Printable version of thread

Posted by: Common Sense 26th October 2016, 09:40 AM

These are actual reasons people gave, all taken from Net forums, Twitter, Facebook, callers to radio stations etc. Compiled by someone on DS. Some are funny.


1. “Because of all the EU laws that we have no say in.”
“Name one.”
“There’s loads. Too many to list.”
“Name one.”
“…” (Caller to LBC radio station)

2. “As a protest vote.”

3. “Because I want it to be a close result.”

4. “It [Sunderland] already is [a giant jobcentre]. That’s why I voted Leave, to put everyone else in the shit like us.” (Twitter)

5. “To stick it to the toffs.”

6. “To give Cameron a bloody nose.” (Express website)

7. “To give Cameron a better negotiating position.”

8. “Because the EU closed the coalmines.” [The EU had nothing to do with the closing of the coalmines.]

9. “Because I thought we had been in long enough.”

10. “Because I had the hump.”

11. “Because now our lads will get out of prison, ‘cos there will be jobs for them.”

12. “The main reason I voted out was because the EU parliament aren’t elected representatives. The second is, they pass laws that affect us, but we aren’t given a say. Third, we need to sort our own house out” (Joanne, Facebook, giving exactly the same – factually wrong – reason in three different ways)

13. “Because I felt uncomfortable when a group of brown people got on the bus the other day.”

14. “Because the EU made them change Marathons to Snickers.” [That was Mars’s decision, not the EU’s.]

15. “Because they banned our bendy bananas.” (Express website) [The EU introduced a law stipulating that bananas should be given different classifications depending on their curvature. No fruit was ever banned, just classified differently.]

16. “Because fishermen now won’t have to throw fish back in the water and Muslim women will no longer be told by their husbands not to wear make-up” (caller to LBC)

17. “Because I’ve lived here all my life and when I was growing up, that street over there was filled with shops” (TV documentary)

18. “To stop the Muslims immigrating here.” [Migration is unrestricted within the EU. But individual nations are responsible for setting their own limits on immigration from non-EU countries, such as those where the majority of citizens are Muslims. Leaving the EU will have no effect on the number of Muslims coming to the UK.]

19. “Because I want our old lightbulbs back!” [The EU has placed restrictions on the sale of old-style incandescent light bulbs in a bid to reduce energy wastage and slow global warming.]

20. “Because vaccines should not be mandatory.” [The EU has never passed any law making vaccination mandatory, even though vaccination is widely regarded as being a pretty good idea. Some European countries have done so of their own volition.]

21. “Because the Queen said.” (Pro-Brexit Facebook group)

22. “Because we should not be signing up to TTIP.” [TTIP is a trade deal between EU and America, which the EU has just put on hold. After the UK leaves the EU, most commentators believe it will sign up to a similar deal with the US, probably with fewer checks and balances.]

23. “Because we are like Germany, and Germany isn’t in the EU.” [Germany was a founding member of the EU.]

24. “Because the country is full.”

25. “To annoy my wife.”

26. “It will be an adventure!”

Posted by: Common Sense 26th October 2016, 09:44 AM

A few more.

27. “Because the value of the euro is going to go down.” [Even if it were true, this would not have a marked effect on the UK’s economy. Since the vote, sterling is down 18% against the dollar and 15% against the euro.]

28. “So that I can get cheap photovoltaic panels from China.”

29. “Because otherwise, 7 million Turks will come over here.” (LBC caller) [Turkey would never have been able to join the EU so long as Britain used its veto.]

30. “Because I am fed up with being ruled by unelected bureaucrats.” [The EU parliament is directly elected in regular European elections. The European commission –basically the civil service – recruits its own members.]

31. “Because I didn’t want my sons to have to join a European army.” [The EU would never have formed an army so long as Britain exercised its veto. Even if it did, conscription would be a political and practical impossibility.]

32. “Because there’s too many Pakistan people in Glasgow.” [EU membership has no bearing whatsoever on immigration from outside the EU.]

33. “Because it takes more than 5 litres of water to flush my shit away.”

34. “Because EU taxes are making our petrol more expensive than everywhere else in Europe.” [No, those would be taxes imposed by the UK’s government. The EU plays no part in setting national tax rates.]

35. “To send them women in the headscarves back home. One of them stole my mother’s purse.”

36. “Because I don’t like what the EU is doing to Africa.”

37. “Because I’m scared of black people. They’re so physical.”
38. “I don’t want to send money to Greece. I don’t care about Greece.”
39. Just for a laugh.
“Because the roads in Oxfordshire are full of potholes.” [Technically, such matters fall within the local council’s purview.]

