A most
interesting time was had on Monday morning last when three of us,
English women, met by invitation with the editor of a regional
newspaper called the Brugsch Handelsblad, in his Brugge office.
Brexit or not to Brexit was the basis for a discussion in English
incidentally reminding me again of the linguistic dexterity of the
Europeans. Stefan took down notes on what we said, presumably
translating later, unless, of course, he did instant translation as
he wrote! Whichever, impressive!After our conversation, Stefan took us for a photo-call in front of the College of Europe, displayed to the right.
We
didn't include a committed Brexiteer, all of us being fervently pro
Remain, but Patricia, a retired barrister, claimed she could argue
any case, and did! Our discussion lacked the anger and hostility of
the public debate in the UK though I couldn't help noticing that together we
were much better informed than most of the English to whom I have
spoken in the UK or who I have heard giving their opinions in Radio 4
interviews. I don't mean the interviews with current affairs people,
politicians, presenters, etc, who are well informed but some of whom choose
to be bigoted or outrageously exaggerated in their pronouncements,
but with ordinary people who claim not to have been given any facts
or who just parrot prejudice about immigrants. Incidentally, the
third member of our little group, works in the E.U. in Brussels and
is, refreshingly, under 30. She was/is stunningly well-informed on
Brexit, as is logical, but also heart-warming with so very many young
British people apparently disinterested in politics in general, and
E.U. membership in particular. 
part of a much larger whole, the uncertainty over this question has already affected markets. In my own tiny example, my monthly transfer from my English bank account is now worth 400 euros less than a year ago. If the UK leaves, the result will not bring certainty for a long time; civil servants on both sides of the Channel will have to search for the best ways to unpick over forty years of European Union legislation and decisions. And the pound sterling will weaken immediately. All those economic organisations' forecasts can't be wrong!
The day
of the UK poll, June 23rd, will see an evening labelled Eutopia hosting a discussion entitled To Brexit or Not To
Brexit take place in a Political Cafe in Brugge when six politicians
will consider the topic. Inkom gratis as they say! I may not go as my
Flemish is so tiny as to be useless in such a situation. But I am
impressed that the event is taking place. Increasingly polarised standpoints have been rehearsed on the BBC radio and TV, sadly paused for three days out of respect for Jo Cox, the super young Labour M.P. who was murdered last week by an ultra right-wing fanatic allegedly uttering cries of 'Britain first', or similar. A frightening development in, and debasement of, the European debate. It added to the irritation, indeed anger, I have increasingly felt towards David Cameron for calling a referendum in the first place. This has given the wholly predictable opportunity for an unnecessary dialogue of the deaf and unlimited space for xenophobia and uninformed jingoistic, isolationist claptrap to be provided. I am now going to lie down to recover from my vapours!Not so. In deepest gloom this Friday morning at the worst possible Brexit news. Just had angry email from oldest grandson including a graph showing that nearly 80% of youngsters up to 25 years of age voted Remain with the Leave red gradually overtaking the Remain blue as it progressed through the age range. So, a dreadful campaign in the UK and a result opting for the age-old solution of pulling up the drawbridge. After seeing several sessions on UK television I have idly wondered if the ferocity of the opposition to Remain, centred as that support is in London and the South East, doesn't also include quite strong anti-Establishment fervour. Wonder if Scotland might let me transfer my nationality to shelter under the tartan cloak?
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