Advanced Search

Share Coverage



Category: World Politics / Referendums / Business, Economics and Finance

Leave or Remain? Britons reveal their Brexit choices

Thursday, 23 Jun 2016 17:26:09 | Lisa Millar

Chelsea pensioners leave after being ushered into a polling station to cast their ballot papers in west London on June 23, 2016, as Britain holds a referendum to vote on whether to remain in, or to leave the European Union. (AFP: Leon Neal)

Britons are heading to the polls in a historic referendum to decide whether to leave the European Union.

We spoke to voters, to see whether they wanted to stay or to leave — and why.

Emma

Emma leaves the polls after voting in the Brexit referendum Photo: Emma leaves the polls after voting in the Brexit referendum. (ABC News: Lisa Millar)

"I think it's a vote for the head, not the heart," Emma said.

"I haven't seen a roadmap for anyone to convince me what the plan is.

"If I believe the money we'd save by leaving the EU would be ploughed back into the NHS, I might think again."

Chris

Chris heads to the polls to vote in the referendum Photo: Chris had not voted yet and was still unsure. (ABC News: Kate McCure)

"I'm still undecided, I haven't made up my mind yet," Chris said.

"The economy is important but so is the European model which I'm not very keen on.

"John Claude Juncker's comments yesterday, that things are not open to renegotiation after this, have made me a bit more inclined towards leaving, but I'm still thinking about it."

Hope, Charlene and Karen

Hope, Charlene and Karen Photo: Hope (L), Charlene and Karen (R) voted at Essendine in West London. (ABC News: Kate McCure)

Hope did not want to say which way she voted: "I ended up voting the opposite of how I wanted. Opinions are very strongly held, so I went against my better judgement. Everybody I know, including my family, was voting the other way — so I didn't want to be responsible for falling out. It was a very emotional decision."

Charlene: "I voted to remain. I didn't think they were strong enough reasons to leave the EU, and I think the Leave campaign has been bordering on racist."

Karen: "I voted remain. I'm a team player, I want to stay in the EU team."

Alexander

Alexander said he voted to remain in the Brexit referendum Photo: Alexander said he voted to remain. (ABC News: Kate McCure)

"I voted to remain in Europe," Alexander said.

"My family, my heritage is part Belgian so that makes me more inclined to support them.

"I think it's better for our economy I think it's better to be integrated into a globalised world."

Roger, Colin and Arthur

Roger, Colin and Arthur Photo: Roger (L), Colin and Arthur (R) on what they voted in the referendum. (ABC News: Kate McCure)

Roger: "Leave. The EU has become increasingly expensive and increasingly undemocratic, and I've been concerned for many years now."

Colin: "I voted to remain, I don't really have any fears about immigration or the economy, and I think basically we are better off together. For me that's it."

Arthur: "I'm French and I voted to remain, I think despite the arguments around immigration, for me, I think one of the founding reasons for the EU was to promote peace in Europe, and I think that's been successful. It's about making sure that continues."

Jennifer

Jennifer outside a polling station Photo: Jennifer said she voted to remain. (ABC News: Kate McCure)

"I'm voting to remain in the EU, I haven't had a compelling reason to leave.

"I thought the election campaign has been horrible; so many lies on both sides. It almost put me off voting."

AustraliaPlus


 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend