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‘Brexit’: Explaining Britain’s Vote on European Union Membership

22 points by miiiiiike 10y ago

tomashertus 10y ago
This is such a important vote for the entire World. I really hope they will stay, I can't imagine what would happened if they decide to leave. Just bear in mind that next years are general election in Germany, and if Britons will decide to leave, I can see that exit of Germany would become primary goal of all campaigns.
return0 10y ago
Greece had a referendum on the euro. We voted NO that became YES within a matter of hours. These are too tense years for hasty decisions. I think the UK should hold a second referendum some time later before deciding to leave the EU.
- imarg 10y ago
  I am sorry but I have to disagree. As a greek myself, I never saw the referendum as a question on whether to stay or not in the Euro. This was never the official question, not even the implied question. And I am pretty sure I am not the only one thinking this way. Most people I know are of the same opinion and probably would have voted differently were this the case.
  - return0 10y ago
    Fair enough. The question was whether to approve "Measures_to_stay_in_Euro_final_final2_no_really_final_after_7_months.docx" I suppose there have been referenda on dumber things. The point is it was disrespected by the government, it made things worse, but at least it let people blow some steam . I believe the britons similary want to let some steam out, but it's a very passive aggressive way to do it.
    - sklivvz1971 10y ago
      Actually I believe it as "Measures_to_get_more_time_to_pay_our_national_debt.pdf", staying in the Euro was a bonus (or a malus).
flannery 10y ago
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/15/brexit-how-a-fringe-idea-took-hold-tory-party http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/15/brexit-how-a... is a good background article.
tezza 10y ago
Keeping it Broad Brushstrokes, it may happen that overall the British vote to Leave yet Scotland vote to stay. Then there will likely be a fresh referendum in Scotland and Scotland will leave the UK and remain in the EU
- teddyuk 10y ago
  Will Scotland meet the criteria for joining the eu by itself?
sklivvz1971 10y ago
Some demographics: Remain: establishment, scientists, under 44, high education, mid-to-high income. Brexit: right wing, extreme left, xenophobes, low income, over 45, primary school education or lower Sources: many, see for example the latest YouGov poll https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/lvxwtdus18/GMBResults_160616_EURef_Website.pdf https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/docume...
- return0 10y ago
  Does this mean that certain classes use the referendum as proxy class war ?
  - dingaling 10y ago
    Or that membership of the EU predominately benefits the middle- and upper-classes? Either that, or the benefits to the 'common man' in the working-class have not been clearly enumerated by the 'stay' campaign. Personally I was firmly in the 'stay' camp until a Polish colleague, who works in the UK courtesy of the EU, questioned why I would be so cautious. His argument was that this opportunity will probably only ever arise once since those who have the power to grant a referendum are also those who most directly benefit from being in the EU. A 'stay' vote would basically close the door on any future reappraisal, whereas a 'leave' vote would not be fatal at those same people would immediately start planning how to rejoin in the future. That was the most convincing 'leave' argument that I've heard to date.
    - return0 10y ago
      Wow. I feel sorry that people are not voting for their interests but instead to spite each other.
drinchev 10y ago
As a Bulgarian living in Germany, I would say that this vote is a complicated thing. On one side politicians were not able to explain the benefits of the EU to the UK people and on the other hand the ratio remain / leave is so close that there is no right answer if the majority wants it. As far as I remember David Cameron was arguing that if the EU-parliament didn't vote some points that he suggested, he would vote "Leave" and now he wants to convince people to vote "Remain". Such a sad story. Definitely for people like me ( IT ) no doors will be closed, but I doubt that a closed door for all the others will benefit the ordinary UK-person's life.
- Gravityloss 10y ago
  I haven't read up on this much. Why do you think no doors will be closed for IT people?

22 points by miiiiiike 10y ago

This is such a important vote for the entire World. I really hope they will stay, I can't imagine what would happened if they decide to leave. Just bear in mind that next years are general election in Germany, and if Britons will decide to leave, I can see that exit of Germany would become primary goal of all campaigns.

return0 10y ago

Greece had a referendum on the euro. We voted NO that became YES within a matter of hours. These are too tense years for hasty decisions. I think the UK should hold a second referendum some time later before deciding to leave the EU.

imarg 10y ago
I am sorry but I have to disagree. As a greek myself, I never saw the referendum as a question on whether to stay or not in the Euro. This was never the official question, not even the implied question. And I am pretty sure I am not the only one thinking this way. Most people I know are of the same opinion and probably would have voted differently were this the case.
- return0 10y ago
  Fair enough. The question was whether to approve "Measures_to_stay_in_Euro_final_final2_no_really_final_after_7_months.docx" I suppose there have been referenda on dumber things. The point is it was disrespected by the government, it made things worse, but at least it let people blow some steam . I believe the britons similary want to let some steam out, but it's a very passive aggressive way to do it.
  - sklivvz1971 10y ago
    Actually I believe it as "Measures_to_get_more_time_to_pay_our_national_debt.pdf", staying in the Euro was a bonus (or a malus).

flannery 10y ago

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/15/brexit-how-a-fringe-idea-took-hold-tory-party http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/15/brexit-how-a... is a good background article.

tezza 10y ago

Keeping it Broad Brushstrokes, it may happen that overall the British vote to Leave yet Scotland vote to stay. Then there will likely be a fresh referendum in Scotland and Scotland will leave the UK and remain in the EU

teddyuk 10y ago
Will Scotland meet the criteria for joining the eu by itself?

sklivvz1971 10y ago

Some demographics: Remain: establishment, scientists, under 44, high education, mid-to-high income. Brexit: right wing, extreme left, xenophobes, low income, over 45, primary school education or lower Sources: many, see for example the latest YouGov poll https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/lvxwtdus18/GMBResults_160616_EURef_Website.pdf https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/docume...

return0 10y ago
Does this mean that certain classes use the referendum as proxy class war ?
- dingaling 10y ago
  Or that membership of the EU predominately benefits the middle- and upper-classes? Either that, or the benefits to the 'common man' in the working-class have not been clearly enumerated by the 'stay' campaign. Personally I was firmly in the 'stay' camp until a Polish colleague, who works in the UK courtesy of the EU, questioned why I would be so cautious. His argument was that this opportunity will probably only ever arise once since those who have the power to grant a referendum are also those who most directly benefit from being in the EU. A 'stay' vote would basically close the door on any future reappraisal, whereas a 'leave' vote would not be fatal at those same people would immediately start planning how to rejoin in the future. That was the most convincing 'leave' argument that I've heard to date.
  - return0 10y ago
    Wow. I feel sorry that people are not voting for their interests but instead to spite each other.

drinchev 10y ago

As a Bulgarian living in Germany, I would say that this vote is a complicated thing. On one side politicians were not able to explain the benefits of the EU to the UK people and on the other hand the ratio remain / leave is so close that there is no right answer if the majority wants it. As far as I remember David Cameron was arguing that if the EU-parliament didn't vote some points that he suggested, he would vote "Leave" and now he wants to convince people to vote "Remain". Such a sad story. Definitely for people like me ( IT ) no doors will be closed, but I doubt that a closed door for all the others will benefit the ordinary UK-person's life.

Gravityloss 10y ago
I haven't read up on this much. Why do you think no doors will be closed for IT people?