This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/03/brexit-means-brexit-how-do-those-who-voted-leave-and-remain-feel-now
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brexit means Brexit: how do those who voted Leave and Remain feel now? Brexit means Brexit: how do those who voted Leave and Remain feel now? | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Theresa May has announced her plans for Brexit, insisting that controlling immigration and withdrawing from the jurisdiction of the European court of justice would be her priorities during European Union (EU) exit. She says Article 50 will be triggered before March. | Theresa May has announced her plans for Brexit, insisting that controlling immigration and withdrawing from the jurisdiction of the European court of justice would be her priorities during European Union (EU) exit. She says Article 50 will be triggered before March. |
| So, with our departure from the EU now in sight, how do those who made the decision to leave or remain feel now? | So, with our departure from the EU now in sight, how do those who made the decision to leave or remain feel now? |
| We asked our readers about this to mark 100 days since Britain voted to leave the EU, and we received over 1,000 responses. | We asked our readers about this to mark 100 days since Britain voted to leave the EU, and we received over 1,000 responses. |
| We had responses from people who had backed each of the opposing camps, and some people who didn’t vote at all. 95% of them said that they did not regret their decision. | We had responses from people who had backed each of the opposing camps, and some people who didn’t vote at all. 95% of them said that they did not regret their decision. |
| How do you feel about the vote now, especially after May’s latest announcement? Below, five people explain what it has meant to them. Share your thoughts in the comments. | How do you feel about the vote now, especially after May’s latest announcement? Below, five people explain what it has meant to them. Share your thoughts in the comments. |
| Leavers | Leavers |
| Ed, 23, from Amersham: ‘The only regrets I have is the way the referendum was won’ | Ed, 23, from Amersham: ‘The only regrets I have is the way the referendum was won’ |
| I voted Leave for several reasons. Firstly, the EU’s involvement in other countries can be meddling. Also, there wasn’t much sympathy for Greece and the union left them to limp along while imposing further austerity measures. The migrant crisis has been handled badly as well, and Merkel’s stance of open doors isn’t realistic for every country. | I voted Leave for several reasons. Firstly, the EU’s involvement in other countries can be meddling. Also, there wasn’t much sympathy for Greece and the union left them to limp along while imposing further austerity measures. The migrant crisis has been handled badly as well, and Merkel’s stance of open doors isn’t realistic for every country. |
| Federalisation works in America but Europe has history and attempting to unify a continent as diverse as it creates tensions. | Federalisation works in America but Europe has history and attempting to unify a continent as diverse as it creates tensions. |
| Nothing has really changed so far so it’s hard to tell whether I see the benefits having been reaped. I doubt there will be serious long-term effects for our economy. We had the wrong government in place to deal with Brexit (I contemplated voting stay for this reason) but it felt like it was once in a lifetime opportunity. I know there wouldn’t be another chance to vote leave. | Nothing has really changed so far so it’s hard to tell whether I see the benefits having been reaped. I doubt there will be serious long-term effects for our economy. We had the wrong government in place to deal with Brexit (I contemplated voting stay for this reason) but it felt like it was once in a lifetime opportunity. I know there wouldn’t be another chance to vote leave. |
| The only regrets and concerns I have is the way the referendum was won – for example claims that £350m would be given to the NHS. I think leaving, however, was the best idea. If we are now allowed to limit immigration to skilled workers then that would be very beneficial. I do have some objections to importing a workforce of unskilled workers. This creates more tensions. I don’t think the EU is the force for peace it brands itself. I am glad that Article 50 will invoked in 2017. | The only regrets and concerns I have is the way the referendum was won – for example claims that £350m would be given to the NHS. I think leaving, however, was the best idea. If we are now allowed to limit immigration to skilled workers then that would be very beneficial. I do have some objections to importing a workforce of unskilled workers. This creates more tensions. I don’t think the EU is the force for peace it brands itself. I am glad that Article 50 will invoked in 2017. |
| Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, 54, from London: ‘I am very pleased with my decision’ | Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, 54, from London: ‘I am very pleased with my decision’ |
| I voted Leave and I am very pleased with my decision. I’m glad that after years of politics being technocratic, soul-destroying and tedious, people in Britain experienced an inkling of what politics has been – and could – be again. The lack of a plan for every economic and political eventuality is not a problem, it is something that is a chance for everyone to consider how he or she would like to re-vivify public political culture. Let’s face it our political and economic situation was pretty poor to start with, so why not ask bigger questions, or start from a different point? The only real impact of Brexit on my life has been that my family holiday was more expensive, and some of our savings for children’s education may have been adversely affected. | I voted Leave and I am very pleased with my decision. I’m glad that after years of politics being technocratic, soul-destroying and tedious, people in Britain experienced an inkling of what politics has been – and could – be again. The lack of a plan for every economic and political eventuality is not a problem, it is something that is a chance for everyone to consider how he or she would like to re-vivify public political culture. Let’s face it our political and economic situation was pretty poor to start with, so why not ask bigger questions, or start from a different point? The only real impact of Brexit on my life has been that my family holiday was more expensive, and some of our savings for children’s education may have been adversely affected. |
