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The people have decided but with a deeply divided voice…

by Ian Shires on 24 June, 2016

The people have decided, but with a deeply divided voice to leave the European Union.

When the final result was announced around breakfast time this morning it emerged that 52% had voted in favour of leaving the EU whilst 48% wanting to stay. If this had been an opinion poll it would have been said it was to close to call, instead we are where we are. Or are we?

As predicted Scotland voted by a big majority to remain as did Northern Ireland as did London. Closer to home the vote was 50:50 in Birmingham.

The SNP have hinted that they will not be dictated to by Westminster and there are calls for a second referendum on Independence. So questions now will be asked about the future of the United Kingdom.

There is also an emerging generation gap with many younger voters wanting to stay in the EU. So much for those older people saying they were voting out for their children’s sake.

David Cameron has just announced he will be standing down in three months just 12 months after he became the first Tory leader to win a Parliamentary majority since 1992. A Tory Leader who had said that his Party had to “stop banging on about Europe” then decided to have a referendum  so that for months now he and his Party have been banging on about Europe.

We are now entering uncharted waters and the effects of this decision are beginning to appear by that I mean that as predicted by the Remain side the value of the pound has fallen to an historic low and the stock market has seen a 7% fall in its value.

In reflection the vote to leave the EU will not resolve the frustrations of many ordinary people which manifest themselves in the inequalities that have continued due to the inequalities which has seen the gap between the wealthiest upper 10% and the rest of us.

 

 

   2 Comments

2 Responses

  1. Ivan Wrstley says:

    There is strong opinion that if the smaller parties can talk with each other and hopefully Labour could get a half decent leader, a strong coalition could be brought together.
    We have to do something to remove this Conservative party from any chance of being in power. Labour are incapable with current leaders to form an opposition let alone a Government . It is therefore upto the the rest of the population to force political change. What plans do you have?

    • Ian Shires says:

      Hi Ivan, I offer this extract from Tim Farron’s speech following the result of the Referendum. Hope that it answers your question…..

      “In many ways this referendum has shown how our politics is broken

      There is a very black cloud hanging over our country, but under that cloud, under the narrow painful defeat, there is a silver lining.

      Because for the last few weeks I have stood alongside progressives, in Labour, Greens, SNP even Conservatives. It felt so much like there was more that united us than divided us.

      We must not allow this unity to fade away.

      When other parties are divided and wounded, I will reach out.

      I am proud of the campaign that my party has run.

      Positive, energetic and hopeful.

      That’s the sort of party we are, and that is my offer to the country. It is my offer to all people who share our values.

      I can offer you a home for a new modern breed of politics – liberal, hopeful, international, rational – driven by real British values.

      Positive about Europe, furious with those who led us to this disaster. Determined that we will not walk away from this fight.

      Together we can lay foundations for a better Britain.

      Together we can heal the rifts of a divisive and negative campaign.

      Be proud that you’re one of the 48%. The 16 million.

      Help us build a better, more effective and more representative politics.

      Help us fight for real British values at home and abroad.

      Show our fellow Europeans that Britain is a good neighbour. Is proud to be a European country. Is proud to lead.

      So join us.

      Already, today, a thousand new members have joined the Liberal Democrats in a spontaneous act of those who refuse to allow Farage’s vision of a bitter Britain to win.

      They want a better Britain.

      If you share their anger, if you share my anger, join us, and join us now.

      16 million people. 48%. In need of a voice.

      A politics of hope and optimism.

      We will not give up.

      You must not give up.”

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