BOGNOR REGIS: Britain is a land divided, and there is nothing united about this United Kingdom. Opinion polls have support both the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ sides pretty evenly divided heading into Thursday’s referendum.
For all of the efforts to build closer European Union in the form of the European Union over the past 40 years, the dream is a nightmare in Britain.
Families are divided, with the referendum topic taboo around the kitchen table.
Pete, a Metropolitan Police sergeant in London supports Remain, his wife Julie, a social worker for the local school district, wants to ‘Leave’. Her father Alex, a widower and retired, also supports leave, while his other daughter, Ann, wants to ‘Remain’. One household, four votes, and two for each side.
A recent family gathering between the two sisters ended in tears, both desperately voicing opinions that cut deep and hurt. They’ve agreed not to talk referendum again.
For 15 hours tomorrow, these family disputes will be played out in school halls, churches, community centres and town halls up and down the length and breath of Britain. An estimated 45 million are entitled to vote between the hours of 7am and 10pm — and if queues still demand it, local polling officials have the discretion to extend the voting for a while. The longest day of the year has just been; the longest night is yet to come.
Turn on any television and the choice is either Euro 2016 and all the action from France and the 24 teams, or Referendum 2016 — and all the action about France and the other 27 nations that make up the EU.
Old and young
This town of Bognor Regis — like every other household, hamlet, village, town and city — is so divided. Here, the split is between old and young.
On its beach 90 minutes directly south from London, groups of surfers catch waves during the evening tide. All support ‘Remain’. And all are young, mostly under 35. They like the freedom of movement, the connectivity.
On the promenade and down to the Victorian pier and the rows of guesthouses, hotels, retirement apartments and old folks’ homes, mostly seniors take in the salt air. The dislike the EU, its immigration, and remember things were better before the UK joined.
In the 2015 general election, this constituency gave 22 per cent of its votes to the United Kingdom’s Independence Party (Ukip) and its anti-immigration leader, Nigel Farage.
In terms of wealth, the average income in Bognor Regis is £475 (Dh2,559) per week — £50 below the national UK average.
Professors of Political Science, like John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde, said that those with lower incomes are likely to support ‘Leave’. So too are seniors.
