The 52%: meet the Brexit Britons 

Hello to the 52%... How's Brexit working out for you all Hope it was worth it I'm sure if we give it another 25yrs somebody will surely find ONE SINGLE BENEFIT of us leaving

Congratulations to empty shelves! They completely ignored that it’s the fault of 10 years of tory governments, not EU-membership. 😂🤦‍♂️

This whole video is bizarre ... 1. A Mauritius immigrant artist who campaigned for free movement of non EU nationals voted for Brexit.... (face palm) 2. Teacher who lived in Germany and now in a quiet beautiful town with no real problem voted Brexit... (face palm) 3. A bea farmer who has a nice life voted Brexit because she was bored ...? 4. A girl / woman voted Brexit because she didn't know her neighbours.... ? Well go out and say hi maybe ? 5. A business man voted for a Brexit plan which had no business plan . Face palm again. OmG... people can be so stupid ... My head hurts after hearing all of this ...

The guy from Mauritius is an immigrant campaigning against immigration? coherence to its max level.

Would be great if The Guardian could do an update, 1 year on, to interview the same people and how they feel now :)

A guy with no clue about Global trading and is from India. A gal who wants londoners to know their neighbours like she does. A golf-playing bee-keeper who wants to (i didnt get the point) A guy who has a company in switzerland and thinks brittain can be like switzerland (not paying taxes in uk) Not one valid point. Good luck after a hard brexit, sincerely - Europe.

Omg just look at the Brexiters reasons for leaving and look at the UK 2022.

Of all the people I know who voted to leave, most of my family included, of all the interviews seen on TV / RU-vid, Iv'e still not heard anyone come up with a feasible reason to leave the EU. Seems like leave voters are clueless.

Please go back and interview these folks to see how much better/worse off they are now versus at this time. Would be fascinating

First guy... Came to England in the 60s. Campaigns for visa restrictions for non-EU 'artists', yet has an issue with European countries. Piss off.

Not one of these people can give you a definition of what Brexit is, no one should have been able to vote on this without being told honestly what the pros and cons would be. I hope their bills aren't too crippling this winter in 2022.

Can we have these people interviewed again please

None of these people have given a coherent reason for why they voted to leave. Everything they've said is incredibly vague. I get the impression they simply didn't think it through and had absolutely no idea what they were voting for or the impact that leaving will have on us all. I did so many face palms during this I nearly knocked myself out.

"I voted leave because community and future generations"? What?

When these toffs talk about "not being held back by EU regulations" they're not talking about things that are unnecessary; they're specifically talking about things like food standards, consumer protections, safety standards, workers' rights, etc. The poor working class are turkeys voting for Christmas.

" that idea of a British community is gone " Thatcher kicked that to pieces ! " there's no such thing as society " ? remember that ?

How many of this group have now change there minds

Can anyone explain how will leaving the EU fix communities; including small ones? None of them address how leaving the EU will positively effect their communities.

As a Brit living in Finland the net effect of Brexit on me has been totally negative. I will lose my right to vote (but I will still be taxed). My status is STILL not settled because nothing is agreed until it is all agreed. My UK pension has now shrunk in value due to the falling pound.... (it may be up against the US dollar but it has dropped dramatically versus the Euro). And my kids and their kids living in the UK will have fewer opportunities to be European in every sense.

I am from Romania, I came in UK in 2015. I hope that Brits will have all the success in the world after Brexit. A lot of people voted because of immigration. One question: what makes you think that this will stop? What if other nations (let’s say India) will want open borders for their citizens to sign any agreement, is not the same?

I would really like to see an update on this, anno 2022, but I am afraid none of the persons speaking will be willing to testify again…

I'm not scared of the future, I've already got my house, car and career sorted, so why should I care? Basically what I got from the Boston bloke

The ignorance and delusions of the Leavers is so frightening and deeply depressing.

eight minutes of my life and not a single reason as to why they voted out!

