Britons wake to a Brexit hangover
A bad-tempered campaign rips open old UK fault lines
BRITONS reacted with shock yesterday to their country’s narrow decision to leave the European Union, whether they welcomed “independence” day or were horrified by the outcome.
The vote, after a bitter campaign, split the country along several faultlines, old vs young, England and Wales vs Scotland and Northern Ireland and people in northern England suffering economic hardship against richer city dwellers in the south.
It went down to the wire before ending in a 52-48 percent win for Brexit, prompting celebrations by “leave” campaigners for a move they said would make Britain stronger.
In London, where residents voted overwhelmingly to remain, the morning commute into the financial district was grim for many City workers worried about their jobs.
“What now?” commuter Steve Jones said. “That is the big unknown and right now it is looking pretty bleak.”
In Manchester in northern England, retiree Janet Hartley, who voted to leave, said Britain would now be better off. “We should have our independence instead of being ruled by a lot of bureaucrats sitting earning lots of money doing sod-all.”
She was one of many older voters who chose Brexit; the young mostly favoured staying in. Many took to social media to vent their frustration, with #whathavewedone trending on Twitter.
Most people in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain while England and Wales opted to leave, raising questions over the future of the UK.
“It’s a bit shocking, it’s put a lot of uncertainty into Scotland over the next couple of years. This has split us right down the middle,” said Catherine, 41, from of Aberdeen.
The pro-Brexit side drew support from millions of voters who felt left behind by globalisation and blamed EU immigration for low wages and stretched public services.
“I think it’s tremendous, its a good thing,” Duncan, a 70-year-old part-time chauffeur, said as he buffed up the seats of his car in Edinburgh. “Britain is sinking under the weight of population.”
Brexit campaigners played down the financial turmoil unleashed by the result as global markets plunged and the pound fell against the dollar to levels last seen in 1985 on fears for the future of the world’s fifth-largest economy.
It will take at least two years of messy negotiations with the EU before the process of separation is complete.
“I’m absolutely devastated, I think it’s completely idiotic, I think it’s economic insanity,” said Laura Clarke, a city worker.
Michael Elborn, who works in the technology sector with start ups, was on his way to a meeting with CEOs in London, said the referendum should never have been called.
Britons in Europe, who have made use of the right to free movement to settle in other countries, were pondering whether to take on different citizenship to avoid bureaucratic headaches. – Reuters