As a young person living in Britain I am disgusted that I have been taken out of the EU against my will, particularly given the xenophobic, anti-intellectual nature of the “debate”. I’ve felt like a grey cloud has been hanging over me since the referendum result.
As a professional in the City of London however, I’m not concerned. English is the language of business and that won’t change. I am well-paid, career opportunities are plentiful, and they will continue to be whatever the outcome of this process.
Nor am I concerned about my eligibility to live and work here. In fact, my Irish passport is suddenly quite fashionable. Although not yet 100 per cent certain, it also seems likely that my European friends living and working in the UK when Brexit is finalised will be allowed to stay. In any case, most of us have lived here for five years so we can apply for citizenship if needs be.
My day-to-day life hasn’t changed since the referendum passed, and I don’t expect it will, for several years at least. Political buffoonery in both major parties will provide some entertainment in the meantime.
But maybe I’m being flippant. I live in London after all, and as the referendum showed we have a very different view of the world to the rest of the country. The direct effects on my life may be minimal, but is our society and our culture changing?
The most obvious development is the disturbing prevalence of racist attacks. For years Nigel Farage has rallied against the EU. He has blamed the Union for every societal malaise, but with immigration he finally hit Little England's twitching nerve. His rhetoric is increasingly boorish, and more disturbing than the attacks is his apparent indifference to the consequences of his xenophobic message. It is a faint echo of the worst moments in modern European history.
Meanwhile the economy will probably return to recession, and Sterling’s collapse will lead to inflation. The monetary authorities can do little about either. The government has no leader and the opposition is destroying itself. Is this what it’s like to live in a banana republic? Or Venezuela? Or Syria?
Of course not. We live in a prosperous capitalist democracy. We have rights and opportunities that are only memories to the Venezuelans and the Syrians. We have strong institutions, the rule of law, free and fair elections…
…and maybe that is why I feel so disgusted.
Only 36 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds and 58 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds voted. I live with four eligible voters but I was the only one who cast a ballot. The people who have been most disenfranchised by this referendum had the outcome in their hands, and they let it slip away.
Dermot Dorgan is an investment analyst from Dublin, working in London since 2011.
