Fear for NHS but relief for businesses
Hannah Barham-Brown, 32, from Leeds, trainee general practitioner
I’m really worried because I work for the NHS and because I’m a wheelchair user. We massively rely on EU staff [in the NHS] and I work with many every day. A lot of equalities protections are based in EU legislation, so there is the worry we’ll lose those. It’s already difficult enough being a disabled person in the UK.
Christopher Nieper, 55, from Alfreton, Derbys, managing director of David Nieper fashion
Thank goodness the democratic wishes of the British people have been delivered and we can now move forward and seize the new opportunities.
The EU has failed to secure a US deal for 40 years. If the UK can, our company can at last start selling to the American market.
Barrie Deas, 66, from York, chief of National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations
Brexit provides a vehicle to leave the Common Fisheries Policy which resulted in EU ships catching about six times as much in UK waters as UK vessels were in EU waters.
“Leaving the EU would automatically mean the UK is an independent coastal state, like Norway or Pharos or Iceland.
Taiwo Oshodi, 21, University of Birmingham student
I’m just a bit sick of the whole charade. Despite being born and having lived in the UK for most of my life, as a minority I am very aware that the negative perception many have of the EU has not simply manifested as a dislike of Europeans, but as a dislike of difference in general. My main worry is the impact it might have on minorities’ experiences in society in general.
Bella Middleton, 35, of Peterborough, Cambs, founder of Norfolk Natural Living
I hope leaving the EU will bring some much-needed certainty for small businesses. The most important matter is whether exporting to the EU remains as frictionless as it is now. We export to non-EU countries so we know it isn’t prohibitively complicated but any extra time and cost has a significant effect.
Laura Barredo-Santos, 26, of Bournemouth, radiographer from Basque Country
I feel nervous. Our department has Italian, Venezuelan, Spanish, Hungarian and Portuguese. All that diversity brings fantastic advantage. We act as translators. With Brexit, racism is increasing in the UK. Every immigrant has experienced it if they’ve been here long enough.