“Because the EU is anti-semitic.”
"So we can go back to how we were in the 50's"
“Because they sold off the water, gas and electricity.” [Once again, that would be the work of the UK government, not the EU.]

“Because I couldn’t decide, and my boyfriend voted Remain.”
“Because schools are no longer allowed to hold nativity plays in case they offend Moslems.”

“Because the EU spent £13m on art last year.”

“Because they never vote for us in Eurovision.”

“Because if we stop all the immigrants using the NHS, it will work properly again.”

Posted by: popchartfreak 26th October 2016, 09:57 AM

certainly fits in with the sort of comments Ive heard

One a family member said:

I don't care how much it costs I hate the EU.

Currently, with the exchange rate plummet, it's personally cost me around £100 on holidays, and about £2 a week on petrol. What they SHOULD have said was "I don't care how much it costs YOU...."

I want my money back.

PS we still havent yet left, tip of the iceberg.

Posted by: Silas 26th October 2016, 09:58 AM

HALF OF THESE YOU HAVE COME OUT WITH YOU DIPSHIT

Posted by: Common Sense 26th October 2016, 10:02 AM

Don't be daft. I've only ever said a couple of those. Some are funny though "It'll be an adventure" LOL.

Posted by: Silas 26th October 2016, 10:13 AM

None of these are funny. They're all a complete and utter disgrace and anyone who has uttered anything like any of these should fire themselves into the sun immediately.

If we're going around starting lists the one we need is a list of dipshits who spouted this bullshit so I can sue them for damages when the economy goes into meltdown

Posted by: Dannoween 26th October 2016, 11:57 AM

It's a funny list until you realise that it's not satire but people are actually this clueless :/

Fortunately everyone in my family was sane enough to vote remain to my knowledge so I have no personal examples to share (well I did overhear someone at my school say she voted Leave 'for the lols')

Posted by: Oliver 26th October 2016, 12:11 PM

My parents are a couple of these, my mam in particular doesn't agree with EU regulations on appliances because "I'd rather have a powerful toaster that might explode than a weak ass toaster that is energy efficient".

Posted by: Jade-o-Lantern 26th October 2016, 03:18 PM

What the actual f*** have I just read So many morons.

Posted by: Toby G 26th October 2016, 03:20 PM

WHY IS YOUR USERNAME COMMON SENSE

Posted by: Common Sense 26th October 2016, 03:24 PM

Why are you shouting and what has that has that got to do with the thread topic?

Posted by: Blurbe Witch 26th October 2016, 03:29 PM

Jeez. That list I expected some, but some of those are seriously awful. It's scary to think there's people who think like that in this country!

Posted by: Taylor Jago 26th October 2016, 06:36 PM

All of these are either nonsense, stupid, have nothing to do with the EU, or all of the above. A load of thick morons.

Take the nativity plays for example. In France, a man named Jules Ferry had the fantastic idea in 1881 of making school secular (meaning no one is allowed to demonstrate their religion), free and compulsory from the ages of 6 to 13 (later extended to 14, then to 16). This is why in France, nativity plays have not been a thing for a very long time, and that law is one of the reasons I can say that the French school system is infinitely better than the British one.

"Because fishermen won't have to throw fish back in the water". There's a good reason why they have to: because otherwise they will deplete the stock of fish in the water, and eventually they will have completely emptied the water of fish.

"Because now our lads will get out of prison, 'cos there'll be jobs for them" What are you on? If your lads are in prison, it's not because they're unemployed, it's because they've committed a crime, you f***ing moron!

"Because I don't want my sons to join an EU army" Joining an army is not compulsory, you know. People such as myself who don't want to join the army are not obliged to do so. We don't even have military service anymore.

"Because the country is full" Bullshit. Our population density is of 268 inhabitants per square kilometer. Malta's population density is over 5 times that. Do they claim to be full. No they don't. Because they're not. The city of Manila is full. If we lived as densely as in Manila's metropolitan area, we'd fit 510 million, or the EU's population, into our borders.

Posted by: Umi 26th October 2016, 07:58 PM

This is just... what. "I wasn't informed enough to make a decision so I decided to make my boyfriend's vote meaningless".

Posted by: Brett-Butler 26th October 2016, 09:51 PM

Well, that's democracy for you. The vote of someone who's spent weeks painstakingly researching the ins and outs of the European Union before voting remain based on the long-term economic uncertainty that an exit vote would lead to is exactly equal to the vote from someone who voted Remain because one of its proponents looked like Sandi Toksvig.

