As everyone knows, the referendum about UK leaving Europe, referred to as Brexit, took place about a year ago, but they are expected to leave on March 2018. However, many Europeans wonder why and how they decided to leave Europe, so what is Brexit?
On June 23 2016, people in the United Kingdom were asked to vote on a simple question: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? This question was asked, to be quick and not to lose anyone in overwhelming details, because 2 parties (the conservative one, so the one for staying in the EU, led by the Prime Minister David Cameron, and the Eurosceptic opposing wing led by Boris Johnson) of the government were fighting, and wanted an answer once and for all. Cameron was sure that the UK would vote for staying in Europe, as did traders, because the betting markets, which are often believed to be more reliable than polling, suggested remain would carry the day. So he agreed to put forward the referendum. The next morning, results announced the complete opposite, England voted for Brexit, by 53.4% to 46.6%. Wales also voted for Brexit, with Leave getting 52.5% of the vote and Remain 47.5%. Scotland and Northern Ireland both backed staying in the EU. Scotland backed Remain by 62% to 38%, while 55.8% in Northern Ireland voted Remain and 44.2% Leave.
Different surveys later on showed that one third (33%) of leave voters said the main reason was that leaving “offered the best chance for the UK to regain control over immigration and its own borders”, or that nearly half (49%) of leave voters said the biggest single reason for the wanting to leave the EU was “the principle decisions about the UK should be taken in the UK”, as they considered the UK to be big and powerful enough to be on their own.
A London lawyer, Graham Bellenger explains “20% of the Heart of London voted for Brexit, it is the rest of the UK, and especially the seniors, (about 90% of eligible individuals over 65 voted, whereas 64% of eligible people aged 18-24 voted) they do not plan for the future nor realize how bad this is for our future generations and their possibility to work abroad, or Europeans to work in England. A visa will now be needed for example. Youngsters however did not motivate themselves enough too, 64% voted, which is not much.”
However, this may not be as bad as it seems, the UK was already kind of out the EU, as it didn’t share the Euro money, or the Schengen space. The only possible threat would be the visa that will be needed to study there, as said before, and also the worth of the pound going down.
-Christian P-T
The Tower Times Blog 