As a non-UK citizen, just a few comments: mentioning Switzerland is ridiculous... That country has EU legislation and codes for almost anything they produce, import and export and do in general. Switzerland is much more into EU than one may think. The same goes for Norway, there are few tiny reasons why these countries do not want to be part of the EU. And that's ok, but UK is not Switzerland nor Norway. Also, I see these people talk often about "future generation". Guess what, that "future generation", or young, to be more precise, voted "Remain". So, how are you supporting future generations of Britts when you voted opposite to what they voted for? And finally, for those who voted "Leave" because they are scared of immigrants: well, nothing will stop Indians, Pakistanis, Iraqis etc to enter UK. It has nothing to do with the EU. But Brexit will for sure stop Poles, Slovaks, Lithuanians, Croats etc. Immigration to the UK is much more related to your historical connections to certain countries, than to EU regulations. Anyway, good luck. Such an amateurish mistake.

These people need to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act, tout suite !

Not sure I heard a valid reason for voting to leave in this video.

Would like to see a follow-up program now.

I was struck by how nebulous the reasons given for Brexit were. It was as if there was some sort of code, that I'm not privy to, that was being used. It would be useful if Brexit supporters were more forthcoming. The one explanation that seemed clear, that freeing Britain of euro-regulation would promote trade, appears to me both short-sighted and self-contradictory.

I really think these people have mistaken the fragmented union (U.K.) as being a problem created by Europe. Most of the issues and concerns that leavers cite community, or lack of, being a big issue. Economically, we were doing very well in Europe before Brexit, we still are to some degree. But the problems in. Britain do not come from Europe, they are a result of lack of proper internal governing. If you think things will change, then you need to change the government. But we don’t have a credible alternative at the moment. Brexit has, over the past two years, consumed the government in the politics and the enormous requirements needed to divorce us from Europe, at the expense of everything else. The saddest thing of all, is we will lose our friends in Europe. Britain is an island and we still have an island mentality. But this is 2018....when we should be thinking globally, in Europe this was possible. It still is with Brexit, but our true trading partners are in Europe and the USA.... As for the rest of the country, Brexit will be tough for the regions... It’s the survival of the fittest, Wales won’t have EU funding to fall back on now. I appreciate this is a democracy, but some things the U.K. public should never have been given a vote on, Brexit was one of them.

This leaves me speechless. I'm not sure who has got the most bizarre reason here for voting to leave the EU - the beekeeper perhaps?

Please revisit these people around June next year 2019.

Africa welcomes the UK to the 3rd world :-) Well done!

The female retiree to North Wales was the epitome of hypocrisy, in my opinion. Part of the reason she can enjoy such a relaxing retirement in the area is due to the relative deprivation of income depressing house prices. Having grown up in North Wales and still having family in a very rural area, the level of EU funding that has helped regenerate the area is phenomenal. To the extent that it's difficult to visit anywhere in the region and not see a sign saying 'EU funded project'. At school in the ~2000's we were beneficiaries of funding encouraging outdoor activities, as was my younger brother. £16M in funding for boosting adventure tourism alone has been lost, in addition to £8m+ in establishing cultural heritage sites related to tourism. 75% of the region's income is from tourism. New Scientist had an article sometime ago on how Brexit could be good for the environment; without the UK watering down legislation stronger standards will emerger. I dread to think what the 52% will think when the UK signs trade agreements that require we conform to EU laws and regulations, which we will no longer have any say in their design.

None of them made it clear just HOW brexit would fix their problems - what are the methods to get these desirable outcomes? Now that brexit is looking less appealing, I'm worried for britain. Also, how come up until now Brits haven't been vocal about the problems the EU has caused them? As an outsider casually looking in I had no idea. I've seen many racist-sounding leavers and thought that racism and white pride were the only motivators for brexit.

to me all these reasons for leaving the European union are no concrete reasons at all. the UK is in a chaos and it seems to me that people are using the European union as an excuse and putting the blame on them for the mess they find themselves in. why is it that it was mostly the older generation that voted to leave. this brexit issue has divided the UK so much and it's shocking to also hear some Britons coming out with discriminating remarks on some other RU-vid sections about how they want their country back from the Polish for example. I was born in the UK and gave up my citizenship in 93 with no regrets. I have been so grateful that in the European union I have been able to have free movement and make a better life for myself. i feel so sorry for the younger generation back in the UK that won't have that opportunity.

