Short Term Pain, Long Term Gain

Voted leave. And of course I had to do it with a clothes peg on my nose. I fully accept the leave group was made up of cranks crackpots and never has beens, BUT, for me it was about bringing power back. Having control and influence over those decisions that affect our day to day lives. That meant taking power back from where it is (and shouldn't be) Westminster/Whitehall. Voting to leave the EU was (in the longer term) the way to do that because the impact of yesterday's vote will undoubtedly be the end of the UK - An idea whose time has long past. The idea that you can control a country of 70 million people from behind a desk in Westminster is ludicrous. Scotland has felt like a different country for a long time - different values, different ethics. They deserve their chance to make their own destiny. Wales is effectively the West of England unless there is a rugby match on and don't get me started on the bizarre construct that is 'Northern Ireland'. So England has to forge it's own destiny - Good - and in my view that means moving toward (ironically for the leavers) a federal system with real power and control in the regions. The political, economic, cultural, financial bias that is London and the South East can't continue to distort life in this country so, although things will be painful in the short term, I do think yesterday's decision will force people in the North of England to get up off their knees an demand greater control over their lives.

 

Good post. I didn't vote Leave, but I at least appreciate an informed explanation from someone who did, rather than "I've got my country back" or "get on with it, we've spoken" etc.

 

They are the people who will be running the country mate, I wouldn't take bets against Boris being PM before october.

 

More wishful thinking, it'll never happen mate.

 

One has to have hope, otherwise it all becomes pretty pointless. I think Northern folk will find it increasingly difficult to accept what is turning into ' 2 class status'.

 

Always been second class up North and, with the break up of the UK, it will only get worse as England will be Tory forever. The only option then would be a further devolution, the break up of England, do we really want an independent Yorkshire or a return to the ancient Kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria etc?