and my world view fundamentally don't align. There is no coherent "us".

Catcatcatcatcat · 22/03/2026 10:23

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 09:49

Does "Europe" feel the same about you though...

Yes! Europe loves me!

Ube · 22/03/2026 10:24

I'm a Brit and I'm compatible with Europeans because I am one. The tories holding that idiotic referendum and accidentally bumbling out of the EU doesn't change that. We are still in NATO with most of Europe (except for Ireland, Austria and Switzerland ) plus USA.

OutTheWayOut · 22/03/2026 10:24

The Great in Great Britain is geographical, not merit based, but I think most people know that...

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 10:26

Ube · 22/03/2026 10:24

I'm a Brit and I'm compatible with Europeans because I am one. The tories holding that idiotic referendum and accidentally bumbling out of the EU doesn't change that. We are still in NATO with most of Europe (except for Ireland, Austria and Switzerland ) plus USA.

Couple of other non EU countries in NATO...

ErrolTheDragon · 22/03/2026 10:28

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

You clearly have a vivid imagination because that’s not exactly what’s happened in reality, is it?

We never had a need to ‘struggle against the EU’. The U.K. is suffering the entirely predictable consequences of divorcing itself from our European partners.

PiMCA · 22/03/2026 10:28

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

Struggle against the EU...!? They're doing what we asked them to do! They are treating us like a third country, that is what we asked for! They tried to persuade us not to do it but we did anyway. There's no way the Anglosphere would gang up against the EU just because a section of our population are too stupid to understand that this is what they voted for!

Whyischocolatebadforyou · 22/03/2026 10:29

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

These countries are not going to 'defer' to or 'protect' Britain nor should they. There is nothing in history that means any country should be 'deferring'.

Historical loyalty is a weak argument for doing anything. Motivated self interest is much stronger. The EU will help our trade and economy much more so yes I would love to see the UK back in the EU.

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 10:37

PiMCA · 22/03/2026 10:28

Struggle against the EU...!? They're doing what we asked them to do! They are treating us like a third country, that is what we asked for! They tried to persuade us not to do it but we did anyway. There's no way the Anglosphere would gang up against the EU just because a section of our population are too stupid to understand that this is what they voted for!

OP is one of those Leavers that decided (based purely on imagination) that the EU will roll over because we are GREAT Britain. Now she’s pissy that they didn’t give a shit. It’s “do you know who I am?” Syndrome.

Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 10:42

Notonthestairs · 22/03/2026 10:10

Agree - when under reliable management.

It’s like saying Florida saying - hey we won’t be part of the US anymore and will be totally independent - so let’s put up trading barriers to selling into and out of California, Ohio, New York etc - so anyone who wants or needs cross border selling will find Florida a pain the arse unless their only business is in Florida , anything else of any size , creating jobs and tax revenue will go elsewhere.

Blindingbatshittery · 22/03/2026 10:46

Because on our own we are a teeny tiny island of no consequence in today’s world. We have no food security, no fuel security and no defence security (amongst many others). Brexit was the biggest act of self harm and now the consequences are coming home to roost people are looking to the guy who caused it to save them….its demented🙈😂

Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 10:49

EwwPeople · 22/03/2026 10:37

OP is one of those Leavers that decided (based purely on imagination) that the EU will roll over because we are GREAT Britain. Now she’s pissy that they didn’t give a shit. It’s “do you know who I am?” Syndrome.

I’m in Netherlands at moment for a week - the problems in the UK were nothing to do with EU membership, they were everything to do with our tax system our short termism in politics, our benefit system making it not pay to work in some cases, lack of good social housing, towns being left to rot and all funding going a lot into northern cities, our lackadaisical attitude to letting everyone and his mother trade here without having a tax base here and a lack of enforcement by the previous government on getting rid of people who have no right to remain ( and that’s not just brown people from the Middle East, it’s South Asians, South Americans , kiwis, - a huge range of people) -rich people ( and I mean those with off shore money) were about to be screwed by the EU rules to some extent, so idiots like Rees Mogg and Farage convinced ordinary people their lives were shit due to EU, rather than their own political choices.

Springspringspringagain · 22/03/2026 10:49

The worst bit is we had a good deal with Europe, we took a lot of their budget in terms of research, funding to poorer areas like Cornwall, and had an important seat at the table. Now that is gone and if they let us back in it would be on far less favourable terms.

