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UK expats in USA shock horror at Brexit disaster
| Published: | 8 Jul at 6 PM |
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Although Brits living and working across the pond are unlikely to be directly affected by Britain’s leaving the EU, they’re shocked and horrified at the result and the chaos that’s followed.
Just hours after the announcement that the Leave campaign had won, bars, restaurants and pubs in New York saw gatherings of UK expats unable or unwilling to believe what had happened. In one such, the Cock and Bull British restaurant, talk of Brexit dominated lunchtime conversations between Wall Street workers and the owner of the restaurant, Kevin Hines.
Irishman Kevin told local media he’d met up with many Brits in New York on holiday and had been amazed at the number who’d said they’d vote Leave. As far as he and his wife are concerned, the referendum was a huge mistake which never should have happened.
Londoner David Bruder, working in New York for several years, simply couldn’t believe the shocking development, saying he’s in a state of emotional confusion over the outcome of the vote. Although he believes the rational outcome would have been a Remain vote, he felt a degree of jubilation over Britain’s freedom from the EU.
Across the rest of the country, Brits were in shell-shock after the news broke. Fort Lauderdale-based Brit Roy Yates said he was amazed at the result, adding that he didn’t feel any the less European. Miami public relations company owner Patricia Kawaja told reporters she’d screamed in horror as soon as she saw the result on TV, feeling even worse when the news of Cameron’s resignation broke.
Washington DC British lawyer Michael Freestone had designated his brother in England to vote Remain as his proxy and, as soon as he realised the Remain camp had lost, he signed the online petition calling for a second referendum. He believes leaving the EU will cause serious financial damage to Britain, pointing out the fall of sterling as an example.
It’s still unclear how many of the estimated 5.5 million British citizens resident overseas actually voted, as only 250,000 applied for registration in order to have their say. The USA is home to some 678,000 UK citizens, but the 15-year disenfranchisement law will have prevented a good number from voting.
Just hours after the announcement that the Leave campaign had won, bars, restaurants and pubs in New York saw gatherings of UK expats unable or unwilling to believe what had happened. In one such, the Cock and Bull British restaurant, talk of Brexit dominated lunchtime conversations between Wall Street workers and the owner of the restaurant, Kevin Hines.
Irishman Kevin told local media he’d met up with many Brits in New York on holiday and had been amazed at the number who’d said they’d vote Leave. As far as he and his wife are concerned, the referendum was a huge mistake which never should have happened.
Londoner David Bruder, working in New York for several years, simply couldn’t believe the shocking development, saying he’s in a state of emotional confusion over the outcome of the vote. Although he believes the rational outcome would have been a Remain vote, he felt a degree of jubilation over Britain’s freedom from the EU.
Across the rest of the country, Brits were in shell-shock after the news broke. Fort Lauderdale-based Brit Roy Yates said he was amazed at the result, adding that he didn’t feel any the less European. Miami public relations company owner Patricia Kawaja told reporters she’d screamed in horror as soon as she saw the result on TV, feeling even worse when the news of Cameron’s resignation broke.
Washington DC British lawyer Michael Freestone had designated his brother in England to vote Remain as his proxy and, as soon as he realised the Remain camp had lost, he signed the online petition calling for a second referendum. He believes leaving the EU will cause serious financial damage to Britain, pointing out the fall of sterling as an example.
It’s still unclear how many of the estimated 5.5 million British citizens resident overseas actually voted, as only 250,000 applied for registration in order to have their say. The USA is home to some 678,000 UK citizens, but the 15-year disenfranchisement law will have prevented a good number from voting.
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