Brexit diaries: 'We should take care of our own'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/10/brexit-diaries-we-should-take-care-of-our-own

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“I really don’t mind the ones living here that are contributing to our economy [and] make the UK a better place but I really think we should be taking care of our own before allowing them to stay on benefits,” said Daniel, a Labour voter in Stoke-on-Trent, who backed the decision to leave the EU.

His ambivalence on the question of whether Theresa May should guarantee EU citizens a right to stay in the UK is echoed by a number of remain and leave supporters from the 100 people asked by the Guardian and Britain Thinks to keep diaries of their feelings about Brexit.

In fact, the dominant opinion on the issue in this week’s focus group from Stoke, Kings Lynn, Manchester, London, Glasgow and Bradford was sympathy towards EU migrants working in the UK, mixed with some concern that too many were “living on benefits”.

Stephanie, another Labour voter in Stoke, who wanted to remain the EU, thought the House of Lords was correct that EU citizens rights should be protected up to a point. “If they are working and putting back into the system, they are not at fault. It’s those who are living off the state’s money that need to be sent back,” she said.

Others, including some Brexit supporters, thought it was more clear cut and EU citizens should be allowed unequivocally to have all their rights preserved.

Colin, a Conservative leave voter in Kings Lynn, thought peers were right and all those who have “already made their careers and homes in the UK should be allowed to stay”.

“If they get sent back, they should be reimbursed all the tax they paid into the UK economy.”

Farzana, a Labour leave supporter in Bradford, had a radical solution to help anyone who has to leave the UK because of Brexit: give them compensation for the taxes they have paid over the years.

“I think this is very sad as people have built their homes here, made businesses and raised families. If the UK doesn’t want them, then they shouldn’t want their hard-earned money,” she said.

As in previous weeks, our diarists – leavers and remainers – scored May more highly than Jeremy Corbyn on how she is responding to Brexit. But they did not attach too much significance to the byelections in which Labour held off Ukip in Stoke-on-Trent but lost a long-held seat to the Conservatives in Copeland.

“I was surprised by the outcome as Labour was for the working class: not so much now,” said Daniel, the Labour leave voter in Stoke, where his party held on.

“I think Jeremy Corbyn has made himself quite unpopular with the centre-left, though a lot of people I know who are far left are crazy about him.”

Jessica, a Labour remain supporter in Glasgow, said she was not surprised by Copeland – the only result she had heard about. She said: “My impression is that with so many more crazy and surprising things that have happened the past year, one seat switch is not really as big news as it would have been a few years ago. Seems like there is a political upheaval every other week so I didn’t focus on it that much.”

More people had a view on comments by David Davis, the Brexit secretary, and Amber Rudd, the home secretary, that it could take a long time for immigration to fall after Brexit.

While some leave voters were understanding, others were frustrated by the idea that Brexit might not lead to a dramatic drop in immigration as promised by some prominent leave campaigners during the referendum.

“Too many people are ruining our country”

David, a Conservative leave voter in Kings Lynn, said: “Litter on the streets is increasing, and less people are speaking in English on a daily basis.

“We need to take control of our health service and stop it being used by all these immigrants. It will be very frustrating if immigration does not fall after Brexit,” he added.

Many remain voters also expressed a desire to see immigration drop and expressed added annoyance that the electorate may have voted to leave on the basis of misinformation and distrust in politicians.

Thomas, a Tory remain voter in Kings Lynn, said it would be nice to see immigration fall and he would like to see an Australian-style points system, as advocated by Brexit campaigners and Ukip, but not the prime minister.

“If we are going to leave the EU, we should only allow immigration into the UK if a person has something the country needs as per the Australian system and not let every man and his dog into the country just because he or she has an aunt, uncle, brother, sister or cousin 10 times removed living in the UK. But my impression is it will be the same as it is now. They lied to the UK public from the word go.”