Brexit. Why is it such a divisive and emotive issue?

This essay examines the question why Brexit is such a divisive and emotive issue for the British society nowadays. Since the outcome of the referendum in 2016, the British society is divided into three parts. One of them is the generation, the social class and the last one is geography. These three parts illustrate through numbers and statistics how the decision to leave the European Union was made. The discussion in this essay is divided into four main parts. The first part explains the historical background of Great Britain and the European Union, the second part represents the supporters of Brexit and reasons for leaving the European Union. The third part is about the effects of the outcome which concern the whole British society and fourth illustrate some problems which can appear after Great Britain leaving the EU.

The first referendum Britain’s on the membership of the European Union was on June 1975.¹ In this time, it was obvious why the British society wanted to be a member of the European community. Three main reasons convinced the society to vote for a membership in the EU. One of these tree main reasons was the Common Market.² The numbers and statistics of the voting shows that 67 per cent of the British society decided to be a part of the European Union.³ The aim of the single market is to have a ‘free movement of goods, persons, services and capital’ (Sapir and Wolff).⁴ Therefore, the single market offers an easily export and import system within the European Union members. The second main reason which lead the society to opt for a membership in the European community was because of fascination. This fascination was seen with regard to internal conflicts in Great Britain.⁵ Through the membership of the European Union, the referendum crystallized these internal conflicts. The third and the last reason to opt for the European community was the fact of ‘being the first nationwide referendum in the country’s entire history’ (Goodwin and Heath).⁶ These three main reasons convinced the British society in 1975 to vote for a membership. Since then Great Britain was a part of the European community. What happened through all these years till 2016? How comes that the way of thinking of the society changed? Which important factors convinced the society of the United Kingdom to take the decision to leave the European Union?

Alabrese, Becker, Fetzer and Novy (2018) mention in the article: ‘ Who voted for Brexit? Individual and regional data combined’ that voting for Brexit is associate with elderly generations, white ethnicity and non - till low educational attainment.⁷ The nation results shows that in England 53.4% voted for leaving the European Union. As well as England, Wales voted 52.5% for Brexit.⁸ In Northern Ireland and Scotland, the percentage of ‘Remain’ was much higher. 55.8% of the society in Northern Ireland voted for staying in the European Union and in Scotland 62% voted for ‘Remain’.⁹ People in the age of 18-44 voted 58% to remain and people over 45 years voted 57% to stay.¹⁰ These numbers illustrate that mostly younger people do not want to leave the European Union. The next point to consider is, that people who graduated voted 59% to remain while non-graduate people voted 63% to leave.¹¹ This shows how people who have higher knowledge tend to stay than to leave. Those who graduated know more about the political situation and the security the European Union can offer. In addition, educated person may know more about the main reasons of the economic situation and believe in numbers and statistics rather in rumors. People with lower incomes voted 68% to leave the European Union, while the top quarter of UK earners only voted 39% to leave.¹² This information examines how elderly generation with lower incomes and low educational attainment opt for leaving the EU. Students who study at universities or even finished their students and have a higher income want to stay. The gap in regard of the interests of Brexit between these generations may cause tension in the society. Furthermore, this can be one emotive issue Britain has to deal with. The younger generation, which actually want to stay, has to deal with the consequences of Brexit longer than the already elderly generation. Moreover, the studies also show that white people voted 53% to leave the EU while non-white people only voted 32% to leave.¹³ The fact that more white people want to leave represents a kind of racism within the country. By leaving the European Union, it is much more difficult for immigrants or aliens to travel to Great Britain. It could happen that Great Britain want an entrance visa for every person who wants to travel in England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland. Therefore, after leaving the EU, it will be more difficult for immigrants to see Great Britain. At the same time, racism can raise more within the country. Native citizens do not want more immigrants in their country and Brexit offers them the solution for their problem. As Ford and Goodwin mention in their article ‘Britain After Brexit: A Nation Divided’ Britishness is more important to ‘left-behind’ voter than to liberal ones.

