EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

For when we get our country back. Woot

Can't wait until Friday.

Sadly, I think the repercussions of this ill-considered referendum will be felt for many years to come. The level of debate on both sides has been poor, but the xenophobia and outright racism used by those wanting to leave the EU will take years to reign back in.

Likewise.

Although maybe not "a lot." I have near zero faith in polls right now. If changes are a result of the assassination then there is a very good chance social desirability bias/the Bradley effect are playing a role.

"I just want my country back"

it's the uk equivalent of 'make america great again'. an intentionally vague, subjective nonsense phrase specifically designed to elicit a knee jerk reaction in people that mistrust intellectualism whilst simultaneously absolving anyone who says them from actually having to make the phrase a reality due to its deliberately ambiguous wording.

fucking genius!

I bumped into a colleague on the weekend. He was reminding everyone to get out to vote on Thursday by posting flyers. I said "good on you" and cycled off. About 5 minutes later I suddenly realised that something wasn't right. He was was posting that racist one about turkey and Iraq.... I'm not quite sure what to think. I'm just really disappointed

MY country.

Haha yes. If it were THEIR country they wouldn't know what to do with it :P

Of course shite debates and racism are all the EU's fault! ;)

Goebbels would be proud of some brexit spouted nonsense.

"hordes of immigrants"
"EU collapsing cos immigrants"

(nothing to do with economic issues/nobody really ever knows what to do in such cases/racism in some EU countries/the burden going mostly to Germany/France/NL)

No doubt there will be a massive "wir haben es nicht gewusst" on a brexit if shit really hits the fan.

I quite like this quote, and it sums up my sentiments rather well regarding the whole "want my country back" nonsense.

"Voting to remain in the EU is neither a capitulation to Brussels nor an abdication of our identity. It is a reaffirmation of Britain's commitment to intensive cooperation as the best means to deliver prosperity, peace, and security—and, it should be added, better health and wellbeing for all our citizens. That is the true meaning of taking back control."

Possibly that combined with the Sunday Mail surprisingly getting behind the Remain campaign>

What was that about? I've not read their reasoning for it but I thought they'd be well up for a brexit

I have no idea as I wouldn't read that shite either but I was surprised to see it.

Their comments sections on the website are golden. People are going bananas over it.

Cycled from Manchester to London over the weekend and much like my jaunt to Essex last weekend saw virtually no "in" posters but huge amount of "leave" posters.

I'm just back from hols, and went into town yesterday and it's striking the difference.

Town - "In" signs and stickers all over the place, at least one person at about half of the tables in the cafe had an "in" badge.

Country - not a single "in" poster to be seen. "Leave" posters all over the place.

Let's hope the population difference between urban and rural means remain votes out number leave at the polls..

Here's a good collection of articles on the referendum from The Economist (also in PDF)

https://economist.turtl.co/story/575ec948e0de0a61670b0058

And a (thankfully short) summary of research from clever numbers people (IFS, NIESR and CEP)

http://cep.lse.ac.uk/textonly/_new2014/BREXIT/Brexit_JointStatement.pdf

Interesting to see those with the least amount of migration and the most EU grants and subsidies campaigning for Leave.

They want a little England, not a Great Britain.

The referendum has nothing to do with Britain. It is an English referendum.

And all of these calls to turn to the commonwealth reek of nostalgic imperialism.

Everything is fucked.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/newsthump/the-eu-referendum-how-is-newsthump-going-to-vote/1115572031828566

"if you think the current gov blaming labour for all problems is bad...wait until you see this..."

I've just come back from Northumberland and it's quite the opposite. Countryside full of Remain posters.

Yep, just finished listening to the whole series.
Brexit claims; nearly undiluted bullshit,
Remain claims; over opti-/pessimistic.

Still voting Remain,
cannot see a government dominated by those lauded philanthropists Rnige, Gove, de Pfeiffel, George Smith, the disgraced Fox, Paterson, Redwood, Grayling, Cash, and Patel increasing funding for the NHS, local services or education.

But but what about the undemocratic soon federal eu!!! ;)

http://gu.com/p/4m5fq/fb

John Oliver chimes in. "It would be made to leave, if we stay we can reap all the benefits AND still be total dicks about it" :D

I had to go into work today because of parliament being recalled for tributes to Jo Cox. Spoke to a fairly senior member of the opposition who is part of the Remain campaign, who is convinced they have lost. They recon that Brexit will win, and parliament will be recalled again on Saturday for a vote of no confidence.

A vote of no confidence in Cameron? In enacting article 50 (or whatever it's called)? In something else?

That very depressing!