BREXSHIT

I have always tried to stay away from politics as I found it incredibly negative. As much as I deeply care about what is going on in the world (particularly in Iran 🕊) I am a positive person and like to live a happy life. I also believe that politics has caused much (if not all) of the problems in the world. If I do write about politics (which I hope to do more of) I will always share the issues but with a more hopeful and optimistic air, because that is just the sort of person I am 😊. So without further ado, onto my first political post, and it is about (surprise, surprise) Brexit. The most talked about and written about political story of the past three years that shows now signs of going anywhere...

It all started with then Prime Minister David Cameron calling a Referendum, something he pledged to do in his campaign manifesto if he became PM. The Conservative campaigned tirelessly on the remain camp whilst Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage fought ferociously to leave. After a tense battle lasting four months, Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar voted to leave the European Union on 23rd June 2016 by a margin of 1,269,501 votes. The map below shows just how incredibly close fought the contest was with the majority of West and East Midlands as well as Wales (not Cardiff) voting in favour of Brexit, and an overwhelming majority in Scotland, Northern Ireland and cities such as Manchester, Bristol, Brighton and London voting to stay...

So why did the Midlands and much of Wales vote to leave the EU? I believe it comes down to two overarching factors: the notion of being 'forgotten about' and immigration. The Midlands are on the outskirts of Southern England and consist of many run-down and poverty-stricken towns and cities. London and its surrounding areas are seen as the resilient and vibrant parts, whereas no one really visits or talks about these places... The Midlanders also believe that foreigners, particularly the Polish, are taking their jobs from them... The issue here is that England is an island that does not produce much so being a member of the EEC would be I imagine be economically beneficial in terms of trade. There are also some other advantages to being part of the 28 member state such as the freedom of movement, the ability to drive hassle-free, no roaming charges and national security. I voted to stay in the European Union because I believe that together we are stronger. I also have friends who live in other European cities and I would love for them to come stay and work without any restrictions...

Fast forward three years, and Britain is in a Brexit pickle, to say the least. Prime Minister Theresa May has failed to get her Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament and the Cabinet remains incredibly divided. The Tory has been granted two extensions on the 29th March exit date by President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker but has still not managed to get her party, let alone Labour, on board. Even talks with the opposition could not save her from eventual disaster and after much pressure from her party, the second-ever female Prime Minister announced that on 7th June 2019 she will be stepping down as leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party in the best interests of the country she loves with a long and teary speech outside Number 10...

Now the battle for her successor has started. In the ring are former Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Micheal Gove, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Secretary of State for International Development Rory Stewart (Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is out of the running). Britain's Next Prime Minister on BBC 1 featured all the candidates with questions and answers on Brexit, climate change, help for the poorest in society, Sadiq Khan and Iran...

Elsewhere, Evening Standard covers were fully focused on the final five with stories about Micheal Gove's cocaine confession, Sajid Javid's vow to introduce a more business-friendly immigration system, Rory Stewart hitting out at his rivals' £84 billion tax cuts and an apparent 'boost for Boris' with a straw poll suggesting he already commands more than half the Cabinet. In an article inside, the front runner has the backing of Brexit Minister James Cleverly who describes Johnson as 'a maverick with a proven record and the optimism we need'. The London newspaper's June 12 cover captures his signature messy mane alongside an impassioned speech to the people of Great Britain: 'I want now to do for the whole country what we did in London: releasing the creative energies of our country and its peoples, and healing its divisions.' 

Whoever our next Prime Minster is, I hope he can find a way to truly unite this country and bring a long overdue end to Brexshit, as well as help do the right thing by Nazanin and the people of Iran 🕊