The U.K. has moved on from Brexit.

Starmer does what he can in view of the voters who voted for Mr Farage and Reform; those voters have to be appeased.

However the general direction Starmer is taking is correct , as we need to defend our country against crime , as part of the European effort.

I think the UK is probably the most tolerant society in the world for accepting people from anywhere in the world, but when it gets too much, puts pressure on facilities such as housing, the NHS, schools, communities then no wonder voters cry ‘enough!’

Let's ignore a democratically held referendum because some don't like it!

Well we’ve “moved on” from World War Two, but it doesn’t mean we can’t reflect on it, or talk about the damage that it did.

Ironically, there's an area in France called "Little England" where hundreds of expats have established a home from home on French soil. They've opened their own business, speak Englsh all the time, have English products brought to France and haven't integrated into French life at all.
Now that I call arrogant and smug.
The ridiculous bit is that they say they left England to get away from the mindset of those English back home!

... the ‘Little Englander’ label ... [which I] am sure does apply to certain people in all countries.

Which I pointed out in my original reply. So where was I missing the point Oreo?

Ad hominen attacks, which just to pick a fallacious argument outside the debate, reduce rather than increase the credibility of the point you are trying to make. Which is ...?

Yes, people who perceive most foreign influences on culture and institutions as damaging or insidious exist in this country. It is both a limited view and one that fosters intolerance, and resists beneficial change, as I also said. The fact that these views exist elsewhere is, in this instance, irrelevant.

The negative effects of this view mean it does not "support our country" just some people's prejudice. It is destructive to our country just as isolationist views from any part of the political spectrum would be.

Sarnia

Let's ignore a democratically held referendum because some don't like it!

Your belief in .the permanent nature of this ‘.democratic referendum’ is touching. Using your logic I really don’t think we should have overturned the democratic decision made in 1975 to remain in the European Union.

Actually, democracy allows for people to change their minds and to make fresh decisions on issues. Which may be sad for the dwindling band of Leave voters, but is fine by everyone else.

Sarnia

Let's ignore a democratically held referendum because some don't like it!

Correction, Most of the population now think the decision was wrong.

The referendum took place 9 years ago. How long should a referendum be binding? 10 years? 20? 50? 100 years?

There is a saying 'When circumstances change, policies change, not to do so would be madness. On that basis we were in alliance with Russia in WW2, we should be in alliance with Russia now, and presumably supporting it against Ukraine.

The world as changed beyond all reckoning since 2016 - a President like Trump, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both unimaginable in 2016. A decision made 10 years ago on the basis of lying and misleading information needs to be reconsidered, when every other circumstance has changed so completely

The change can go the other way though now we are stuck with the decision. Bridges have been burned.
I can't remember the legal jargon for it, (because I was speaking with a French person), but several interim laws, that were made in a hurry when Brexit came about, are now being updated and replaced. In that usual inimitable French way they are going to make things even more difficult for us UK citizens.

M0nica

Sarnia

Let's ignore a democratically held referendum because some don't like it!

Correction, Most of the population now think the decision was wrong.

The referendum took place 9 years ago. How long should a referendum be binding? 10 years? 20? 50? 100 years?

There is a saying 'When circumstances change, policies change, not to do so would be madness. On that basis we were in alliance with Russia in WW2, we should be in alliance with Russia now, and presumably supporting it against Ukraine.

The world as changed beyond all reckoning since 2016 - a President like Trump, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both unimaginable in 2016. A decision made 10 years ago on the basis of lying and misleading information needs to be reconsidered, when every other circumstance has changed so completely

How do you know that 'most' of the population think the decision wrong? Let's have another referendum then, if that's the case. I'm sure the staggering success in stopping illegal migration will mean a Remain vote this time.

sarnia

You may like to look at the stats relating to illegal migrants since Brexit and you will see that the numbers have risen exponentially since 2020. Prior to that they were more stable.

With regard to the voters attitude to Brexit.

There are myriad polls that show that over 60% of people consider Brexit to have been an error and would prefer to have never left.

Just google you will find it all easily enough.

How do you know that 'most' of the population think the decision wrong? Let's have another referendum then, if that's the case. I'm sure the staggering success in stopping illegal migration will mean a Remain vote this time. hmm

Hadnt thought about that.
How right you likely are.

How do you know that 'most' of the population think the decision wrong?

Why don't you know sarnia? It's easier than its ever been to educate yourself in an area of interest.

Sarnia

M0nica

Sarnia

Let's ignore a democratically held referendum because some don't like it!

