A devastating result and a dark day for Britain. It seems that a small majority of the British (or should I say English and Welsh) electorate were convinced by the hateful and, frankly, dishonest Leave campaign. The economic, political, social and cultural consequences will be with us for decades impacting on our children and grandchildren.
Anti-immigration sentiment appears to have driven this result. Yet even the Leave campaign refused to promise that Brexit will deliver in terms of reducing net immigration, one of the few points they conceded was that Britain’s economy depends on migrants. With a minimum of two years until we formally break with Europe the inevitable turbulence in our economy may well be coupled with a spike in immigration as those contemplating coming to Britain take their last chance to do so. Meanwhile the three million EU citizens who reside amongst us, many doing the dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs that we do not want, others contributing their skills and knowledge, will feel increasingly disenfranchised with this result perceived as a rejection of them and all they have offered us.
Professor Jenny Philimore