English people exchange their thoughts about Brexit and its influence on their lives. Did people really vote for it? What do they think about immigrants who’ve come to Britain during last years?
– It's crazy being run by country, being run by people that have no votes for.
– Can you imagine growing up as a child and not been surrounded by different cultures?
– Little racism sometimes. Well, they're saying, it's their country, stuff like that.
– If I was victimized in a country, I think I'd be the first one to be hanging on to the back of that lorry.
One year till Brexit. On the closest highstreet to mainland Europe. The people of Dover talk about how Brexit affects them.
Eric: Since I was two years old, I was in England. So it would be not good leaving the country. I feel like I’m home now. I was born in Slovakia. When I was 2-3 years old, we came to Britain. I used to go to nurseries, school, all the way through to college.
Little racism sometimes. Well, they're saying, it's their country, stuff like that. But still, when I explained how long I'm here, they were, like, oh yeah, you’re brother now, so we don't want you to leave. Stuff like that. For me personally, it felt very bad, coz I got all my friends here, my friends all are English.
Yeah, well, they normally look at you differently, like you’re someone else. Because you're not supposed to be here, or something like that. But if they knew the whole story from the start, like how long I'm here. They would understand. My fear is that, maybe, we'll have to leave. Which I wouldn’t want to, coz I lived here since I was a child and I got my friends and family.
Alison: I voted to go into Europe. And I voted to come out of Europe. When we had referendum before we joined Europe, I think a lot of us thought we were just voting for a trade agreement. We weren't voting to be actually governed by Europe. And I think that's what upsets a lot of people in fact, that we don't govern ourselves anymore. A lot of things are overruled by Europe. And we are a country that follows the rules – if they say, you can't do this, we don't do it. Whereas a lot of the other countries, I think, they say, alright, we can't do it, but we still will do it.
I don't have a problem with immigration. A lot of our customers are immigrants and I'm quite happy to get along with them. And one thing I always say is if I was in their position, if I was victimized in a country, I think I'd be the first one to be hanging on to the back of that lorry and trying to get somewhere where, you thought, there was going to be a better life. And especially if I had a family.
Lauren: Can you imagine growing up as a child and not being surrounded by different cultures? There's no diversity, you don't learn anything about anyone. Personally, I voted to remain. Young people – I'm not going to say they’ve got this idea fixated in their head, but that will mean these people that are coming in, they won't come in anymore. And the idea of the money being spent, that's all going to come back to us. But I don't think they see why that money's being spent. To see the different attitude, like from the French – we had French customers in here earlier. And even they were saying about how they probably won't come over as much. They used to come over every half time with their children, but they say, no. It will eventually, slowly by slowly, we went for a huge impact all at once, but slowly there will be – we will feel that.
Mark: I think the problem with Brexit is that everyone keeps talking about Brexit. I think people just want it to be done and get on with their lives really. I think this is the problem: people are talking the country down, everyone goes on about Brexit. It just needs to be done and, you know, in five years time, I think everyone will think, what was all the fuss about. We've got our country but yet, we’re told what to do, how to run it, you know. You can't even have overs these days by the certain power because people that we don't vote for, in other countries, tell us to use it. It's crazy being run by country, being run by people that have no votes for. I think we could have the same relationship. It's just that a lot of people on the continent blackmale everyone, don't they? They want to make it as difficult as possible because they don't want anyone to leave. It's just beyond childish, you know. Like none of these politicians act like grown-ups. They’re all like children. It's the reason they wonder why people want to leave.
There is a lot of Polish people in this area but no problem with that – they work hard. I've got a good friend of mine who runs a really successful business in London. He's polish, he's really successful. He doesn't seem to have any problems since Brexit. I haven't noticed any real difference. There are so many other countries in the world to trade with and trade all we want, you know. I think that's the way it is. There's so much stuff that comes in from companies like China. You can trade with them just the same as you can trade with European countries. I don't see how they should be a difference. You should be able to trade with Europe, just the same as before, but be out of trade might end deals with the rest of the world. I think people will look back on it in 10 years time, and go, wow, I’m glad that happened.