Posted by: Dannoween 26th October 2016, 09:58 PM

makes you think... they really shouldn't have let the public decide whether to stay or leave the EU, the public can't be bothered to do any research and be trusted to make good decisions.

THANKS OBAMA [/sarcasm]

Posted by: Suedehead2 26th October 2016, 10:00 PM

You have to hope that some of the people giving those reasons were joking. However, I'm sure a lot of people voted for the ridiculous reasons they gave.

That's why we have a representative democracy. We leave the most important decisions to people who are paid to weigh up the arguments and reach a considered conclusion. We assume that they will be reasonably consistent and that they would give the same answer if asked the same question a week later. We all complain about politicians, but most of them take their job seriously. We may not agree with their conclusions, but we have to accept that they are sincere on matters of such massive importance.

We should, of course, accept that some Remain voters will also have had ridiculous reasons for voting the way they did.

Posted by: Zombré 26th October 2016, 10:21 PM

Beginning to wonder if you're aware of what country you live in between this and the 'African-American' post

I know it was a joke. x

Posted by: *Tim 27th October 2016, 09:06 AM

A mess. Is the UK filled with Vidcappers?

Posted by: T Boy 27th October 2016, 12:05 PM

It's become an increasingly depressing place to live.

Posted by: Dannoween 27th October 2016, 12:26 PM

At least 52% of them.

Posted by: Fangdrew 27th October 2016, 10:16 PM

I voted Remain but you can't say every Leave voter in the country has attitudes like Vidcapper

Posted by: Common Sense 6th November 2016, 05:10 PM

Sorry for bumping this but my wife's just admitted why she voted out too. She says it takes her longer to get home on the A406 in London compared to a few years ago as there's always traffic congestion and an accident just makes it gridlocked. Took her 4 hours on Thursday evening for a journey that she does in an hour most mornings! Her employers told her there are more cars on the road illegally driven by immigrants and when less come here the roads won't be as congested.

Posted by: Silas 6th November 2016, 05:15 PM

That has to be the most f***ing ridiculous reason I've seen yet.

f***ing jesus wept.


What the f*** does the EU have to do with traffic congestion???? It's the biggest city in Europe, of course it's going to be f***ing congested.


How do you illegally drive as an immigrant because EU drivers licenses are perfectly valid in all memberstates. Unless they mean non-EU migration which, no surprise, is NOT CONTROLLED BY THE EU. If they mean the cars themselves aren't roadworthy then once more this isn't the EUs fault and should have been stopped at the border which actually does exist, unless you believe everything the mail tells you.

Honestly shit like this makes me think dictatorships might actually be the best form of government as people are clearly too f***ing stupid to be trusted with anything.

Posted by: princess_lotita 6th November 2016, 05:16 PM

this is one of the most offensive posts I've ever seen

Posted by: Common Sense 6th November 2016, 05:19 PM

How is it offensive? Even I've noticed the increase in traffic in the past few years. It's horrendous some evenings coming around the A406. There must be more cars on the road than there ever were in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Try driving in Central London sometime.

Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! 6th November 2016, 05:19 PM

Oh. My. God.

Also illegally driven how?!



Oh wow.

Posted by: Jack 6th November 2016, 05:20 PM

Your wife is a moron. At least you suit each other.

Posted by: Common Sense 6th November 2016, 05:23 PM

I think they must mean they buy a cheap 500 quid car when they get here and just drive it without passing a test. I don't know. Judging by how some people drive around here I'm surprised there aren't far more accidents.

Posted by: princess_lotita 6th November 2016, 05:34 PM

Yeah I've also noticed an increase in traffic. Maybe if you took your eyes off the daily mail and looked at real research you would realise there's a lot of different social reasons for the increase in traffic, such as a rising population. How bloody thick do you have to be to think it's illegal immigrants causing this problem?!

Why would I drive in central London when I can take public transport

Posted by: ¡Michael Myers! 6th November 2016, 05:35 PM

Posted by: Common Sense 6th November 2016, 05:36 PM

Did I say I thought that? I don't and doubt that the mrs. did until her rich multi-millionaire employers put it in her head.

Oh and I don't read the Daily Mail. It's crap. I prefer The Sun.

Posted by: Silas 6th November 2016, 05:38 PM

Yeah because the sun is soooooo much less racist, xenophobic, homophobic and downright awful.

