Something better change

I feel sorry for the people who voted leave.

Not the ones cheering with union jack flags outside Westminster this morning, who are by now probably downing the final, tobacco-scented, backwashy dregs of their 14^th celebratory pint of ale. Not the floppy haired, fop-voiced, dark suited, faux-somber ones either. Not even the ones who are now trying to defend their half-hearted support for the remain campaign, and cling to their leadership of the Labour Party. I don’t feel sorry for those leave voters at all. But the 17.4 million others? The ones who did it to take back some semblance of power – not reinforce power they already had, at whatever cost? I feel very sorry for them. And I think those people are feeling a little sorry for remain voters now too. Cause there's only a few people celebrating. 

Jeremy Corbyn was not inspired by remain

The people who voted leave did not vote against freedom of movement, or more confusing trade deals, or a weakened economy. Based on the downright misleading messaging from the leave campaign, they voted for immigration to be curbed, reduced pressures and extra funding for the NHS, and less bureaucracy. Many in our country are feeling very desperate, and who can blame them for seeking hope – I mean, ‘Leave’ is a much more action-packed, exciting prospect than ‘remain’. Noone has ever shouted rousing chants of ‘Remain!’ from a picket line. It’s not a gift of a message. Action often feels better than inaction. It was obvious that people were sick of being told what was best for them by disconnected elites. The sad thing is, they will now probably have to sit and watch as Boris Johnson foppishly guide a slew of slugglish laws through parliament in order to implement this change, privatise more of the NHS, and continuously shout down any debate on immigration by refusing to admit that we can still do nothing about it.

I feel as though this is an emperor’s new clothes moment. Politicians can no longer blame the European Union for all the issues disenchanting the people of Britain with politics. They can try for a couple more years, but I hope the electorate don’t let them get away with it.

I am disappointed with the referendum result. Intrigued by the statistic that our economy was at its weakest since 1985, I asked some of the people in my office today what it was like in 1985. "Worse than this". was the broad conclusion. It was in the wake of the miners’ strikes, severe dismantling of the unions, and people were angry. Now that it’s here, I hope Brexit does help people regain power and combats the shocking inequality in this country. But I fear it won’t. What I really hope is that when it doesn’t, the people who demanded their voice be heard today keep speaking up, and direct it at the people who really deserve their scrutiny. Prime Minister Johnson, or Gove, or Corbyn, or Leadsom, should not be in for an easy ride.