"I'm a decent person, and I think a lot of leavers are". Decent? Uneducated? Hate filled?

One of the best analysis of this topic is David Goodhart's theory of 'anywhere's' versus 'somweheres,' which represents a clash between more globally minded people who view national identities and traditions are negative and those who seek a grounded sense of community and view borders and tradition as necessary for societal cohesion.

How do they feel now in 2021?

6:00 - "Having a business in Switzerland (which is not in the EU)" - well yes, but it is part of Schengen, part of the single market and part of the EEA - all things which we seem to be trying to also leave as part of Brexit so not entirely sure it will be as easy as he thinks it is after leaving.

4:17 "I'm not a racist" - reads books by Heidegger, who was a member of Germanys nazi party from 1933 - 1945. Gotcha!

That bee analogy would have actually been well suited for the EU, we are stronger together. If one country isn't doing that well, the others can help.

I have a feeling vs logic. This is hard to watch. Brexit was not the platform to build communities and create laws thats not going to change when we leave. Don't vote Tory would have been the real change.

And this is Bradley from Stoke-on-Trent, who voted leave because a Polish man opened a shop near his house.

"London lacks community"... let us randomly blame the EU for this???? what is wrong with these people

15 months on from this, it would be interesting to hear from these individuals & to ask them, "How's it looking for you now" ?

Nissan are starting to pull out of Sunderland. The people there voted "Leave". Turkeys / Christmas come to mind

Can we have a documentary on meeting the minority 48%???? I know enough about the majority.

"A tolerant, welcoming open country" **votes to CLOSE borders, to promote RACISM and INTOLERANCE** /slowclap

This is very worrying. These people have no idea how much the poorest are going to suffer with the catastrophic collapse of our economy and loss of influence. We're just going to be a dead, skint island on the edge of Europe. Madness.

Genuinely want to know what they think of Brexit now. And then again 5 years down the line

Can't get over the number of the people here who are like... "Hi I'm a turkey and I voted for Christmas."

Do an update in the next few months - will be no doubt then the utter foolishness of the Brexit vote (when the cover of COVID19 has finally gone).

Did anyone actually hear a good reason for leaving in this video, all I heard were a few people who have personal issues and decided we should all pay the price because they are unhappy with their lives. Also why do people who are immigrants get so pissed off by immigrants,it makes no sense..

An immigrant who voted leave because he was concerned about Greece and the EU. Yeah right

Me Davinda. Please may I ask where you got your day date clock from that's on your wall? I have been looking for one like that for ages. Many thanks.

Aga's seem to be a common denominator? A nice range cooker/ heater/ status ornament seems to unify all. Xxx

It would be interesting to interview them again now that we seem to be heading for a no deal Brexit.

To arrange the Brexit referendum before knowing the ramifications and impact, is surely the most stupid thing to ever come out of the United Kingdom! To go ahead even if it turns out that a majority of Britons wants to stay in the EU, is even more insane! One thing is certain, and that is that Mr Putin would be very pleased with the weakening of the West…

The UK had better start applying to join the US as the 51st state or for the status Puerto Rico has. Britain has spent nearly a millennium fighting wars so Britain could be relevant in Europe. Brexit tossed that away.

