Tuesday 21 June 2016

Even if we remain in the European Union, things will never be the same again.

On Thursday, the United Kingdom will make the biggest democratic decision on its economic and cultural future in a generation. Maybe even a lifetime. We have had this internal discussion before though, namely in 1975, when the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland decided to stay within the framework of the European Union with a favourable majority of 67%.

However, the scales are tipping and the latest polls show that the race to a majority is extremely close, moreso than most people had predicted and certainly way more close than I had ever imagined. At 45% Remain vs 44% Leave, the undecided voters will swing it. 

Both sides have fought extremely dirty campaigns: scaremongering is everywhere, false facts circulate social media like a virus and the figureheads of each camp seem as bad as each other. Boris Johnson seems to be eyeing Downing Street given a Leave vote this week, Nigel Farage is fanning the flames of xenophobia, despite having a German wife and David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn, the new(ish) Labour leader, even shared a podium to try to unite the nation after this week's assassination of an MP by a reportedly right-wing follower. It's been a long time since these two opposing parties actually had anything to agree on and i'm happy that unison came in such a dark time in British politics.

Just like this unsual coalition, it is my firm belief that we should be united as a country instead of being split down the middle. Will either side fully admit defeat or will this heated debate just keep turning?  If we vote to remain, will Nigel Farage give up his anti-EU fight? Probably not.
If we leave the EU, can we do it without sticking our middle fingers up to the rest of the world and isolating ourselves even more? 

Personally, i'm voting to remain. It's my future at stake here - given all of the false promises in the Scottish independence referendum we shouldn't trust the hearsay that Britain has this glorious future outside of one of the largest trade and cultural unions on the planet. If we stay at the table, we keep our position firm and our opportunities open.

I'm very proud to be British. I will always stay that way whatever the outcome, but I don't want to cut off the chances for my great country to do even greater things in the future.