On June 23rd 2016, the electorate had the opportunity to participate in a referendum. As part of the Conservatives’ manifesto in the 2015 general election, they promised that if they were elected as the Government, they would call for a referendum - to stay or remain within the European Union (EU). The Conservatives then formed the Government, and as promised, provided us with the referendum. As it was a national level vote, only people over the age of 18 were eligible to vote.
On that exact day, 72% of eligible voters turned out to polling stations to cast their votes - over 2/3 of those eligible. The leave campaign made us three main promises if we were to vote leave - we would be giving the NHS £350 million per week which currently goes to the EU, immigration would be limited and 5 million more migrants from Turkey would be eligible to enter the UK. The result ended up as a leave vote, as 51.9% voted to leave and 48.1% voted to remain - a rather close vote. Since then, negotiations have been underway.
However, the future doesn’t look bright for Prime Minister, Theresa May, after Brussels stating that the UK are playing “hide and seek” and are “chasing a fantasy”. Our "divorce bill", ie the total cost for us to leave the UK, is hovering around the £45 billion mark, and our set leave date is the 29th March, 2019. After every reporting on the news, it seems as if it's one step forward and two steps back when it comes to negotiations. Each time something seems underway, an error occurs and arises within the process. The two main issues which are discussed to the max include the Northern Ireland border, and trade customs. Throughout the negotiations, the aim is to form links with the other member states in terms of trading goods, strengthening our relationships with leaders and overall, gain our own freedom and independence. Leaving is supposed to ensure we can create our own laws, whereas remaining within the EU, our laws are restricted because they are written in Brussels.
Negotiations have been on going for almost two years now. David Cameron, Prime Minister 2011-2015, resigned post-election results, and Theresa May, Prime Minister 2015-, stepped in, trying to resolve everything. May has been deemed as a poor leader, with EU leaders believing that she isn't a strong enough leader to take us out with the EU. I can rightfully say that I am worried for Brexit and what the future holds. It was the older generations, who tend to have the highest turnout in elections, who were the leave voters, whilst younger voters, who tend to have the poorest turnout in elections, who were the remain voters. The results will have more of an impact upon the younger generations, because it will be their future which will be affected the most. Falling into the youngest voter age bracket, I know I'm worried to see how the negotiations pan out. Perhaps I would have benefitted more in later life living within the EU; perhaps I would have benefitted more in later life living outwith the EU.
Currently, we have valid British passports, of which are classed as European Union Citizen passports. After we officially leave the EU, we will require new British Citizen passports, no long EU Citizen passports. We voted to leave the EU, leaving behind our member states to ride solo, yet have the sheer audacity to sit and ask France to produce our new passports. Something doesn't add up?
Only time will tell. At this moment, things don't look too shabby chic. It seems that EU leaders always have a better comeback, and are wittier, than May.
Negotiations have been on going for almost two years now. David Cameron, Prime Minister 2011-2015, resigned post-election results, and Theresa May, Prime Minister 2015-, stepped in, trying to resolve everything. May has been deemed as a poor leader, with EU leaders believing that she isn't a strong enough leader to take us out with the EU. I can rightfully say that I am worried for Brexit and what the future holds. It was the older generations, who tend to have the highest turnout in elections, who were the leave voters, whilst younger voters, who tend to have the poorest turnout in elections, who were the remain voters. The results will have more of an impact upon the younger generations, because it will be their future which will be affected the most. Falling into the youngest voter age bracket, I know I'm worried to see how the negotiations pan out. Perhaps I would have benefitted more in later life living within the EU; perhaps I would have benefitted more in later life living outwith the EU.
Currently, we have valid British passports, of which are classed as European Union Citizen passports. After we officially leave the EU, we will require new British Citizen passports, no long EU Citizen passports. We voted to leave the EU, leaving behind our member states to ride solo, yet have the sheer audacity to sit and ask France to produce our new passports. Something doesn't add up?
Only time will tell. At this moment, things don't look too shabby chic. It seems that EU leaders always have a better comeback, and are wittier, than May.