| Remainers | Remainers |
| Allan Collins, 85, from Scotland: ‘Since the vote I have seen chaos and muddled thinking’ | Allan Collins, 85, from Scotland: ‘Since the vote I have seen chaos and muddled thinking’ |
| I voted Remain. I feel even more certain now, that like most of my fellow Scots, I voted correctly. At my age I lived through the dark days of a divided Europe. I saw the human wrecks caused by the first world war, and the devastation of the second. All because of a divided Europe. | I voted Remain. I feel even more certain now, that like most of my fellow Scots, I voted correctly. At my age I lived through the dark days of a divided Europe. I saw the human wrecks caused by the first world war, and the devastation of the second. All because of a divided Europe. |
| Over the last few years I have enjoyed the pleasure of travelling freely to European countries, and I have seen the improvement to infrastructure in the Highland and Islands. I have felt very much part of the family of Europe. I have felt the security of being part of that great united family. | Over the last few years I have enjoyed the pleasure of travelling freely to European countries, and I have seen the improvement to infrastructure in the Highland and Islands. I have felt very much part of the family of Europe. I have felt the security of being part of that great united family. |
| Since the vote I have seen chaos and muddled thinking. There seems to be no strategy or plan to move forward. Government ministers seem to be completely divided and we are becoming a laughing stock. We talk about getting the right terms, but what do we have to bargain with? | Since the vote I have seen chaos and muddled thinking. There seems to be no strategy or plan to move forward. Government ministers seem to be completely divided and we are becoming a laughing stock. We talk about getting the right terms, but what do we have to bargain with? |
| At this early stage, the result hasn’t affected my life or finances but I am certain it will. And not in a good way. | At this early stage, the result hasn’t affected my life or finances but I am certain it will. And not in a good way. |
| Helen Quenet, 56 from Hatfield: ‘I hate what the UK has become in these 100 days’ | Helen Quenet, 56 from Hatfield: ‘I hate what the UK has become in these 100 days’ |
| I voted Remain and am still shocked and angry at what happened. I’m hoping some way will be found to stop it. I believe it is a huge self-inflicted wound that will damage the county irreparably. | I voted Remain and am still shocked and angry at what happened. I’m hoping some way will be found to stop it. I believe it is a huge self-inflicted wound that will damage the county irreparably. |
| I’m especially disgusted with the racism and abuse that the result has provoked. I have a Belgian name because I married someone who was “only” fourth generation British. My youngest son risks missing out on Erasmus and my 85-year-old mum risks losing all the lovely carers she has from Europe. I hate what the UK has become in these 100 days. | I’m especially disgusted with the racism and abuse that the result has provoked. I have a Belgian name because I married someone who was “only” fourth generation British. My youngest son risks missing out on Erasmus and my 85-year-old mum risks losing all the lovely carers she has from Europe. I hate what the UK has become in these 100 days. |
| If I could get a European passport I would leave the country. Unfortunately that isn’t an option available for me. | If I could get a European passport I would leave the country. Unfortunately that isn’t an option available for me. |
| Smiley, 31 from London: ‘It is the slow dissolution of Britain as a tolerant safe society’ | Smiley, 31 from London: ‘It is the slow dissolution of Britain as a tolerant safe society’ |
| I voted to Remain and am now thinking of moving to Canada. The result of the vote is the slow dissolution of Britain as a tolerant safe society with rights blinking out like stars on a cloudy night and violent thugs feeling enabled to harass and murder in the street. The economic future potential of this nation will be occulted for years and I don’t think anything can be done to stop unemployment rising and the standard of living from falling. | I voted to Remain and am now thinking of moving to Canada. The result of the vote is the slow dissolution of Britain as a tolerant safe society with rights blinking out like stars on a cloudy night and violent thugs feeling enabled to harass and murder in the street. The economic future potential of this nation will be occulted for years and I don’t think anything can be done to stop unemployment rising and the standard of living from falling. |
| Because the company where I work has a lot of EU funded projects and relies to a greater than average degree on a predictable model of population and economic growth, all predicted models have been thrown into chaos and there’s a general air of uncertainty and dread which is the background of all conversations on future plans. | Because the company where I work has a lot of EU funded projects and relies to a greater than average degree on a predictable model of population and economic growth, all predicted models have been thrown into chaos and there’s a general air of uncertainty and dread which is the background of all conversations on future plans. |
| I’m not married and don’t have children so I don’t have as many emotional ties as some. Besides look at the way things are going. If Article 50 is enacted then I can look forward to a future of xenophobia, reduced ability to work and travel, and my rights left unprotected by EU Human Rights Legislation. If I had children, this isn’t a country I would want to bring them up in. | I’m not married and don’t have children so I don’t have as many emotional ties as some. Besides look at the way things are going. If Article 50 is enacted then I can look forward to a future of xenophobia, reduced ability to work and travel, and my rights left unprotected by EU Human Rights Legislation. If I had children, this isn’t a country I would want to bring them up in. |