Another point to consider is, that Brexit causes falling currency. After the vote the pound fell about 6% within 2 minutes.¹⁴ Falling currency leads to higher import prices.¹⁵ If the import prices raise, inflation will be higher than before. Kollewe mentions in the article ‘ Inflation puts the brakes on Britain’s economic activity ’ that inflation my rise to 3% by the end of 2017.¹⁶ The expected inflation rises costs for firms. Higher costs for firms will then lead to job losses. Therefore, falling currency affects many employees and the fear to lose a job becomes evident. The membership of the European Union can be seen as a security for economic stability. Again, the fear of being unemployed or to lose one’s job is an emotive issue in the British society nowadays. It may also be possible that politicians take advantages of leaving the European Union for the Single Market. After leaving the EU, the British society may expect more support from the government in regard of job opportunities in their home country. Through this support, Great Britain is no longer in the place to conform to the European Single Market.¹⁷ Additionally, the support of the government can also safe and protect home markets and give an economic stability. The protection of home markets will support all those workers who felt left-behind because of globalization.¹⁸ Therefore, being a part of the European Union has some advantages and some possible disadvantages for the economy. The aim of the British society to leave the European Union could be a possible way to increase their stability of home markets. There are diversities of opinions even in regard of the consequences for the home market. People are speculating how the economy structure will develop itself. The uncertainty of not knowing what will happen in the future cause nervousness and tension within the society, especially for all those working people. Nowadays, the British society do not know what to expect after leaving the European Union. They neither know what will happen with the currency nor they know how the economy will look like. Therefore, one can also see the whole situation of the membership of the European Union as a divisive issue. While one part of the British society hopes for the best, the other part tries to do anything to avoid Brexit and remain in the European Union. In London on October 2018, nearly 570.000 people demonstrate against Brexit.¹⁹ This demonstration should lead the government to a second referendum. People over the whole country came by busses just to demonstrate for it. Some of those people who are demonstrating on the streets of London may voted for Brexit but through the Brexit process they opinion towards it changed. Therefore, they are now trying again to become the chance to vote for a second time.²⁰ Even Anna Soubry, who is a British Conservative Party politician and Sadiq Aman Khan who is serving as Mayor of London and who is also Leader of the London Labour Party demonstrated on the streets of London.²¹ The fact that also politicians started to demonstrated with the British citizens shows how divisive the situation is. People hold signs which said ‘Brexit stole my future’.²² These messages people held in their hands show not only all British citizen, but also the government and the state that there is a feeling of nervousness and despair within the society. The fact that so many people try to find a solution all together while singing or playing any instruments through the whole demonstration, represents unity. Additionally, the feeling of unity or togetherness gives each individuum motivation and this leads to an emotive issue. The decision to leave the European Union subdivided the British society into two parts: left-behind voters and remain voters. Additionally, at the same time the situation also pulls many left-behind voters and remain voters together. The marchers hope that the demonstration expresses enough power and energy to persuade the British government.²³

Another emotive and divisive issue for the British society is the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In the past, there were conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. Those who were Protestant wanted to stay in the United Kingdom while Catholics wanted to be a part of the Republic of Ireland. In the 1990’s a Good Friday Agreement was made to determine how the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland should function.²⁴ This border does not have any security or customs check.²⁵ Furthermore, the society of Northern Ireland, as well as the society of the Republic of Ireland want to remain the circumstances like this. After the vote in June 2016, the Irish society doubt that the border circumstances stay the same way as before. When the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, they may not have an open border anymore.²⁶ Therefore, crossing the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after United Kingdom leaves the European Union will be at least with security and custom check. The fact that there might be no open border anymore causes divisive issues within the society. Especially, because Northern Ireland voted 55.8% for remain.²⁷ Northern Ireland’s population do not want to leave the European Union and since the vote in June 2016, they also have to face different border circumstances. In the BBC News, the article Q&A: The Irish border Brexit backstop by John Campbell mentions that the European Union came up with a backstop. Moreover, a backstop for Northern Ireland means to be a part of the European Union customs union.²⁸ When Northern Ireland stays in the EU customs union, every good which is delivered into Northern Ireland has to be checked if it is shipped under the European Union standards.²⁹ “Any separate status for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK is seen as potentially damaging to the union as a whole” (BBC News). This statement illustrates exactly an emotive and divisive issue within the British society. If Northern Ireland has another status than the rest of the United Kingdom, it cannot be seen as United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland anymore. Furthermore, there will be status differences between the British Isles which will lead to tension. The British society can get a feeling of inequality treatment and this feeling can create a bad relationship between the British society and the society of Northern Ireland.

