-
So what is the good sell then to stay in?
Something emotive, not grounded in any reality.
Listening to interviews with people from Sunderland the other day - a place which has had large direct and indirect benefits from EU membership - you realise that there is no reasoning with these people.
This idea that leavers voted in their own self interest is, to use JRM's phrase, for the birds.
hugo7-
Years of emotive propaganda of the gutter press against EU immigrants and the EU is not so easy to undo. Sometimes self-interest is vague emotional stuff too, like "independency" and "sovereignity" yeah it means zilch when you unpick it, but people feel happy enough to tick LEAVE and this happiness bit, along with confirming an anti-EU British identity and all the happy identity politics that brings, it enough.
I wonder what would make them feel good. That the UK got nearly all its EU proposals passed? That other EU really rather see the UK stay? That the EU has really seriously helped some areas? There are EU flags everywhere on buses in Belfast, well, how much of the EU pots for developing regions are left unasked for in England?
JWestland
Unskilled labour, what is it? Currently it is earning at least 30K per the government immigration system. Unless you are working for the NHS/certain sectors. So, a plumber, nope, unskilled. Teachers? Keep trying.
It is a term what is bandied around with nobody knowing what it means. If BoJo would go to people working 0 hour contracts/teachers calling them "unskilled labourers" I wonder how that would go down... ;)
Another problem is that you can't go back. The theory that if the UK would just shut the door wages will go up again does not follow. Companies can also go broke/pack up.
So, yes, self-interest is a good driver. Can't blame people for that. I thought maybe Brexit would be bad for me, but good for NI/the whole of the UK so maybe I should suck it up. Winners and losers. Unfortunately I am not convinced and see just mostly losers.
So what is the good sell then to stay in? Since the UK problems are 99% of the UKs making I am not sure. Bar that for the floods problems in the UK Cameron could have asked the EU for funds! Yep, the EU comes and helps...if you ask. Maybe something can be done for neighbourhoods too...but you have to ask for it.