Yes, the Brexit is about immigration
Brexit was in large part driven by an anti-immigration backlash, but exactly what kind of immigration was in the firing line?
Not just the migrants who have been in our headlines for the last year, the flow of refugees moving out of Syria and the Middle East and crossing in boats and trucks to Europe.
The target for this hardened stance on immigration was Europe itself: in particular, Eastern Europeans from countries like Poland, who have been moving to Britain in large numbers over the past decade or so.
@BBCNews @jeremycorbyn If you want Mass Immigration & EU Migrant filled UK Social Housing then vote to stay in the EU, or vote #Brexit
— Turfline/Trading (@Turfline) June 15, 2016
In 2004, 10 new countries joined an expanded European Union, including Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. Migration Watch UK calls this a “watershed moment” for European migration because it opened up the U.K. — and its labor market — to the citizens of these countries.
Then in 2007, Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU as expansion continued, and people from these countries made their way to the U.K. as well.
Using their right to freedom of movement within the EU, many from Eastern Europe came to Britain in search of better jobs and wages. During these years, the phenomenon of the “Polish plumber” came about, as many hired Polish tradesmen to fix up houses and paint apartments — keeping wages low, some argued, for other workers.
@George_Osborne . No one believes a word you say . No answers to record immigration and no answers to restoring our sovereignty. #brexit
— Mark Butterworth (@ButterworthsCA) June 15, 2016
In recent years, Britain has also seen the arrival of many from Southern Europe. As countries like Spain and Portugal were hard hit by recession in 2008, more people, and especially young people from these countries, moved to the U.K. to look for work.
But immigration also became fodder for right-of-center tabloid newspapers to attack what they say is mass immigration from the EU. It became an increasingly polarizing debate as many Brits wanted the government to put stronger curbs or limits on immigration to keep control of the numbers allowed into the country.
Cameron and Osborne clueless about working class areas I hail from being decimated by uncontrolled immigration. #Brexit
— David Kavanagh (@DramBooks) June 15, 2016
Between 2003 and 2015, there was an increase of almost 2 million people living in the U.K. who were born in other EU countries.
It would seem that simmering resentment against mass immigration from Europe has now expressed itself vociferously at the ballot box.
My single most reason for wanting to get out of EU is IMMIGRATION. EU has ruined the face of Britain. It has to stop.
VOTE LEAVE
BREXIT
OUT— WHISTLINGGHOST (@Whistlingghost) June 15, 2016
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