Correction, Most of the population now think the decision was wrong.

The referendum took place 9 years ago. How long should a referendum be binding? 10 years? 20? 50? 100 years?

There is a saying 'When circumstances change, policies change, not to do so would be madness. On that basis we were in alliance with Russia in WW2, we should be in alliance with Russia now, and presumably supporting it against Ukraine.

The world as changed beyond all reckoning since 2016 - a President like Trump, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both unimaginable in 2016. A decision made 10 years ago on the basis of lying and misleading information needs to be reconsidered, when every other circumstance has changed so completely

How do you know that 'most' of the population think the decision wrong? Let's have another referendum then, if that's the case. I'm sure the staggering success in stopping illegal migration will mean a Remain vote this time.

I thought leave voters have always been adamant that it wasn’t just about immigration?

How do you know that 'most' of the population think the decision wrong? Let's have another referendum then, if that's the case. I'm sure the staggering success in stopping illegal migration will mean a Remain vote this time.

Office of National Statistics Social Attitudes Survey 2025:

Immigration comes 7th on the list of important issues facing the UK.

We're not all obsessed with immigration.

In the recent council elections the 'progressive' gains by Lib Dems and the Greens, exceeded the gains of Reform. For all the publicity it gets, Reform isn't as popular as people think it is.

I take it, sarnia, that your statement that I've quoted is an admission that the Brexit vote had nothing to do with being in the EU at all. It was, though hotly denied, all about immigration.

I thought leave voters have always been adamant that it wasn’t just about immigration?

Precisely, MayBee

Forgot to post a link to the ONS survey

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/publicopinionsandsocialtrendsgreatbritain/march2025

Farage sometimes asks astute and provocative questions but I think his solutions are overly simplistic. If the answers were that simple other politicians would have already implemented them. Reform does not offer realistic policies and is economically simple minded (and yes, I have read their so-called policy website). Their future performance in local government is likely to be obstructionist of national policies and I doubt they can run a county council effectively.

Sarnia
How do you know that 'most' of the population think the decision wrong? Let's have another referendum then, if that's the case. I'm sure the staggering success in stopping illegal migration will mean a Remain vote this time.

Poll after poll for several years now has shown that the majority of people think that the decision to leave Europe was a mistake.

A referendum is not an election so no one from any party will get elected, In fact party politics does not even get a mention in referendum..

Anyway what has our membership of the EU got to do with immigration. Immigration has increased immensely since we left the EU. On the level of reasoning behind this post, the best way to reduce immigration to the level of pre-Brexit days, is to rejoin the EU.

We should never have left in first place! I nwver boted for it!So many regretting it now,duped by the 'red bus' where is that money we were going to save???????🤣

Brexit supporters do realise immigration has gone way up since we “took back control”, and most of that is legal migration from further away than Europe. Thanks Johnson.

There are approximately 353,500 Ukrainian refugees in the UK along with over 144,000 in the BN(O) scheme from Hong Kong (latest figures I could find on Google)

Along with those from Afghanistan who helped/worked with British Forces.

These have added to our immigration numbers.

I doubt these have anything to do with Brexit.

Except, as we learnt in the news today, the head of the Special Boat Force, General Gwyn Jenkins, vetoed the visas of many of the best Afghan specialist fighters and elft them to be tortured and killed in Afghanistan.

M0nica

Except, as we learnt in the news today, the head of the Special Boat Force, General Gwyn Jenkins, vetoed the visas of many of the best Afghan specialist fighters and elft them to be tortured and killed in Afghanistan.

I'm not sure that's been proved or relevent to this thread. We owe so much to our Special Forces, at least let this go through whatever process it needs to.

escaped

The change can go the other way though now we are stuck with the decision. Bridges have been burned.
I can't remember the legal jargon for it, (because I was speaking with a French person), but several interim laws, that were made in a hurry when Brexit came about, are now being updated and replaced. In that usual inimitable French way they are going to make things even more difficult for us UK citizens.

Have you got a bir more detail escaped? Are the changes for those of us with permanent residence cards or people wanting to move here now? Or just visitors to France?
We see nothing of English speaking ghettos in our bit of France and we certainly can't get the products from the UK that we could before Brexit. I know some people scoff at us for still wanting to eat Cheddar, bacon and buy ingredients for curry from time to time, but I do wonder if the same people never eat anything other than British cuisine? People do sometimes seem to mention brie and camembert on here.😂
There are, of course, plenty of shops in London catering for the French population. Plus the odd French restaurant in the UK?