Another major issue in the British society is the flow of immigrants. Number of Britons claim that a high flow of immigration in the United Kingdom hurt their jobs.³⁰ Additionally, some people of Britain also fear that immigrants may affect their quality of life in a negative way.³¹ After the global financial crisis in 2008, the average wages fell by 8-10%.³² In the meantime, immigration from the European Union increased.³³ In addition, the percentage of workers increased from 1.8% to 6.3%.³⁴ These circumstances let some of the British society think it is caused by immigrants. Therefore, they hope leaving the European Union will better working conditions. The article ‘Why immigration is no reason to leave the EU’ by CentrePiece substantiate that immigrants are an economic benefit of the membership of the European Union. 43% of EU immigrants are highly educated while only 23% of Britons do have the same education level.³⁵ Even East European people are 36% highly educated.³⁶ These numbers illustrate that immigrants in the United Kingdom have a better and higher education than native citizens. Therefore, these highly educated immigrants can only be a benefit for the British economy. Additionally, 78% of the European Union immigrants and 82% of the East European are employed.³⁷ In the meantime, only 72% of Britons do have a job.³⁸ Again, these statistics only illustrates that British people who are not employed try to blame immigrants for their unemployment. Those immigrants who travel to the United Kingdom are not only higher-educated but also young and hard-working people.³⁹ Moreover, these people are a benefit for the economy of Britain. The important point here is that higher immigration does not lead to a rise of unemployment within the UK ‘because there isn’t a fixed ‘lump of labour’’ (CentrePiece 2016). In addition, immigrants do also have to eat and live somewhere and for that they have to spend money. They also spend money on goods and services which leads to new jobs. ‘The employment effects of adding an immigrant are no different from increasing population, and the UK population has risen by around a half over the las hundred years without the unemployment rate marching correspondingly upwards’ (CentrePiece 2016). Therefore, it does not make sense to blame an immigrant for the unemployment of a Briton. Still, the immigration is for many unemployment Britons a big issue. The membership of the European Union is such a divisive as well as an emotive issue because some part of the British society think that immigrants are the problem for their economic situation and some of them think that immigrants are just a benefit for the economy. If the United Kingdom leave the European Union, it will be more difficult for Britain to have better and highly-educated immigrants in their country. Therefore, it may affect the economy of the United Kingdom because there are less highly-educated native citizens. Immigration is not only because of the economy a problem for some of the British society but also because of the national identity. Those people who voted for leaving the European Union because of Immigration may also feel that their national identity is in threatened by immigrants. The article ‘A new British identity is key to Brexit success. So who do we want to be?’ by the Guardian mentions that the United Kingdom asks itself about the distance between the imaginary identity and the real identity of the United Kingdom. There are two different identity crises. One of them is the problem between what one think of itself and what one actually is. The other crisis is one’s identity compared to what others believe about it.⁴⁰ Such a national identity issue does the British society have. Some of the Britons believe in one imaginary national identity which is made up with no immigrants. These people who believe in such a national identity do not accept immigrants even though they might be a benefit for their own economy. Those people who want this kind of national identity back, are at the same time those ones who voted to leave the European Union. They try to avoid a flow of immigration and believe that leaving the European Union offer them a solution for it. The fact that there are two kind of national identities also illustrate how divisive the issue of being a member of the European Union is. Some people of the United Kingdom see their national identity with all immigrants while the other half of the society don’t.

Brexit can affect jobs of Britons. Mostly, people are identifying themselves with their jobs because it is their daily routine. Often times a job expect from one to travel into another European country. If the United Kingdom leave the European Union, it will be much harder to travel into another country than before. Do one need a visa to travel? Therefore, Brexit has an impact on how one does its job. Another point is also that mostly companies cooperate with other companies in foreign countries. For some cooperation it is necessary to see each other in conferences. Sometimes conferences come suddenly and there is no time to apply for a visa. Therefore, Brexit restricts possible cooperation with foreign countries and also endanger one’s identity.

Another emotive issue is the British citizenship after Brexit. If the United Kingdom leave the European Union, the UK citizenship will be less useful for not only working but also traveling to other countries.⁴¹ There are amount of people in the United Kingdom who gave up their own nationalities just to possess a British passport. Before leaving the European Union, the British passport was one of the most powerful passports. The fact that all people with a British passport have to expect other, maybe also difficult circumstances to travel to foreign countries causes emotive issues. Especially, those 48% of the voters who wanted to remain in the European Union will be annoyed about the new circumstances. Additionally, there are also people from foreign countries who work or even study in the United Kingdom. Those people are not allowed to vote in the referendum. They just have to face the consequences. In this case, people who work in the United Kingdom for example as a French teacher do not have the possibility to vote for remain in the European Union. Those foreign workers are afraid of the consequences after Brexit. What will happen with their jobs and are they allowed to stay in the United Kingdom? Meanwhile, there are also demonstrations by foreign workers. The organization the3million which is formed after the referendum in United Kingdom wants to protect the lives of foreign people.⁴² It is ‘a support network for EU citizens living in the UK’(the3million). Those people who are member in this organization work with politicians, as well with the government. They want a guarantee of rights for all British people living in European countries and for EU citizens living in the United Kingdom. This organization tries to save the futures of all those people who will be affected by Brexit.⁴³ Moreover, the3million only shows how Brexit affect so many lives of people, their futures and their jobs. These people; which are at the moment 37.000, may have families and they are fear to lose what they worked for. For two years these people have faced anxiety about their status. Therefore, the membership of the European Union is an emotive issue for all people who work in another European countries and also for foreigners who found their home in the United Kingdom.