I would prefer to be part of Europe, as we are part of that continent. Your post about 'blood ties' is so weird I don't know where to start, especially as about half the UK have blood ties with West Germany which is where a lot of our genetic inheritance originates due to migration patterns that pre-date modern eras.

TiredShadows · 22/03/2026 10:49

Why not ally with both Europe and the Anglosphere? Why frame it as one or the other?

I didn't have a vote in Brexit, but my understanding is that having a wide range of allies is usually a good thing, even if we're not entirely 'compatible', and many are learning from how the US is acting at the moment that being in the Anglosphere doesn't mean commonality, compatibility, or loyalty.

Brits have intermarried with Europeans since before any of the current countries of Europe existed so the bloodline thing doesn't work in any literal fashion.

Yes, but European countries don't call UK the mother country or show deference to it or loyally fight to defend it due to a desire to protect their kin like Canadians, Australians and NZers of British descent did/do. They treat UK as one of many European nations rather than the mother country which is the centre and is deferred to.

That's a lovely fantasy you have there, if a fairly creepy one. Having been born and raised in a former British colony - no, we do not treat the UK as the centre or defer to it, we do not treat UK history as 'our history' except where it overlaps which is usually when we've been in conflict - it usually gets put into European history - I never met anyone who referred to the UK as 'mother land' or homeland or has loyalty or specific amity with the UK, even those who were entirely or mostly of British ancestry. This fantasy idea of loyalty by blood has little grounding in reality - which you know or you would have included the US whose government has been very vocally anti-UK and anti-Europe in recent months.

You seem to ignore that choosing to leave a county can come with some animosity towards one's country of origin, and that's before getting into how with the US, Australia, and to a far lesser extent Canada, not all the Brits went by choice. It isn't indoctrination to have a preference for where one is now rather than where one is before or where one's ancestors used to be at. For many of us, it's common sense.

I'm an immigrant - I intentionally left my country of origin as soon as I could, regularly speak out against the actions of the governments, and I loathe being referred to by my country of origin and dislike how I've never been able to fully shake the accent. I have no loyalty to any government, even when I've chosen to be here, I think they will turn on any of us as soon as its acceptable for them to do so - I am loyal to my loved ones and my communities, not a nation-state, in large part because history and current events show many reasons why we shouldn't be.

Also that Non-British European immigration happened in Canada and the US back in the 1500s and in all of those countries, there were dominant social groups already present before the Brits arrived, even ignoring France's control in parts of Canada. In the Americas, it's how Britain got its foot in so strongly - they made alliances, treaties, and intermarried into local nations, as did the French and others. It's how I exist - Europeans including Brits traded weapons among other things for wives and other kinds of sexual access.

I think European history shows you all have a lot in common and you can choose to focus on those commonalities and develop alliances or you can focus on your differences and conflicts. That is a choice - the latter is absolutely being exploited by other powers at the moment who are trying to divide everyone off - but you can choose to ignore potential allies for your idea of 'bloodline' if you want.

Gwenhwyfar · 22/03/2026 10:52

"Continental Europeans, as demonstrated by the behaviour of their diasporas in Anglosphere nations"

What's the relevance of that? Are you Australian?
We live in Europe, not the Antipodes.

Also, thinking the Elgin Marbles belong in Greece is just common sense for many people, wherever you come from.

Gwenhwyfar · 22/03/2026 10:54

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

Have you seen how Trump feels about ALL Europeans including the UK?

TiredShadows · 22/03/2026 10:54

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

You can like to imagine that all you want - but you may want to look into how Canada is building stronger ties with the EU as part of reducing its reliance on the US as the US government grows more unstable.

The UK drastically needs to remove its reliance on the US - our government is pushing towards a digital society where most of our digital infrastructure is US-reliant. This is major part of why the British government is having to walk a tightrope at the moment. We can't say no with our full chest to a country that could pull a major part of our infrastructure. Many countries are moving towards digital autonomy or at least spreading the risk around so no one other country can axe its digital infrastructure - the UK hasn't yet and is already suffering for it.

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 11:04

@Pineneedlesincarpet - history books will always oversimplify, like it or not. Pretty confident my version of events will be seen as the status quo. You can throw in some democracy apathy amongst the young too for good balance.

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 11:09

Araminta1003 · 22/03/2026 11:04

@Pineneedlesincarpet - history books will always oversimplify, like it or not. Pretty confident my version of events will be seen as the status quo. You can throw in some democracy apathy amongst the young too for good balance.