Will there really be a change after Brexit? All those interviewed are quite well off people. Will Britain not need people to work for low wages in order to keep Britain competitive. Or how else will this be done in an economy which is based on service industry, farming and only little production? Wouldn't the economic system need to be changed to a more social model which I assumed Corbyn was proposing. Someone characterized his agenda as a continental social welfare system - which made sense to me somehow. I didn't get why people made him up as a communist when he actually said that if you go through with Brexit you have to reconsider the basis on which your economy rests. So will it continue to be a free market capitalism which is somehow dependent on competition in wages as well? Or will the British system changed towards better work contracts and a better education system and thus with an improved state organized welfare system? It seems that you cannot have both after Brexit because you voted for Brexit to get rid of immigrants. How will they be replaced, by whom without opening the border again - now through uniquely British legislation? Or will they be replaced by British nationals - are there many who'd be quickly integrated into the labour b´market and qualified? I see no way around a more social model of British economy than is now if Britain wants to leave the EU entirely. How else will the government keep the promise to keep labour immigration influx low and Britain competitive? Will they find ways to force British people to work (very much like in the movie "I, Daniel Blake") to keep up with the competitiveness? If they want to keep the economy going they will have to open the borders after Brexit again? Or how will this work? Will Britain suddenly not be dependent on cheap labour any longer? And how so? Restructuring an economy takes quite a while because people need to learn new professions. I can see why people are happy about being independent. But how will the foreseeable future after 2019 look like? Isn't this "let's have a brighter future through change" a bit naive - because the world won't change and the actual system won't change much. People vote for democracy, more democracy and the people's say. That's great and gives great feelings to have a common cause. But once free trade and global capitalism steps in all these arguments aren't quite as convincing because the country needs to find new ways to adapt to the old problem: how to be competitive. Please, someone enlighten me about how this is debated in Britain and what hope Brexiteers have?

R.i.p brits...

This so sad. How this people can justify they decisions. Well, as said recently there is a special place in hell for them and it's coming.

The ignorance of economic risks of leaving the Union is staggering.

I really didn't want to look at the comments because I know The Guardian's readers don't like listening to opinions different to their own. And guess what... I was right. The comment section is full of people who won't acknowledge that there was any reason to vote leave. These people have perfectly legitimate reasons for voting to leave and your bigoted opinions are why many decided to got to leave.

The public is tired with the government and they want a change, which led them to vote for Brexit. What they don't realize is not all change is good. Look at the US, they made a similar decision. and if a change is needed, it's essential that it is guided by the right people in the right direction.

The naiveté is staggering, particularly in those who are so confident of the 'benefits' of leaving the biggest trading bloc on the planet.

The situation in Greece? How stupid can the first person be? The person about Switzerland: How the hell does he believe that it is different? Most of the other ones do not even seem to have any real reson for voting to leave.

None of these people have given legitimate reasoning as to why they chose to leave...community, EU law constraints, forging a new future. Blah blah. I wonder if they can name a single EU law that they don't like that they want brought into UK rule which we could have vetoed anyway if we were still in. By the way, employment trends and deprivation trends are a direct result of a Tory government making hard cuts to public services over a period of time...nothing to do with the EU!! But please enjoy your airy fairy, nostalgic non existent golden age Brexit that the rest of us will have to suffer.

Can anyone explain to me exactly what the UK has to leverage in the upcoming trade negotiations with the entire world? Because as far as I can see, Britian doesn't do anything that can't be done anywhere else, and with the EU set to make a stunning example out of what happens to those who leave the EU, how does that translate into a position of power when negotiating with other nations? UK to EU, give us all the free access to your market or we will ??? UK to US, give us a great deal or we will trade with ??? Seriously, change my view. All I hear is, now the UK can trade with the world on our own terms! But you already were, as part of the largest economic zone in the world. Which has more clout? The supermarket or the corner store?

Yes lets do an update October 2021, how goes it now. It would be interesting.

Blame The Tories not the EU.

I voted to remain. This was an excellent video, typical of The Guardian.

Seems to me listening to most of the comments,none of the contributors were racist nor zenophobic, in fact many of them have connections with Europe,but all virtually strike me as selfish, most have their own homes/careers,so safe in that area, or had worked and benefited from membership of the EU( oh SWitzerland is a member of the European free-trade movement)...but now wishing to deny the opportunity of others that follow the same benefits..a combination of selfish and `im alright jack` mentality...

