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Brexit dividing my family.

(432 Posts)
iluvsylvanianfamilies51 Fri 06-Dec-19 13:10:03

I voted leave in 2016 and had no idea it would come to this. I really think this country has never felt more divided. Walking on eggshells when discussing things with friends, family, neighbours. Not wanting to offend but not wanting to back down. It is horrible.

What makes me sad is that it feels like families are splintered and there's so much resentment. Grandkids all voted remain and kids voted remain and leave. All have arguments about it all the time and I feel them getting more closed off to each other.I t is unbearably sad. We shouldnt be divided like this.

I'm sure others feel the same but the reason I post is because my granddaughter sent me this video and I think it articulates it really well. You may not like Labour or momentum but I think we will agree that this tension between leave/remain leaves us weaker. And when I voted in 2016 I didn't think it would be so drawn out. I feel embarrassed about that

twitter.com/PeoplesMomentum/status/1202573131606573056

I have been on the fence about who to vote for but I despise Johnson for his comments on single mothers (AND his racism!) and I think Labour are the best chance we have to get a better leave deal and bring our country back together again. In 2015 I never expected political division to make living rooms tense and communities divided. I wish we could have it back and this stalemate to be over.

MissAdventure Fri 06-Dec-19 22:49:03

Well, hate crimes cover so many things, don't they?
Sexual preferences, gender fluidity, and so on.

Is it all people who voted for brexit committing them?

Starblaze Fri 06-Dec-19 22:50:45

Or perhaps fighting back against the left, the precious snowflakes who just want to find a way to not offend people by people who are quite happy being offensive thank you very much.

MissAdventure Fri 06-Dec-19 22:51:48

I never said I choose to believe it isn't true, labaik. I said I doubted, which is entirely different, and I was referring to the overall hate crime figures, which cover much more than racial abuse.

Starblaze Fri 06-Dec-19 22:54:35

Elements of the far right tend to have much more than just racism going on. Just look at how quickly the popularity of Britain First rose before they rightfully lost their platforms and their freedom.

Labaik Fri 06-Dec-19 23:13:02

Do you CARE that it 'might' be true MissAdventure?

MissAdventure Fri 06-Dec-19 23:16:11

Of course I do, and I don't doubt that it is true.

Poppyred Sat 07-Dec-19 00:03:51

I have a dear friend who voted remain but we are still friends, I have forgiven her and choose not to discuss it.

Ginny42 Sat 07-Dec-19 00:26:32

Anyone's political beliefs say so much about them, that I certainly can and do judge whether some people I meet could ever be close friends based on expressed political views.

Anyone who is racist, or is unconcerned about injustices, e. g. that families are living in abject poverty in this wealthy country, and would vote in favour of a party which seeks to perpetuate those values, is no friend of mine.

I think we naturally gravitate towards people who share our values. No one in my family voted for Brexit, and I do not engage in discussions about the topic when in company.

maddyone Sat 07-Dec-19 09:19:53

Frankly, anyone who drops a friend or family member because they voted in the opposite way from themselves shows themself up for being nasty and small minded. I’m not talking about leave or remain voters, I’m talking about both. We live in a democracy, people can vote for whichever party they choose and can vote either leave or remain whiteout judgement. Nobody has the right to criticise another person’s voting preferences. As long as the vote is legal everyone can vote how they see fit. That’s what the suffragettes fought for.

tickingbird Sat 07-Dec-19 09:21:53

I find it odd that the OP comes on here with a link to a Momentum tweet. I also think it’s about time the lie that everyone that voted leave did so because they hate foreigners is put to bed. People voted leave for a variety of reasons. EU meddling being one.

I also agree with Lemongrove and do find it rather suspicious that Ilovesyl posts this just before a GE. P

Notsooldat75 Sat 07-Dec-19 09:24:35

I’ve just opted out of the whole thing! Hand up, and “sorry, not interested”. And I’ve kept my friends and family,

growstuff Sat 07-Dec-19 09:26:19

I wouldn't drop a good friend just because he/she didn't vote the same was as I do. However, somebody with very different values wouldn't be a friend in the first place. As voting depends on values, it stands to reason that I wouldn't have friends who vote very differently, including in the referendum. I guess that's why I don't have any friends who voted to leave the EU.

ayokunmi1 Sat 07-Dec-19 09:27:33

I think its selfish if we cannot expect people to exercise their right to vote the way they desire.
I just do not see why this should divide any family ..
If i voted to stay why should I be angry with my neighbour or friend who voted the other way .
Democracy..

ayokunmi1 Sat 07-Dec-19 09:28:48

How do you honestly know what your friend or family voted for

growstuff Sat 07-Dec-19 09:31:43

I don't expect to be able to influence how people vote or deny them their right. However, I really don't want to spend my time with people whose values I don't respect. I'm not interested in superficial relationships.

