EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

Finnish radio told me this was the worst result for Labour since 1980 or something like that. What the fuck is happening there?

worst result since 1935. Even worse than the 1983 trouncing.

Did not expect the result. Then again I have not, I have to admit, been following the proceedings that closely. I have shook my head a few times, though.

(Or is it "shaken"?)

Lowest number of MPs in 80+ years I just heard

Good going. Yay, and all that.

So over 50% of the votes for non pro Brexit parties, yet the Conservatives have a massive majority. FPTP strikes again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50777995

A BBC article on...now what?

Will Johnson use his majority to steer towards a sorta sensible and not too damaging Brexit, or will the Russian/USA taxmasters that want to sell the NHS and the people pulling his strings win out and the UK does become a defacto mini USA?

How many ERG MPs are there now?

Oops wrong thread, GE one.

moved to GE

Several people on mainland EU/Irish citizen forums I am are now definitely leaving the UK.

Is there a thread for Scexit yet?

This thread hasn't had a post for three days.

It's all a done deal.

Every time I remember, I feel tears forming.

It's the hope that gets you isn't it?

The hope that we are all people and that we are all the same and that we should be able to live, love, work and play together.

That things will get better not worse.

That my kids wont envy me.

That sense will prevail and poor ideas will be quashed.

But they won't. They just won't.

It's the hope that gets you.

Glass half full view: we’ve all got six months to learn another language.

You are wrong, all your hate is the reason it will go to shit.

It took me my entire childhood to learn spoken English.

I’m with you. Handwringing, doubling down, pushing blame on everyone who disagrees with you. None of it is helpful and solves fuck all.

What is each and everyone of us going to do to make society and our communities better? Because we can’t rely on central government for this.

My boss at work has asked everyone to check in with colleagues before Christmas because it’s such a lonely or stressful time for people. Normal office chat “what are you doing for Christmas” has turned into something a lot more genuine and compassionate. It’s this sort of thing that reaffirms faith in people rather than putting up walls in despair.

You can be gutted about this and still try to make your own community better.

The Tories won't address the structural issues however, I cannot just go fix the NHS. I've been trying to help a homeless woman who is given shit by the housing council, another is on the waiting list and they won't give her a home...there is a 50 thousand housing shortage in Northern Ireland. That is not something I can fix, I don't even a spare room.

Brexit is built on lies and propaganda and English exceptionalism pushed by people that have let their "own" people down. Austerity contributed to the deaths of thousands of people, and the same people are now back in.

At some point the buck stops. You tick that box, then you have some responsibility.

I know it feels different from where I stand. Northern Ireland has been an afterthought, and the anti immigrant slander from powerful Tory politicians has not been pleasant to me as an EU immigrant.

So let people feel sad and bad...it doesn't mean they won't do anything.

It is hard isn't it? I was gutted for days, getting back into "fighting" mode again.

Led by Donkeys may be a good page to follow, they are going to focus on holding the government accountable and they are funny too!

Virtual hug :)

I’m not saying people shouldn’t feel sad or bad. I’m genuinely livid and really upset about it, but that feeling of powerlessness has to be overcome. And I also can’t stand the thought of a decade of my own personal angst, depression and anxiety hence trying to find some solutions.

I’m just a bit fed up with loads of my own friends and family blaming or pointing fingers then shrugging shoulders when you suggest they try and change something they can see. Perhaps I was too strong but I’ve had a few messages calling people racist, thick, stupid etc that makes me frustrated as I genuinely don’t think this is the case. Tories just won by a landslide, I don’t think everyone who voted is a hateful bigot (though some are!), so I guess I’m turning into a full, loved up centrist dad without the kids (think of the carbon footprint!) and want to grasp onto a bit of hope for some change.

Join the Undefeated.

I agree the feeling of powerlessness doesn't help anybody. Being depressed is also pointless as you then have no energy to help. And 100+ if people moan and do nothing, that is super annoying.

Misunderstood your post there.

And no I don't think a lot of people are hateful bigots, but they clearly didn't care too much either as after 10 years of austerity and 3 years of bigotry it was pretty hard to miss.

All nuance went out of the window, and I find it interesting people getting judged for not caring within caring groups, while others just fell for a pack of lies, but that's life I guess.

Hopefully all pulling together on the NHS/climate/homelessness will unite people?

Just find it hard to believe atm the leopard face eating party is going vegan cos it said it would :)

The only way I can cope atm is seeing this as a salvage operation, with extreme low expectations while misery gets worse. But every person helped and everyone decision changed it one I guess...

My boss at work has asked everyone to check in with colleagues before Christmas because it’s such a lonely or stressful time for people. Normal office chat “what are you doing for Christmas” has turned into something a lot more genuine and compassionate.

Yes! I wish everyone would do this!

Yes, completely with you on this.

Yey for pessimistic optimism ;)

Hard not to be pessimistic here! I’m finding no optimism anywhere - Brexit and Stormont - two nightmares.