That fella with the companies In Switzerland.....does he not understand the relationship that Switzerland has with the EU? 🙄

covid19 + brexit...... go after these 'britons' and ask again

It would be more interesting to ask them what newspapers and magazines they read and how have they formed their views and over what timeframe. That would be far more instructive.

I'm just amazed the Guardian made a video about pro-Brexit people without sneering at them and putting them down or anything. This video isn't great, but at least they let them talk. Although many commentors say this video is bad because of the weak reasons these Brexiteers gave. I'm pro Brexit, but I agree. This videos points aren't great. Maybe that's why the Guardian made this video.

I'm yet to hear a good reason for leaving the EU. Leaving the EU will not help the lady in the video get to know her neighbours. I'm being ripped out of the EU for the most pathetic reasons ever.

When will uk understand that is not possible keep all benefit as EU member

“I voted leave because of democracy “ 😂😂😆😂 FFS !

out now.

Still not one single reason why we left

So Depressing

After much deliberation I voted to leave. I find it shocking that both sides use such rhetoric as Remain being for idiots and Leave being racist etc. My decision was based on what I see as an existential threat to Europe and the many nations that make it up. Ultimately I had to ask some tough questions such as why is the trade of goods linked to movement of people? What was the EU, formally the EEC established for? Based upon its actions for many years what will the EU be in 10 or 20 years? All signs support the theory that it wants to create a united states of Europe. That prospect is terrorising if you care to look at the history of Europe. P.S. Both campaigns were utter dog shit.

Hilarious he wanted a tolerant open country so voted Brexit how’s that worked for ya😂 I wonder if the Boston guy is now willing to pick the rotting veg. Leavers in London was lonely so voted leave,🤦‍♀️ Polish Suisse business owner, how’s that gone for ya, wanted a Suisse type deal, 🤦‍♀️

The first guy's hypocrisy:you wnet there for a better life,but if others want to do what you did, you are denying them the chance why?because you are a mean person and you think:I got given this opportunity,why the hell should I allow others to do well in life?you are a disgrase

This first speaker at least voted brexit for the right reason, but I think he will be disappointed in the end

What a refreshing change to see some of the many people who voted to exit the E U , with legitimate arguments, not being depicted as the senile, uneducated, racist, and deluded people that the BBC and remainers have tried to make out we all were. I voted to leave, principally on a question of sovereignty, and also because of the worries that the EU hierarchy were determined to go down the road of the United States of a Europe, further reducing the control of the individual members over their own laws. I have been asking everyone I meet that voted remain, to explain how the system works, so far, no one has been able to answer me, and yet the remain voters all insist that anyone who voted to leave did not know what they were voting for. How ironic is that?

The EU could be good if it was just about trade

“I’m from a rural place” A. London is the largest city in Western Europe B. If you’re from a rural place are you really a Londoner because you clearly don’t understand it

Not a single working class person, the majority of the majority.

So, the businessman thought Brexit means Switzerland when Brexit means whatever the Tories and the DUP says it means, if they can ever agree.

watching this I now feel a lot more comfortable in leaving . that the votes of these people and millions like em could be ignored is unthinkable.

And the uk still havent left in any meaningful way.

If you think we are leaving the EU you will need to think again. It's going to be dragged out for years until we are on our knees pleading to stay. It has already been decided (he said in a conspiratorial tone).

People basically recognise the importance of being able to control those who govern over them. Political union was not what the UK voted for in 1973. And in order to make their case for continued EU membership, those who advocated remaining must denigrate and belittle the UK to a point where it no longer seems possible to be an independent sovereign nation. That will never play well with the majority.

I don't think I heard anything there that contained sufficient evidence of having looked into the detail to make me think these people made a rational decision. Probably that'd be true also of most remain voters. Some nice little stories there though, particularly enjoyed hearing about the bees. 😅

Excellent reflexion to integrate in conversations and take into account it ;-)

"I know what a community can be like. Something that London fundamentally lacks." The arrogance.