Don’t blame the Baby Boomers for wanting out

I am a member of the “Baby Boomer generation. You know, the one that’s being blamed by those who wanted to remain in the EU for dragging Britain, and its young folk, out.

OK, I get it. Honestly I do. There’s no doubt we’ve had it good in many ways and I understand the frustrations of the young who voted overwhelmingly to stay a part of Europe.

I’m 62 and was born the year we finally got rid of ration books. Out of the first six close friends I can think of, ALL voted to leave.

When Britain first joined the Common Market in 1973, I was 19. We had full employment and we weren’t poor.

You could stop one job on a Friday and start another on the Monday morning.

Some of those in my age group (though by no means all) have reaped the benefits of the last few decades with our right-to-buy houses that we snapped up at huge discounts then sold on for vast profits.

Quite a few of us now have big juicy protected pensions to take us through our twilight years.

So I can see why the younger generation, who will never be able to enjoy the same benefits of the boom times, are, to put it mildly, somewhat miffed at us.

I’m sure it seems to them that we’ve enjoyed the good times then happily burnt the bridges behind us while we uncork our champagne.

Judging by the slings and arrows that have been flung our way since Friday’s result, many think that we’re guilty of believing that when we go, we’re taking it all with us. But it’s not like that. It really isn’t. We’re not a bunch of selfish fools who are just thinking of ourselves ( although there will undoubtedly be people who fall into that category on both sides of the Leave/ Remain divide).

This wasn’t all about feathering our own nests while the young can go to hell.

I have kids myself – in their 20s and 30s. I love them and care about the future of the country they live in.

Here’s another confession. On Thursday I walked to my local polling station with the mantra “leave, leave, leave” looping in my head.

But when it came to the crunch, I couldn’t do it and put my cross in the Remain box instead.

At the very last minute, what I wanted to be a protest vote took on a greater significance. Did I really believe that leaving the EU was the way forward? No, I didn’t. I just wanted this country to get its act together on immigration.

And the other reason I couldn’t tick that leave box, was my two daughters. They thought I was off my head if I wanted to break up the union.

But still, it was a last minute U-turn (or should that be EU-turn?) for me.

And I understand why others of my generation and older didn’t change their minds like I did.

When I was young I had only been on a plane only once, from Glasgow to Southampton. Many folk like me had never been abroad and flying anywhere was seen as glamorous and expensive.

These days the young travel abroad widely and relatively often.

My daughters are 38 and 29. One is an author living in Scotland. The other lives and works in London. They have both travelled extensively and lived and worked abroad.

They are clever, savvy and fearless. And they are furious that people of my generation want to take away from them the opportunities they believe we enjoyed.

But I do wish those currently lambasting us for spoiling the party and denying our youngsters the same “gravy train” we had would get it right.

There is no such thing as a land of milk and honey. You just have to take whatever opportunities are available, then work hard and hope for the best.

Ultimately the only thing most of the Baby Boomers who voted Leave are guilty of is wanting our children and grandchildren to be safe.

We want anyone coming to live in this country to be vetted, not waved through willy-nilly.

Isn’t there something basically humane about wanting to lock the doors and raise the drawbridge? To get back to an era of respect and decency? To make sure all your chicks are safe?

We Baby Boomers really are not, for the most part, selfish, small- minded, mean-spirited bigots who have ruined our children and grandchildren’s futures.

Personally I am so sorry that we are leaving the EU. It’s not the way forward. All I wanted while I was considering a vote to get out was stringent vetting on who gets into our country.

I welcome those who come to stay here, work and make all our lives better. Nationality doesn’t come into it. In fact I am married to an Iranian scientist who has been here for 40 years.

But doesn’t everyone want a safer, better society?

I think the Baby Boomers want that more than most.

Sadly I also fear they may have just shot themselves in the foot.