There are lots of reasons why Britain has voted to leave The European Union. It seems to me that the "Remain" campaign was smug and often condescending, The leader of The Labour Party's voice was as indistinct as that of a squeaking mouse. The Etonian prime minister's arguments appeared rehearsed and unconvincing as he deflected legitimate questions about economic migrants.
Though I voted "remain", I really did not like the way the "remain" campaign unfolded with orchestrated voices from people who should have been studiously quiet - including Tony Blair, John Major, Barack Obama, Jean Claude Junker, Mark Carney (Governor of the Bank of England) and Angela Merkel. And then we heard our odious Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne threatening an austerity budget if "Leave" won. None of this sat well with ordinary people.
The influence of Rupert Murdoch's News International group should also not be underestimated. His awful "Sun" newspaper has a habit of promoting winners and this was its front page yesterday as voters went to the polls:-
To be fair to the leavers, I recognise that the performance of the European Union has raised many serious questions about continent-wide legislation, answerability, the free movement of labour and the inequitable distribution of funds. As the years have passed, the influence of Brussels and Strasbourg has increased and there seems to have been a badly hidden agenda to pull up the poorer countries at the expense of wealthier nations like Great Britain.
The fallout from Britain's "Brexit" vote has only just begun but the ripples will radiate out well into the future. In the meantime, just last night I booked a week's holiday on the Greek island of Kefalonia. We are going next Wednesday and now I am kicking myself for not buying a wad of euros earlier in the week. The pound tumbled last night but hopefully it will pick up before we fly away. We will be staying at The Karavados Beach Hotel which is pictured below. There we can relax, soak up the sun, swim, read books and hopefully forget about "Brexit" for a few days.
You're certainly right about Murdoch. Those tabloids carry a lot of power.
ReplyDeleteI see a more baldly anti-immigrant sentiment in a lot of this, but that may be because I associate Brexit with Trumpism in the states. There ARE legitimate questions about migration and the conduct and goals of the EU, but I wish we'd chosen to address them from within, rather than storming out and slamming the doors behind us.
Oh well. Time now to heal the rifts and press on. We'll see how all this unfolds!
Knowing several "Leave" voters I have learnt that immigration is not always the primary issue. Accountability and funding are also high on the list of concerns. We may be about to leave The European Union but we are still very much part of Europe.
DeleteThe pound is creeping back up against the Euro so unless you are thinking of buying Greece then I shouldn't worry. Only the BBC is reporting three hour old exchange and FTSE rates. Check Here
ReplyDeletePS. Have a good holiday.
DeleteIf it all goes pear-shaped I am holding you personally responsible Adrian!
DeleteThat's fine, it will be much better. We may be short of plumbers, builders and engineers but Brits aren't daft and given a living wage will graft for it. No point in flogging yourself to death for subsistence wages and watching fat cats get fatter.
DeleteIf the pound goes up , jump in and get some Euros. Tony fears ( thinks) it will be low for some time. We are watching our share values tumble here AGAIN !
ReplyDeleteYes. It was silly of me not to go and get the euros. Shirley and I will be "down" several pounds. Good job I booked "half board" at the hotel.
DeleteWe are waking to the news and dire warnings how to protect our investments and retirement account et al. They are waiting for the market to open and telling us this could go on for some time. I just hope it doesn't land on all of the middle class backs. Sounds like an never-ending roller coaster ride.
ReplyDeleteIn your Ozark hideaway you should be fine Donna. Plant more vegetables and buy a couple of rolls of razor wire.
DeleteAnywhere will be better than here as all the so called pundits pick over the remains of yesterday. Enjoy your holiday.
ReplyDeleteHave you got any spare euros Mrs W? I will need to rent a couple of sun beds.
DeleteHave a great holiday YP.
ReplyDeleteI was reading the other day that Britain's exit from the EU could seriously damage the fragile recovery that Greece are making, and could cause them to leave the union. I hope no one on Kefalonia has read about this.