Posted by: Danvember 6th November 2016, 05:40 PM

my old school form-tutor also blamed an increase in traffic on the way to work on the immigranrs so sadly it seems to be a commonly held opinion.

Posted by: Silas 6th November 2016, 05:43 PM

Yes the traffic problems on the Mancunian Way are because of the EU.


Not because so many people insist on driving into the city centre everyday instead of taking public transport. Nope. Defo immigrants. Nothing to do with office workers in 9-5 jobs. Nope. Nothing to see here people. Nothing to do with native brits at all. Defo Immigrants.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 6th November 2016, 05:57 PM

Traffic increase seems to be an inevitable consequence of our increasingly individualist and lazy society (let's drive to work as 1 person without car sharing, let's drive to the shop less than a mile away that I could easily walk etc etc). I don't own a car so I am obviously taking a massive moral superiority point on this, but I strongly suspect that leaving the EU won't have any impact on it whatsoever, and if most people engaged their brains for one second they'd probably hit the same conclusion.

Posted by: Toby G 6th November 2016, 06:00 PM

Posted by: *Tim 6th November 2016, 06:07 PM

Omg i feel so sorry for the UK (not that these thoughts are uncommon around here but omg). Did the government not warn ppl about the dangers of drinking alcohol and doing drugs during pregnancies or somethig?

Posted by: T Boy 6th November 2016, 07:15 PM

You may as well say that you voted out because last Winter there was too much rain and it wasnt like that before all the immigrants came.

What the f***?

Posted by: dandy* 6th November 2016, 07:19 PM

Ha! You are so trolling right now!

I'm sure last time you said your wife's rich employers were insisting the she voted remain or they would have to leave the country and she would lose her job, no?

Posted by: Doctor Blind 6th November 2016, 07:20 PM

I suppose the ultimate irony is that Chris’ wife Nita is originally form the Philippines, and thus by migrating over here to the UK she has actually caused slightly more traffic HERSELF by insisting on driving on the A406.

Posted by: T Boy 6th November 2016, 07:22 PM

Tbh, I've always wondered how Chris came to be married but if all this is true, I can sort of see why.

Posted by: Taylor Jago 6th November 2016, 07:23 PM

How on earth is the EU for traffic congestion? These reasons for voting Leave seem to only get more and more stupid. Use the Underground when you're in London, or public transport when you're in a large city. Or walk!

It's not often that I agree with Noel Gallagher, but I think his assertion that the British public are "thick as pig shit" isn't totally wrong.

Yes, because we should obtain driving licences in every country we'll ever drive in. That'll be a right waste of time for someone who, I don't know, may live in Belgium and work in Lille. And for people who prefer to drive to go on holiday if it's less than a 12 hour drive to get there, but pass through multiple countries. And as for the ridiculous notion that foreigners are somehow worse drivers than British people, they drive just as well. And cars which cost £500 are perfectly good and safe cars, whose only fault is that they're not brand new. They can be safely driven, and if they can't, they'll be put off the road at their next vehicle inspection.

Posted by: Snake In The Sno 6th November 2016, 07:25 PM

Basing a Leave vote on one most likely, pipe dream, statement by someone is perhaps not the wisest.

Just because someone says something doesn't mean it is true, what evidence did the employer have?

Posted by: dandy* 6th November 2016, 07:32 PM

Out of interest, where does she work Chris?

Posted by: Doctor Blind 6th November 2016, 07:34 PM

The Department of Transport.

Posted by: JSG 6th November 2016, 08:24 PM

Did it occur to you or your wife that the population of London has obviously increased in the last five years? The population of the whole of London itself increased by 1 million people between 2001 and 2011 and probably another 500,000 since then. Of course it will be congested.

Posted by: mr_pmt 6th November 2016, 08:40 PM

Some woman I know (I say know, it's more a friend of a friend type thing) posted on Facebook that she was on drugs at the time she voted and chose leave "by accident". Suffice to say she got rightlfully slaughtered for that.

Posted by: Common Sense 6th November 2016, 10:04 PM

She's a nanny/housekeeper for a very rich family.

Posted by: ʟɪɴᴅsᴇ 6th November 2016, 10:30 PM

wow

Posted by: Conderella 6th November 2016, 10:40 PM

I really really do not understand how the f*** any immigrants could have voted for it. Absolutely appalling and stupid.

And there was me hoping that Nita was better than Crazy Chris

Posted by: Doctor Blind 6th November 2016, 10:41 PM

Well she did marry Chris, so we already know her judgement is PISS POOR.