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June 23, 2016

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Yes or no? The crucial vote on Britain’s membership in EU set to begin

EDITOR’S Note

A referendum to decide whether Britain leaves or remains in the European Union takes place today, and the issue has been an emotive one for voters.

The Remain camp argues that Britain would suffer economically if it abandons the trading privileges of the 28-member EU bloc. The Leave camp says Britain is being held back by excessive EU bureaucracy and that it isn’t getting a good return for the billions of pounds it pays for membership.

Polls leading up the referendum have shown the public pretty evenly divided on the issue. Polling booths close at 5am tomorrow in Shanghai.

Shanghai Daily spoke to several British expats to see what they think about the vote.

 

Bobby Male

Skateboard coach, 28

I’ll be voting to stay in. For me, it’s a selfish reason because I like being a European citizen. I like the fact that I can go and live anywhere I want in Europe and can get all the support I need as I would in my own country. England has such terrible weather. So when I leave China, I don’t really want to go back to live in England. I would rather live somewhere nice in Europe. I want to keep my “European” citizenship.

 

Ian Johnson

Finance director, 50

If I were voting, I would probably vote for the UK to stay in the EU, though I have got reservations. Being in the EU, there are a lot of regulations that don’t help business. I think it’s important that the UK’s voice is heard in Europe. The UK helps the EU to be stronger and more sensible in decision-making. I’m not worried about the economy. I think the EU needs us more than we need it. I’d be worried about what might happen to the EU if we were not in it.

 

Rose Oliver

Teacher, 52

I would probably vote to leave. We’ve been part of the EU for a very considerable period of time, and to be honest, it hasn’t brought huge benefits to local citizens of the UK. So it’s time to see what would happen if we did withdraw. For a lot of people, the biggest issue is the economic implications, and nobody can know them until we withdraw.

 

George Wyndham

Advertising, 32

I’m very much pro remaining in the European Union. I do think the EU is not an ideal system at the moment and Britain’s interests need to be better represented in Brussels. But leaving the EU would not be beneficial for the UK or Europe in the long run. It would also be hypocritical of the UK to leave two years after we tried very hard to persuade Scotland to stay in the United Kingdom. We should be pro unity rather than pro leaving.

Having living in Shanghai for seven years and having being part of an international community here, I have friends from all over the world. And I feel a great sense of unity with people from Europe much more now that I live abroad. Living in a very international community like Shanghai makes me feel more European and gives me a sense of the international community that I think the EU represents.

 

Matthew Walsh

Public relations, 26

Although there are obviously arguments for and against each side, I think as a whole, Britain remains much stronger economically, politically and militarily as a part of the EU. The inevitable fact is that the individual status of the UK and many of the other EU powers is continuing to decline. If these countries want to maintain competitiveness against larger and emerging economies, then the only real way for them to do so is to pool their resources together. I’m also wary of an increasing level of nationalism that is sweeping the world – something I’m very much opposed to – and maintaining closer ties with other nations is one way of ensuring this doesn’t escalate out of hand.

 

Andrew Howard

Teacher, 48

People like me are in a fascinating position because we’ve also kind of decided to not actually live in England. A simplified way of my thinking about the problem is what my head says and what my heart says. And my head, if I’m thinking about money, the global picture and the world in terms of influence, says that Britain is better as part of a united Europe. And we have more influence in decision-making if we are part of a team. But then, my heart says that we are told so much about how bureaucrats in Europe are taking our money and using it for all kinds of schemes that don’t benefit the British people. And people like me are very conscious of it. We’ve always prided ourselves on being an island and being independent. So emotionally, we don’t perhaps feel as much a part of Europe as say countries like France, Germany, Austria and the rest.

 

Leoni Parkinson

Kindergarten teacher

I want Britain to stay in the European Union. Staying in the EU is more advantageous for Britain economically, but the results of Britain’s leaving EU are not predictable. I have seen various articles online encouraging Britain to leave the EU, but people have to admit that it is not advantageous with the decreasing value of bonds. Staying in the EU means Britain can work things out along with other countries and that is better for Britain.




 

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