5 things about the EU Referendum vote, on An historical and potentially life changing day

I’ve posted before on why I think the EU Referendum is a bad idea. If you don’t have the time or inclination to read it, the summary is that the general British public are too stupid to make a fully informed decision. I realise that’s a sweeping generalisation, but as today has gotten ever closer I’ve been very alarmed by some of the comments and opinions I’ve heard from the average Joe Bloggs.

My vote is cast and I’m 100% certain I’ve chosen the right option.

UK EU referendum ballot box

For the record, and because I’m in no way ashamed or protective of my decision, I’m firmly in the Vote Remain camp. This is based on personal circumstances, commercial circumstances and what I believe is the right move for Britain. I truly believe in stronger together.

Some people hold their personal political beliefs very close to their chest, and I very much understand that. It can cause hostility. Last year I got into a conversation in a bar with a man I didn’t know following the General Election. We were chatting merrily about all sorts of things, and the conversation turned to politics. When I revealed that I’d voted for the Conservative party in the Election, he literally turned his back on me and wouldn’t speak another word. This was a man in his 60s! Very immature and extreme behaviour, but indicative of how strongly some people feel.

I don’t believe in trying to influence people’s voting choice as it is a very personal decision. But when people are quite blatantly being uneducated and voting for ridiculous reasons I admit to “pointing things out” (you may have noticed, if you read this blog regularly, that I’m rather opinionated and vocal!) The husband, on the other hand, has been quite vociferous in his disdain for people voting in the opposite camp to him (even his own Mom!) and last night he seemed to be on a one man social media political tirade. Having said that, he had a horrendous few years where he got involved in a forced company buyout and making redundancies during the last recession, so he’s keen to avoid the threat of another economic downturn. His methods might be questionable (the phrase “uneducated idiot” has been used more than once) but his intentions are good.

Here are 5 things I’ve either thought, heard or read during the lead up to the referendum:

Thought: Boris Johnson – great as a guest presenter on Have I Got News For You, not great as a Prime Minister (also, as commented by a friend, how can you trust a man who can’t even control his hair to control the country?)

Heard: Various stories of people who want to retire to Spain but are voting out (WHAT????) Or even people who have second/holiday homes in Spain but also intend to vote out “because Spain needs our income for their economy so they’ll be kind to us”. Good luck with that.

Read: “Not everyone who votes out is racist, but everyone who is racist will vote out.” I’m alarmed by how many people are using immigration as their sole reason for voting out. All immigrants seem to be put into the same category, when of course there are massive differences. Leaving the EU won’t stop illegal immigration because, by it’s very nature, people don’t need permission to do it. Also, economic migrancy is different to fleeing-your-home-country-due-to-war migrancy. And many migrants who come here are non-EU members anyway (e.g Syria). There seems to be an opinion that we’ll leave the EU and there’ll be no more “bloody foreigners” coming in. Ridiculous. Also, why is it that people who come to the UK are immigrants, but when British people move abroad they’re ex-pats?

Thought: Many people who want to “Take Back Control” (and if you watched the BBC debate with Boris Johnson and Gisela Stuart on Tuesday night you’ll fully understand why that statement grates on me – it was uttered every other bloody sentence) actually dislike the Tory government. So by voting out they’re relinquishing their secondary support network to stop the Tories doing exactly what they want in the country, as the Tories will have sole control. There’ll be no European intervention around maximum hours and human rights, for example.

FACT: If we leave, the EU member states are under no obligation to negotiate favourable trade deals with the UK. There seems to be this arrogant notion that Europe needs to trade with us and will be fair. Really? Put it this way, If someone told me they no longer wanted to be my friend, but they’d come on a night out with me when they wanted to, I’d tell them to bog off. Europe is more likely to make an example of us by making life difficult in order to discourage other member states from leaving. The company I work for does a lot of business in Europe. In contrast, when we ship to non-EU member country Norway, we pay 25% duty. Multiply that by 27 other EU member states and that becomes a big problem to UK businesses who currently have a large European market. And that’s assuming that they don’t impose even higher duties and trade restrictions.

In truth, anyone who enjoys holidays and travel, works for a company who trades in Europe or enjoys the current low mortgage rates from the Bank of England would be a hypocrite to vote out, because you’re making life more difficult for yourself. There is no evidence to prove that leaving the EU is good for Britain. Our Prime Minister thinks we should stay, leading Captains of Industry think we should stay, and the President of America; arguably the most powerful man in the world, thinks we should stay. Pretty compelling.

More to the point, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump think we should leave. That in itself is all the evidence I need.

