Chadwick wrote:I think there are 3 groups of Leave voters.
1) Far right. BNP, UKIP, Britain First etc. Were always going to vote out on principle even if it hurts themselves. Will blame someone else for any negative effects they suffer.
2) Normal sensible people, who feel that the EU controls too much of our daily lives. Could have quite easily voted Remain, but made a considered decision to vote leave based on rational fact-based arguments that stand up. Were not swayed by false claims and headline-grabbing lines, but read analysis from decent sources that agreed with their gut feeling that the EU is restricting us. Believe we will weather any negative effects to economy (eg. bust and boom happens naturally all the time) and come out as a stronger force in the world. Not racists, indeed probably have many connections with other cultures.
3) Stupid people. Believed we would get a new hospital every week, or that the reason we have potholes is because the money is spent on a Greek bridge instead. Protest vote against the "pig-f****r". Believe foreign immigrants take their benefits. and jobs, jump housing queues and only come here to clog up the A&E department. Cannot distinguish between immigrants from within and outside EU. Believe leaving EU will stop illegal immigrants, by making them illegal.
Some of my friends voted leave and they are in the second group. Despite the overwhelming independent assessments that leaving would be generally bad for the EU, they found sufficient evidence (true, genuine, real facts) that the EU is also bloated, slow-moving and creates restrictive legislation, especially in the areas of health and safety, workers rights, environmental protection etc. They are correct on that point, although I would point out that you can level exactly the same criticisms at the UK government. However, at least their vote was based on some reality.
I'm choosing to assume that most of the regular posters here that voted leave are also in that second camp, as I have seen very little evidence of the other two groups. I apologise if I have misrepresented your specific reasons for voting leave - it's more the general point that you based your vote on factual evidence and a considered opinion, not just some bullshit on the side of a bus.
The very breakdown you have given is the reason I always thought it a distinct possibility that any binary vote would come down in favour of leave - and why that feeling increased as it became clear that the intention to vote by 50-plus voters was likely to outweight those under 50 who carried less baggage and would have to live with the consequences.
Voting to leave was seen as active,unlike voting to remain. Anyone who went to University will know that the reason that student politics appear to be more radical is because it's the radicals who push themselves forward, as opposed to the majority who can't be bothered. So, actually asking people to vote for the status quo was not a smart thing to do....
However, it is done and the politicians have proved themselves to be as useless in this regard as in any others - especially a PM who said he would stand by the decision of the electorate and then steps down when things go awry. Unlike others, I don't think Cameron is being honourable in the slightest - he is just stomping off the pitch with the ball. Corbyn was compromised by his true feelings, being no lover of the EU, but as leader of a party that backed remaining in the EU he chose to do the minimum and will pay the penalty. This may be because he is too honest to do something he doesn't believe in ..... but if so, unfortunately he has no place as party leader.
One good thing that could come out of this fiasco is a change in UK politics - but I doubt it.
