Who will quit next? The Brexit soap opera continues.

For those of us watching the Brexit saga unfold, one thing has become clear:  the main Brexit campaigners are not only clueless. They are irresponsible. Instead of trying to solve the problems they created, all they do is abandon ship and thus continue to behave irresponsibly.

1) Calling the referendum was in itself irresponsible.

2) The campaign leading to the referendum was irresponsible and based on lies, scaremongering and racist claims.

3) Once the politicians realised that the damage was done (and more damage will be done once/if article 50 is triggered), they made the very irresponsible decision to quit.

Shortly after the final results became known, David Cameron resigned as PM and Tory leader. Then Boris Johnson announced that he would not take part in the Tory leadership race and thus would not become the new PM. This was followed by another shocking announcement, this time by Nigel Farage himself, of his resignation as UKIP (UK Independence Party) leader. Mr Farage said he wanted his life back, while the Remain voters want the EU back. I will not repeat the tweet by British singer Charlotte Church because it is rather rude, but you can look it up yourselves.
  
I was wrong  in my last post, however. Nigel Farage did not speak for the last time in the European Parliament. He still intends to "comment from time to time". Although he no longer wants to lead UKIP, Mr Farage will remain an MEP, or Member of the European Parliament, and of course keep his salary until the UK officially leaves the EU.  
Still, you never know, Nigel Farage may change his mind. He'd already announced his resignation in May 2015, only to backtrack a few days later. 

The three quitters have quite rightly been described as "rats fleeing a sinking ship" by a former Belgian Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, thousands of people marched through London last weekend to protest against the referendum decision to leave the EU. With the majority of young people in Britain extremely disappointed, if not devastated, by the results of the referendum, some EU countries are considering offering dual nationality to young British citizens living in Germany, Italy or France. However, that does not solve the problem for those remaining in Britain or those who are still too young to leave. Not to mention the EU nationals currently living, studying and/or working in the UK.

This week, a motion in the House of Commons calling on the government to guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK was passed, but it it is not binding. The UK government claims it would be a mistake to give guarantees to EU nationals in the UK without similar concessions for UK nationals living elsewhere in the EU.

And just in case you were wondering whether things might be improving in the business world, the Pound sterling this week fell to a new 31-year low against the dollar. 

Amongst all the uncertainty of recent weeks, clarity is emerging as to who will be the next British Prime Minister. It will be a woman and will either be Theresa May or Andrea Leadsom. 

Please join me again soon in "To Brexit or not to Brexit - that is the question". 

Brexit: disappointed Brits and other Europeans share their thoughts

Me, a British-Italian national, living in Germany
The more I read and the more I think about Brexit, the more worried and frightened I am about the future.

The results of the referendum were a huge shock for me and millions of others, but what I find just as shocking is the hatred that these results have fuelled. As well as the extremely worrying reports of racism in the UK in the wake of the leave vote, I am concerned about the angry statements of some my European (non-British) friends.
 Although leave won by 52% to 48%, millions of Brits wanted to remain in the EU. They voted Remain because they want to be part of the EU and cannot understand why the rest of the country wants to leave. Much has been said about Regrexit and some voters changing their minds (once they had witnessed the devastating effects on the economy, on the domestic political landscape and the lies that the leave campaign was based on, amongst other things). Some people have indicated that given a second chance they would vote differently. 

Unfortunately, the events of the past week have not shed a positive light on the UK and on British people, so I would like to share the views of some British friends and Europeans, who have made a home in the UK, who are shocked and upset about the results of the referendum. Just like me, they believed in the dream of a European Union.  

Carol, a British national, living in the UK

"So much of my life has been defined by the EU and the fact of the British presence within it. I spent time in an EU country while at university, under an EU programme. I did my PhD alongside EU students in a top UK university, which of course is partly funded by the EU both in direct (research) and indirect (paying students) terms. I lived and worked in the same EU country after my degree, which was easy because of my nationality. I worked with academics from all over the world and saw the competition for EU funding and the advantage that funding and collaboration brings to science.

