‘Make it known how proud we are of migrants’ in the wake of the EU referendum
The vote is categorically not a reflection of people’s racism or intolerance
I AM an immigrant.
For this reason alone, I was unable to vote in the Referendum.
But had I been granted a vote, I would have voted Leave.
Without hesitation.
Having kept my ear to the ground during the campaign, I was pleased that effectively — and literally — everyone I spoke to said they were going to vote Leave.
However, I have been floored by the outpouring of venom and negativity since the outcome — with many referring to the “racist” vote to Leave.
The vote is categorically not a reflection of people’s racism or intolerance, it’s not an extremist take on the Britain of today.
What it is, is a vote of “no confidence” in the current state of politics and the over-bloated bureaucratic EU which has outgrown its usefulness.
I do not get the sense that the people of this amazing country are fed up with the hardworking, skilled workers who have come from other parts of Europe.
I don’t think Brits are angered by the presence of the lower-skilled workers who do the jobs they themselves don’t want.
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This is not racism.
We had plenty of that during Blair’s era — with the ugliness of the BNP and all that was allowed to fester from that.
Remember the riots up North 15 or so years ago? I do.
Britain is proud of its migrant workforce.
And now more than ever we must remind them with a voice louder than the hate-filled racists who do not speak in our name.
Britain will continue to be inclusive.
Leaving the EU will just make it stronger.
But the UK has finite space, unlike Sweden, where I come from.
Those who claim we are racist for attempting to claw back some sovereignty over diktats from an undemocratic EU may never have had an issue finding housing or even a school place for their child (which I have experience of).
It’s an affront to every fibre of my being to be referred to as racist.
Being racist is just marginally worse than being proud to be British — or English — apparently.
As soon as anyone as much as waves a St George’s Cross, you’re seen as racist in this country.
There is nothing wrong with feeling proud to be a Brit.
Or an Englishman.
It doesn’t even make us less European.
It’s about time the Remain side stopped denigrating the electorate for having the courage of definitive opinion and start accepting that immigration was far from the only issue on the table.