Your take is the take of someone who (presumably) voted Remain and doesnt understand the motive of the majority who voted Brexit. That's just a lack of imagination on your part. I can imagine ticking either box pretty easily on the basis that there were good and bad points in 2016

Weeelokthen · 22/03/2026 11:25

Wednesdaytoday · 22/03/2026 10:11

Originally? Can't say I do. Are you going to explain?

It can be googled instead of me giving you a long winded response. 😁

Zonder · 22/03/2026 11:32

molanasulfi · 22/03/2026 09:55

I like to imagine the Anglosphere (Americans, Canadians and Australians of British ancestry) fully supporting Britain in its struggle against the EU and ganging up on it with boycotts, travel bans and trade sanctions to show that Britain's family will defeat the EU if they dare to try it. Then how would the EU feel?

Your imagination is clearly very active. Perhaps it would be good to actually speak to some Americans, Canadians and Australians so you can see what it's really like instead of imagining.

Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 11:33

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 11:09

Your take is the take of someone who (presumably) voted Remain and doesnt understand the motive of the majority who voted Brexit. That's just a lack of imagination on your part. I can imagine ticking either box pretty easily on the basis that there were good and bad points in 2016

I am originally from a midlands mining town , I’ve been back twice I. Last few years , it is bloody awful, does it look any better post EU - of course not - do I understand the motivation- ? Well when listening to conversations it seems an extremely large percentage thought it ‘would get rid’ of Muslims ( of which they have remarkably few it seems when you look around) - and they magically thought they would suddenly get loads of investment - so do i understand the motivation, yes I do, do I think they got it totally wrong - 100% . But as I said on my previous posts I don’t think the issues in places like this relate to the EU - most people I know who can move out of there and have other options open have done so . Meaning that you end up with a bit of a desolate place full of low paid jobs and old people ( and I’m 64) - and the few immigrants who have moved in ( and it’s not tons) do so because it’s very cheap housing relative to nicer places. If you are talking about familiarity , am in a shopping centre just outside Amsterdam at moment, I’m in Starbucks, just been in sports direct, Holland and Barrett and spec savers - all with great English too, so yep it feels very familiar except cleaner , no potholes and with better service and lighting - get a grip and stop believing the colonial crap ( and it is pure fantasy bullshit) Farage and co feed the isolationists and disaffected with . If the EU split up then it’s different matter as we would all be in the same position competing for investment and business- as it is we have given a lot of our best business to our competitors just over the water , the amount of European headquarters of big global entities here is staggering, new commerce and industry everywhere. You only have to look around ( and we have been to several big city’s here this time plus several very large towns/small cities) to see there is far more buzz and money about

hahabahbag · 22/03/2026 11:37

I am compatible. End of argument

Pineneedlesincarpet · 22/03/2026 11:40

Crikeyalmighty · 22/03/2026 11:33

I am originally from a midlands mining town , I’ve been back twice I. Last few years , it is bloody awful, does it look any better post EU - of course not - do I understand the motivation- ? Well when listening to conversations it seems an extremely large percentage thought it ‘would get rid’ of Muslims ( of which they have remarkably few it seems when you look around) - and they magically thought they would suddenly get loads of investment - so do i understand the motivation, yes I do, do I think they got it totally wrong - 100% . But as I said on my previous posts I don’t think the issues in places like this relate to the EU - most people I know who can move out of there and have other options open have done so . Meaning that you end up with a bit of a desolate place full of low paid jobs and old people ( and I’m 64) - and the few immigrants who have moved in ( and it’s not tons) do so because it’s very cheap housing relative to nicer places. If you are talking about familiarity , am in a shopping centre just outside Amsterdam at moment, I’m in Starbucks, just been in sports direct, Holland and Barrett and spec savers - all with great English too, so yep it feels very familiar except cleaner , no potholes and with better service and lighting - get a grip and stop believing the colonial crap ( and it is pure fantasy bullshit) Farage and co feed the isolationists and disaffected with . If the EU split up then it’s different matter as we would all be in the same position competing for investment and business- as it is we have given a lot of our best business to our competitors just over the water , the amount of European headquarters of big global entities here is staggering, new commerce and industry everywhere. You only have to look around ( and we have been to several big city’s here this time plus several very large towns/small cities) to see there is far more buzz and money about

36 million people voted out. The Guardian tried to paint the majority as stupid and racist. Most of the home counties voted out. Most rural areas voted out. The cities voted remain. The conversations I had do not reflect what you experienced. There were plenty of reasons other than racism to vote out. Particularly as Europeans are mostly white. But it was a useful trope at the time.

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