The fields and forests stretch far and wide. The birds fly with peace and purpose. Citizens across the continent, of all walks of life, live together in harmony. Borders exist of course, but aren’t treated with too much thought. The European Union serves as the foundation of a united people.
But for one state, this was not to be. On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom voted by a tiny margin to leave the European Union. The aftermath drips with irony to this day; a union breaking with a larger union and a ‘United’ Kingdom, now divided by the result.
On this, the eighth anniversary of that infamous polling day, I look at why we must reflect on the decision we made and ask ourselves: should we perhaps reconsider?
The benefits of being together
Perhaps you wish to start a new life? Get a new job or study somewhere abroad? Opportunities in Britain are abundant, don’t get me wrong, but imagine then, how many more opportunities you could have across 27 other nations?
Or perhaps you just want to travel? Broaden your mind in this, less than broad-minded world. The initial leg of your journey to the continent would, of course, require passport checks but beyond that, nothing. Feel free to move between Spain and Portugal, take a walk from France to Italy, go from Germany on a shopping trip to Poland. No one will stop you. No one will even bat an eyelid.
Because of all of this, our horizons are broadened. Travel. Education and work. Making friends across borders. All of this is still possible now, but with EU membership it’s all so much easier. The opportunities afforded to British citizens are vast and there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re young and wanting to explore or learn or old and wanting to retire without all the immigration red tape. That’s what we could have. That’s what we should have. That’s what we sadly voted to give up eight years ago.
The politics
For the politicians, Brexit is the elephant in the room and it exasperates my mind as to why. Of course I know why, no one has the balls to challenge what’s happened. No one wants to piss off the 17million Brexit voters and lose the election. But what they have to remember is, is that Brexit was delivered. The result was respected. Britain left the EU, as was voted for. What they have to realise is, is that Brexit has been a disaster. Trade has suffered. Our economy has suffered. The protections for our environment, human rights and everything else have been torn asunder. They need to see that the only way out of this horrendous mess is to re-join the EU.
The Liberal Democrats have balls on this issue. From Jo Swinson’s daring revocation gamble in 2019 to Ed Davey’s more measured single market and long term EU approach, England’s third biggest party is willing to admit what needs to be done. The Conservatives are a lost cause on it.
But what about Labour? Our government in waiting? Labour needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Their manifesto pledge to “honour Brexit” is wrong. Yes, 52% of voters voted to leave the EU in 2016. But Brexit has been a catastrophe. The country has suffered. The people have suffered. We all know EU membership will go a long way to righting all the wrongs that have come our way since Brexit, so please Keir, ditch the nonsensical manifesto pledge to stay out of Europe and put re-joining the EU firmly on the table.
So, here we are, eight years on from the EU referendum and nearly four years on from Brexit. We know what life was like in the EU and we know what life is like outside the EU. A united alliance of nations with abundant opportunities for all vs a crashing economy, lessened opportunities the loss of so many rights and protections. It is time, whether the politicians like it or not, for the people of Britain to look again at the European question and reconsider their future with the European Union.
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