The Midlands played a key role in pushing the UK towards a surprise ‘leave’ vote in last Friday’s referendum on membership of the European Union. Our roving reporter Dhiren Katwa gauged the reaction of his fellow Brummies, and of those in neighbouring areas.
In the West Midlands, 59.3% of voters chose to go, along with 58.3% in the East Midlands – the two biggest ‘leave’ results in the entire country. Perhaps the most surprising result came in Birmingham – which voted for leave by a margin of just 3,000. According to polling by Lord Ashcroft, younger voters were much more likely to vote Remain than older voters. Overall, seventy-three per cent of 18 to 24 year-olds, voted ‘remain’.
Among this group, gap year student and aspiring dentist Jay Majevadia, aged 19, from Birmingham, said: “I feel we would’ve been stronger and more stable as a member of the EU. It would’ve allowed students like myself to have greater job prospects, and visiting EU countries would’ve been much cheaper.”
Another ‘remain’ voter, Tyrone Mitchell, 23, from Solihull, said: “It’s a mighty shame that we have just dissolved years of unity being in the EU, an ill-informed decision, I think. We are really little now. A massive backwards step that will solve none of the issues they hoped to remedy yet create many more that weren’t even considered.”
Suki from Birmingham who works in Hospitality believes “Britain gives false promises”. She had this to say: “United is stronger, we’ve much to learn from Sweden on work-life balance. We need tougher sentences on crime, cleaner streets, improve Councils, control immigration, job security, better hospitals, schools, GP surgeries and care homes. Pension age needs to be 65.”
David Francis, a branch manager from Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, voted ‘Leave’. He explained: “Something so pivotal was always going to be divisive. But the price of democracy is priceless. The people affected are working class and not the rich. The EU has changed many communities. Freedom of speech has perished. The referendum was to bring power back to the people.”
Tanveer Ahmed, a car dealership owner from Small Heath in Birmingham, chose not to vote. He was of the view that ‘remain’ would triumph. “I’d grossly underestimated the result,” he said. “When united, we’re safer and stronger, we can move around in Europe without restrictions. I’m disappointed at the result, not a good idea at all.”
Jas Sansi, a professional photographer from Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, said: “We can only play the cards we are dealt. We have to face this challenge head on. The world goes on with us and without us. We will continue to produce the highest quality products and services and we remind the world, we are still here, still a trading partner.”
Piali Ray OBE, Director of Sampad, the Birmingham-based South Asian arts organisation, said: “The referendum result is not what we expected. However, we respect the democratic process and will work to ensure the best outcomes for the arts, and the South Asian arts sector.” She described the campaign as “clearly divisive” and said it had highlighted the disparity and inequalities across the nation – economically and culturally. “Only by working together on both sides of the Brexit divide can we maintain a tolerant and accepting society which we are happy and proud to be part of,” she added.
Dr Jeff Shi from Wolverhampton, a ‘remain’ voter, said he was not surprised at the result. “The fact that we were presented with a ‘win’ or ‘lose’ situation, created a biased campaign, which was unhelpful. The result has caused chaos. Ultimately, ordinary citizens, the working class, will continue to suffer.”
Jaffer Kapasi, Honorary Consul General of Uganda in the Midlands, who voted ‘remain’ believes we are “a very divided country now”. He explained: “Previously it was North and South. Now, Brexit and Remain. The result has created turmoil and chaos in both main political parties. There’s upheaval in Europe with some countries wanting us out immediately.” Mr Kapasi, who lives in Leicester, believes that the North East, Northern Ireland and the East Midlands will be hardest hit by any increased barriers to trade with the EU and is of the opinion that uncertainty in business will mean entrepreneurs will not decide to invest or defer investment.
Sindhu Patil from Kings Heath, Birmingham, who works in Higher Education, voted ‘remain’ “because having looked at the pros and cons of each it seemed the best choice. Also, I was aware of how much Birmingham had benefitted from the EU funding as had other parts of the country”.
So, what next? There will be no immediate change on the ground. A long period of negotiation lies ahead. We will remain a member of the EU until we leave it. The EU laws and policies that we implement will continue to apply until they cease to have effect. For better, or for worse, only time will tell whether our historic decision to leave the EU was a good one, or not.