The way that I think, the way that I am, has been defined by my life experience, and I'm not sure how to conceive of a UK outside of the EU. If you voted to leave, I'm sure you had your reasons; maybe you feel as strongly about it as I do. Please bear with me while I try to adjust to a new and unwelcome world view."

Sarah, a British national living in the US
"I identify as European as much as British and to have that taken away from me is like someone trying to take away a part of what makes me me. It’s a decision that hits right at the core of who we are personally and then on a bigger scale throughout the UK, Europe and the world."

Nadine, a German national living in the UK
"I came to the UK as an exchange student and over the past 12 years I have built myself a home, worked and partied hard, forged many friendships and did what I could for this country, by contributing to the economy, petitioning for my library and volunteering in a local park. But I was happy to do that because I felt one with this country.

When the Brexit result came in, I was actually in Berlin. Germany has now become my holiday destination and the UK my home. My first reaction was utter shock and disbelief. I had anticipated a tight outcome, but I always believed that good sense and decency would prevail. Many of the people who voted Leave have been used by a campaign which was a simple scramble for the top. The campaign was indecent because inciting xenophobia is always indecent, looking for a scapegoat is indecent and using people's fear to your own advantage is indecent.

Two days after the results, I went back to a changed country. I always felt that London was my home, England my adopted country and I felt welcomed here. I cherished the openness and friendliness of the people, their helpfulness and cheerfulness despite the weather. When I stepped off the plane at Gatwick and onto the train, for the first time I didn’t really feel at home any more. I somehow didn’t feel welcome. Worse, I actually felt betrayed. I also felt very sad, that Britain had not recognised the good of the EU and that immigration had been used on both sides, Leave and Remain, for their power struggle.

If Leave used lies and scare tactics to achieve their goal then the Remain side did not do enough to dispel those lies. Unfortunately, once you have sown the seed of xenophobia it is hard to rid yourself of it again. Yesterday while walking through a park and talking on the phone in German, for the first time I was conscious of the fact that I was speaking a different language and that somebody may tell me to go home – wherever that is now..."

Finally, if you haven't yet read this, here is the wonderful description of our European family by my brother Stefano.

I present you my very European family, from left to right:
Claudio my father Italian, lived all his life in sunny Palermo.
Michael my brother in law born in Germany, met my sister in France, lived and worked in London now lives in Berlin.

Leonardo my nephew, born and bred in Berlin, he is German Italian British, at the age of 4 speaks 3 languages, and is very fond of aeroplanes, fire engines and cruise ships.
Rachel my mother, born in Britain to British parents, moved to Italy in her 20s still there 40 odd years later.
Audrey my grandmother, British born, her daughter(Rachel) and her son(Nic) live in Italy, sister married a German man and as a result has two half German half British nieces.
Linda my sister, Born in Britain, grew up in Italy, went to university in Sheffield and France, moved to Germany, worked in London for years now lives in Berlin.
Me, born in Britain, grew up in Italy, went to uni in Italy, Australia for a term and Brighton, moved to London 10 years ago, work with USA and India, spend most of his time in the Netherlands.
Ellie Wrate my girlfriend, born and bred in Newcastle to a half Austrian father, went to university in Scotland and Italy, lived in France and Australia, lives in London.
Behind the camera is Jem my uncle, born in England, has lived most of his adult life in Scotland, spends most of his free time in Germany.
This is what the European Union looks like not a divided continent based on false accusations and made up numbers, it is idea that our grandfather spawned from the ashes of a war torn continent that dreamt about a peaceful future where people could be free and live in harmony.
Don't listen to hate fuelled xenophobes, vote remain and ask your government for reform!

 
This is the European Union. Let's keep the dream alive. Let's make our voices heard and fight for the UK to remain in the EU.