Town’s Europe hope crushed
TWO years ago, Burnley’s mind was firmly made up – 66.6% of voters in the Lancashire mill town wanted to leave the European Union.
But, apparently, things have changed. After the town’s football club made its first return to European football in 50 years, it appears some voters now think that Europe might not be such a bad place to stay after all.
A YouGov survey has found that while only 33.4% of Burnley voters wanted to stay in the EU two years ago, that figure has risen to 45% as Theresa May struggles to agree a Brexit deal.
While Burnley FC is already out of the Europa League, on the streets of the town the Brexit row rumbles on.
The Leave voters still want to leave, the Remainers still wanted to remain, and there is a confused and disillusioned middle ground who didn’t
Things should be decided by our own politicians SUSAN BROWN LEAVE VOTER
understand what Brexit meant for them and hadn’t even voted at all.
Susan Brown, 65, who has run the Clarets sandwich bar in the shadow of Turf Moor for 20 years, voted leave and her view hasn’t changed. She says: “I would vote the same today. I think we should do things for ourselves and things should be decided by our politicians who we have voted for. I think Europe has too much of a say.”
Unemployed Hayley Lewin, 32, says: “I am regretful that I didn’t vote and that I don’t know much about it. But I don’t think the politicians explained it to us. We are the bottom end of the spectrum – they aren’t really interested in us. If I was to vote now, though, I would vote leave.”
Her sister Holly, 25, adds: “I really don’t understand it at all.” But others have strong views. Admin worker Kathleen Whittaker, 64, says: “I voted to remain and my view stays the same. I like being part of Europe and think we should be part of Europe. I think a lot of the vote was racially motivated. “If we want to be part of global trade surely it is better to be part of Europe?” Her sister Susan Ellis, 67, agrees: “I think a lot of people believed that claim that £350million extra would go to the NHS, but it was never going to happen.” Lesley Schofield, 68, who voted leave, says: “I don’t think Theresa May is trying hard enough to secure a Brexit deal. She needs to try harder, and if she can’t do it then they need to find someone who can.” Her husband Kevin, 71, says: “People used to believe what politicians had to say, but now we are better educated and question them.”