On that note, I’m off to collect my holiday Euros, which I bought in advance for fear that the unthinkable happens and the exchange rate goes tits!

Thanks, as always, for reading! x

10 thoughts on “5 things about the EU Referendum vote, on An historical and potentially life changing day

  1. Joshua Pearce says:

    ” I’m alarmed by how many people are using immigration as their sole reason for voting out.”

    A vote to Remain ensures we will continue to discriminate against Non-EU migrants.

    “There seems to be an opinion that we’ll leave the EU and there’ll be no more “bloody foreigners” coming in.”

    From who? I’ve never heard anyone articulate this opinion.

    “Also, why is it that people who come to the UK are immigrants, but when British people move abroad they’re ex-pats?”

    Because an immigrant is someone who comes in. Emigrate (or ex-pat if you prefer slang) means a person leaving.

    “the Tories will have sole control.”

    There will still be an opposition in Parliament; there will still be a wafer-thin majority in the House of Commons; and you can still vote them out come the next General Election. The same does not apply to the unelected European Commission.

    “If we leave, the EU member states are under no obligation to negotiate favourable trade deals with the UK.”

    Correct, but because there is a massive trade deficit, it is in the EU’s best interests to negotiate a free trade deal.

    “And that’s assuming that they don’t impose even higher duties and trade restrictions.”

    They wouldn’t be allowed to, under the rules of the World Trade Organisation.

    “More to the point, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump think we should leave. That in itself is all the evidence I need.”

    Warmonger Tony Blair and Islamist hate preacher Anjem Choudary think we should stay – what is your point?

    • This, tatt and the other says:

      And hello to you too Joshua!

      Thanks for your comment. I’m always keen to see the bigger picture, but stand by my vote regardless of your points (I’m guessing you’re a Brexit supporter).

      I’m not going to run through point by point, as that would be churlish.What I will say, with regards to your point about the Tories and Parliamentary opposition is that – at least in the short term – Britain will be run solely by a party that many Brexit voters hate. What may happen in the future is irrelevant. I’m talking about hypocrisy.

      Oh, and the thing about “bloody foreigners”? Just because you’very never heard it doesn’t mean I haven’t.

      Have a great afternoon ☺

  2. Mrs Strawberry Blonde says:

    I’ve always been interested in politics and I always stay on top of current matters. My husband and I discuss politics over dinner. And we always vote.

    Now, without discloing my political opinions, I think if you and I knew each other in real life, we’d be good friends. 🙂 Being able to discuss politics openly with someone else who understands the key points and the potential implications of a Brexit (and that most can only be speculated on at this point) is quite rare.

    • This, tatt and the other says:

      I have to say that this referendum, and the subsequent result, has really stoked my interest in politics. Mainly through fear of what’s to come, and having Bo-Jo as Prime Minister…

      Freedom of choice and freedom to vote is very important, but only if you understand what you’re doing and what the repercussions are. I’m not saying anyone really understands everything about a political campaign, or agrees with every policy a political (or other) party is pushing, but at least arm yourself with a basic knowledge about the things that are important to you. It’s all well and good being happy that immigration might be halted, but if that’s offset by the fact your mortgage increases and you can’t afford to pay it then it’s a moot victory.

  3. danniijane says:

    Loved this post. I feel strongly about remaining in too and have worked on the campaign for it☺ Sadly the two reasons I hear people say they want to leave is immigration and to take control of our our country and rules. Funnily enough they don’t realise an out vote wont change either. X

    • This, tatt and the other says:

      Wow Danni, what do you do for a living then?

      I honestly think many people don’t realise what they’ve voted for. They see headlines and statistics and jump on a bandwagon they don’t even understand.

      • danniijane says:

        I work for the Labour Party. I was up all night watching the results and I’m gutted. I completely agree. An awful lot of people didn’t know what they voted for this time. All it’s done is help people like Nigel Farage as he’s taking the praise for it and I can’t help but feel it’s really divisive. X

  4. emfletche says:

    Excellent post…exactly the words I have been looking for to back up my own Remain preference. I have been surprised at how many of my own friends and family have revealed opposite opinions to mine and these are points I have been making. However everyone has a right to their opinion, I just hope they are informed by rational and sensible judgement and not by media spin, petty political games and scaremongering – from both sides.

    Let us see what the public decides… ?

    • This, tatt and the other says:

      I have a horrible feeling that a lot of people who voted out don’t truly comprehend what they’ve voted for.

      I read an article on ITV News this morning – they were interviewing people at airports for their reactions and a student in Manchester said she voted out because she felt pressured by peers and the leave campaign, and that if she were to vote again she would vote remain.

      How many more like her are there, I wonder?

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