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¹ Goodwin, M. J. and Heath O., 2016. ‘The 2016 Referendum, Brexit and the Left Behind: An Aggregate-level Analysis of the Result’. The Political Quarterly 87: 323-331.

² Ebd.

³ Ebd.

⁴ Sapir, A. and Wolff, G. B., 2016. ‘One Market, two monies: The European Union and the United Kingdom’. Bruegelpolicybrief: 1-8.

⁵ Goodwin, M. J. and Heath O., 2016. ‘The 2016 Referendum, Brexit and the Left Behind: An Aggregate-level Analysis of the Result’. The Political Quarterly 87: 323-331.

⁶ Ebd.

⁷ Alabrese E., Becker, S. O., Fetzer, T. Novy, D., 2018. ‘Who voted for Brexit? Individual and regional data combined’. European Journal of Political Economy: 1-19.

⁸ BBC News. 2016. Results. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results. [Accessed 26 December 2018].

⁹ Ebd.

¹⁰ Prof. Dr. Armingeon K., 2016.‘Brexit: Voraussetzung, Prozess, Folgen‘. Seniorenuniversität Bern: 2-25.

¹¹ Ebd.

¹² Ebd.

¹³ Ebd.

¹⁴ Ardley, B., 2018. ‘After Brexit: Rethinking the structure of the UK economy and its branding strategies’. Strategic Change 27: 441-446.

¹⁵ Ebd.

¹⁶ Kollewe, J., 2017. ‘Inflation puts the brakes on Britain’s economic activity’. The Guardian.

¹⁷ Ardley, B., 2018. ‘After Brexit: Rethinking the structure of the UK economy and its branding strategies’. Strategic Change 27: 441-446.

¹⁸ Ebd.

¹⁹ Demmer, A., 2018.‘Eine halbe Million gegen den Brexit‘ Tagesschau [online] Available at: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/brexit-demo-113.html. [Accessed 26 December 2018].

²⁰ Ebd.

²¹ Ebd.

²² BBC News. People’s Vote march: Hundreds of thousands attend London protest. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45925542. [Accessed 26 December 2018].

²³ Ebd.

²⁴ Tannam, E., 2006. ‘Cross-Border Co-Operation between Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland: Neo-Functionalism Revisited.’ British Journal of Politics 8: 256-276.

²⁵ Ebd.

²⁶ Abc News. Brexit: What is it, and what are the key issues? [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/International/brexit-key-issues/story?id=59402693. [Accessed 27 December 2018].

²⁷ Prof. Dr. Armingeon K., 2016.‘Brexit: Voraussetzung, Prozess, Folgen‘. Seniorenuniversität Bern: 2-25.

²⁸ BBC News. Q&A: The Irish border Brexit backstop. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-44615404. [Accessed 27 December 2018].

²⁹ Ebd.

³⁰ Dhingra, S., Ottaviano, G., Reenen, V. J., Wadsworth, J., 2016. ‘Why immigration is no reason to leave the EU’. CentrePiece – The Magazine of Economic Performance: 10-13.

³¹ Ebd.

³² Ebd.

³³ Ebd.

³⁴ Ebd.

³⁵ Dhingra, S., Ottaviano, G., Reenen, V. J., Wadsworth, J., 2016. ‘Why immigration is no reason to leave the EU’. CentrePiece – The Magazine of Economic Performance: 10-13.

³⁶ Ebd.

³⁷ Ebd.

³⁸ Ebd.

³⁹ Ebd.

⁴⁰ The Guardian. 2017. A new British identity is key to Brexit success. So who do we want to be? [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/16/british-identity-key-brexit-crisis-negotiations. [Accessed 27 December 2018].

⁴¹ The Week. Dual citizenship: how and where to get an EU passport after Brexit. [online] Available at: https://www.theweek.co.uk/brexit/73897/dual-citizenship-how-to-get-an-eu-passport-after-brexit. [Accessed 27 December 2018].

⁴² The3million. About us. [online] Available at: https://www.the3million.org.uk/about-us. [Accessed 27 December 2018].

⁴³ Ebd.