Bugbabe2019 Sat 07-Dec-19 09:32:06

Don’t get into arguments about politics with friends or family
End of
I voted leave, hubby votes remain. End of conversation

growstuff Sat 07-Dec-19 09:34:23

Obviously, I wasn't in the ballot booth looking over anybody's shoulder, but family members have told me how they vote. I discuss politics with friends and I don't think any of us has a reason to lie about how we've voted. It's fairly obvious anyway from the values we hold.

CaroleAnne Sat 07-Dec-19 09:35:23

I was sad to read about the decisions of acrimony in your family. Maybe they are using Brexit as a way of showing their true feelings to each other. Another time it could be something else. I find your thoughts about our current prime minister
and your ideas about who should be in charge of our country rather sad. Please do not bring politics into this site again as it would appear that you are canvassing for a particular party.

Wenbo Sat 07-Dec-19 09:39:50

I quite agree. One part of our family are very volatile in their views especially on facebook. We have banned all talk of brexit and politics in our house as it only causes problems. The other members although having different views respect the fact that others have different views to them as do we.
The problem is that leaving has dragged on for far too long.

Juicylucy Sat 07-Dec-19 09:43:11

I’m really surprised how people would loose friendships over each other’s decision to vote leave/ remain. Surely those friendships are not that solid if politics would ruin it.
I voted leave and still want leave. My family & friends all have different views however it causes debates but never fall outs.

Hilarybee Sat 07-Dec-19 09:43:41

None of us know what will happen in the future whether we remain or leave. I enjoy finding out how people voted and why they did so. It can be hard to cope with feelings that arise when we find out someone has different views to our own. I do feel worried about the outcome of this election more than any other though

love0c Sat 07-Dec-19 09:46:09

Posting for the second time saying the same thing! Rude, unpleasant and trouble causing posts from 'remainers' yet haven't really seen 'leavers' posts doing the same.

TrendyNannie6 Sat 07-Dec-19 09:47:10

We have ppl in our family that voted leave others remain, Have we fallen out ? No of course we haven’t

Solonge Sat 07-Dec-19 09:50:33

I am a staunch retainer. I voted to join in the 70s....and I am a European to my heart. My kids voted Remain. One brother voted leave....he chose to plaster his and my Facebook page with vile rubbish about how much better Brits are and how all the poles etc can go home. We haven’t spoken for 4 years....he moved to Spain last year...using a bent Spanish lawyer to provide paperwork stating he had lived there for twenty years. This is his retirement...he said it’s warmer, nicer and cheaper than the UK. We will never, ever speak again. He thinks it’s ok to remove mine, my kids and grandkids rights to live, work and study in Europe....we had 5 friends that voted leave...we have nothing to do with them either. If Brexit occurs...we will move to France, we speak fluent French and apply for citizenship. The right wing press in the uk is vile...owned by non Dom’s who pay no tax here...but happy to manipulate the people. The French are smart enough to know it’s their government that is trying to make austerity their protocol...so they fight their government. The Brits believe a government that has lied, murdered and visited poverty on huge swathes of the UK....and they blame the EU. Stupid beyond words.

Nannan2 Sat 07-Dec-19 09:52:29

Really? Its 'dividing' your whole family? Isn't a vote supposed to be a private thing? If they all kept their opinions or how they chose to vote to themselves (like how it is when we go to polling stn) then you'd not have this problem? At end of the day whomever is getting in,gets in,(government) and then its no ones choice but theirs what happens to us all,is it? All politicians lie about things,promise one thing,but then do another,its the way it is frankly- But its not enough to lose sleep over,nor for whole families to fall out over,especially so near to christmas,is it???and a real friend should stay a friend,not fall out with them or 'drop them' just because of the way they vote- youre making a bigger meal out of it than you have to iluvsylvanian,and its possibly you who is 'fanning the flames' in your own family? I would never dream of asking any of my relatives who or how they vote for as its private,and also,thats not why we love them is it? We love our kids& grandkids for themselves,not for how they vote? Its nearly christmas,dont you want to all spend time with each other without airing your individual political views??Just tell them,as they walk in to any family get-togethers,"NO POLITICS TODAY FOLKS!" - and make sure its respected- if anyone brings it up,break up the visit by saying youre tired or have to go out now or whatever.It doesnt sound like youre deflecting these 'discussions' much.my grandchildren( some of whom are young adults) certainly dont send me clips of anything of a political nature,and thats how it should be, in fact no one should be cajoled or bullied or enticed into having any one elses beliefs forced on them,but still the politicians do this in run up to elections! And they will always do so- then turn& do something different when they get in.But it shouldnt be anything for whole families,or even friends,to lose each other for.Get a grip everyonehmm