Well we haven't heard the last of this European Union business CG. I think I might adopt an Oirish accent when in Kefalonia and drink gallons of Guinness. I shall also have to learn the words to "Danny Boy".
DeleteBegorra - a brilliant idea YP! You could just hum along with the chorus - no need to learn all the words
DeleteOh Danny Boy...the pipes the pipes are calling..
DeleteMmmmmm mmmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm
Mmmmmm mmmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm
What I don't understand, Neil, is how you could be so so out of step with your fellow Yorkshire folk, with whom you would have us believe that you have so much in common. Perhaps you are more a Londoner than you would like to let on?
ReplyDeleteYou know how to wind a fellow up Mr B! In Sheffield 49% voted Remain and 51% voted Leave. Not much of a gap. I am to London what you are to Muscle Beach!
DeleteThe immigration problem as one of the (if not THE) main arguments of the "leave" voters is one I never really understood. After all, the UK was never part of the Schengen zone - unlike Germany and most other EU countries, the UK always had a fully functioning border control in place.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the deed is done. I am very sad today, and honestly worry about what the implications on everyday life will be - both sides of the Channel.
Maybe the only positive consequence for me will be that my Yorkshire holiday could turn out to be a little cheaper than expected. I'd gladly not have that, though, if it meant we could be "all in" again.
As I am sure you appreciate, Britain has received many thousands of EU economic migrants, utterly changing the character of many towns and neighbourhoods. Added to this Britain is a magnet for non EU economic migrants and family members from the old British Empire. The UK Border Force is understaffed and overwhelmed. It's a bit like King Canute trying to keep back the waves. But another key issue for the Leavers is the way in which power operates within the EU. Its reach appears to have increased year upon year and any accountability is like a thin thread. Like you I feel sad about Brexit. Our politicians should have been fighting harder for change within the European Union.
DeleteA Brave New World...of sorts. Let's hope it sorts itself out...and soon ..and for the better (whatever the better might be)...although that is not likely to happen.
ReplyDeletePut up your umbrellas...there will be a lot of fall-out.
Enjoy your holiday, Yorkie...kick back, relax and let the rest of the world...or at least the UK for a brief time...float by.
I shall willingly follow your instructions Lee!
DeleteMrs. RWP and I love Greek food. While you and the lovely Shirley are in Greece, eat some dolmades for us, and some souvlaki, and some avgolemono, and some pastitsio, and some lamb shanks with orzo, and some moussaka, and some gyros with tzatziki sauce, and some bakhlava, and some kataifi, and some kourabiades, and some galactabourikos. Definitely some galactabourikos.
ReplyDeleteI left out spanakopita.
DeleteNone of that foreign muck Mr Brague. We'll be looking for English food - pie and chips and Sunday roast. After all we have left the EU now so we don't have to eat their suspicious dishes with funny names.
DeleteIndependence is an illusion. There will be little difference. However, for Canada it makes things more complicated.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right Red... little difference but I am not sure why Britain leaving the EU will make things more complicated for Canada.
DeleteWe may indeed see little immediate difference but I remain to be convinced of that. There are so many ramifications for the longer term both in world terms and in domestic UK terms.
ReplyDeleteThe rise of the right wing all over Europe will now be strengthened and I think we have a great deal to fear from that.
Whichever scenario one considers (and whether one believes we should or should not be in the EC) there are ramifications the majority of which do not bode well for a United Kingdom. I can foresee a time when there are three countries: A re-united Ireland (the furthest away), an independent Scotland (almost inevitable) and Wengland.
As for making it easier to control our borders France will be delighted to get rid of all the people in the camps at Calais onto trains and boats and let the UK Border Force worry about the problem. That could happen very quickly.
When all hell breaks loose you will be okay in your Hebridean hideaway. I still feel sorrowful about what has happened and how it happened. Pandora's box is open.
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