Roaming Brit
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets

From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

Picture

On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions have to be made. Illness, family bonds and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in a life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

Picture

Brexit - Confused? So Am I!

21/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Yesterday four former Conservative cabinet ministers urged Theresa May and her government to walk away from EU negotiations, without a trade deal. Nigel Lawson, John Redwood, Peter Lilley and Owen Paterson, signed a letter expressing their controversial opinion, as talks between the UK and EU reached deadlock, a word used all too often to describe Britain's exit negotiations from the EU.

​I am like most people, confused about this whole Brexit process. Misinformation or 'fake news',  the popular phrase of the day; is becoming all too familiar. Whether one picks up a newspaper, or takes a look on the internet, the different views, stories and in many cases damn right lies are not only starting to become  tiresome, but also dangerous, as negotiations reach an important juncture. I was listening to an EU politician the other day, on the radio, a German Member of the European Parliament and was shocked at his scathing attack on the British establishment, because of an article written in the Daily Mail, as if this tabloid newspaper was the mouth piece of Theresa May! We are understanding less and less about the exit strategy, nearly a year after article 50 was triggered; that is a terrible indictment on a Government, who should have got to grips with its future direction and negotiating stance. If one is to believe the news, Theresa May is heading towards oblivion, her ship rudderless in stormy EU seas. I, like you have no idea, if this is a misrepresentation or akin to the truth.

As an Expat living in Spain, it is important for me and the community in which I live, to receive regular important updates, about our standing in Europe. The only information I have access to, is either internet based, take it with a pinch of salt, fact of fiction, or the daily newspapers in my local Spanish Tobacconist. I have to prepare for any eventuality, just like those EU citizens living in the UK. Although my life is here, I am conscious that may not last forever, especially as both sides of these intense negotiations use us and our vulnerabilities as a cause for eventual settlement. I understand the difficulties and challenges involved in Brexit, but what I can't comprehend  is the 'fake news' that propagates day after day. Expats are anxious enough, without scaremongering from all sections of the British and it has to be said European press.

It's easy for a newspaper to write a story about Brexit, when it has no real information. In such circumstances, all sides of the argument should be published. Instead the slightest hint of a stumbling block yet to be overcome, is blown out of all proportion from a media, desperate for truth and legitimate data. When one has no firm facts and figures, one can come to ones own conclusions, based on the most dubious of material. In all honesty I don't blame the hungry press for the words they write, they can only use what details they have, even if the are sketchy, patchy and unsubstantiated. Hearsay, opinion and conjecture are being used, where there is nothing to replace it.

The government is of course exacerbating this very real problem. Rogue Members of Parliament are taking to their soap boxes preaching their own Brexit agenda, writing open letters, criticising Europe, during a time where prudence is a must, openly preparing for life after May. Infighting is causing real trouble for the Prime minister. In order to put a lid on rumour and speculation, one must start furnishing the British and European public with the truth. Theresa remains tight lipped because in reality she has nothing to say, nothing to reassure us about and a fractious party to keep together. It does feel at times, that her own survival is her most important priority. When one of her members of cabinet steps out of line, she is almost unable to challenge them, for fear of a leadership contest that could happen at anytime.

Britain is in a perilous position. We do not have a strong negotiating hand; the EU hold all the cards and remain resolute in punishing the UK, for its democratic decision to leave, its so called family of nations. It is therefore natural for Britain's government to react cautiously, make little or no information public and ignore rather than quash the myriad of disinformation, This was fine in the short term, but as the UK reaches the mid point of its dialogue with Europe, it needs to start being proactive, apprising the public and dispelling untruths. If a rebellious MP steps out of line, they should be dealt with immediately, so their mutterings don't rumble on. Finally kidology and deception in the press is a real problem, especially when like me, you live far away from the fray. Lets keep talking and chatting in the bars and squares of Europe, expressing our views firmly but lets wake up to the reality, that what we hear, see and read may not be what is actually happening. Politicians like newspaper editors have their own agenda, until there is finally cohesion in facts, we need to discount the propaganda from all sides of the argument and finally get a good nights sleep!

Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    51-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my adopted home of Perth, Western Australia.

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

    Submit
    Picture
    Click me & email for more information!
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Australia 2022/23
    Bettys-revenge
    Bipolar
    Bipolarcoaster
    Britain
    Bullying
    Business
    Cancer Research
    Cats
    Characters-i-have-known
    Charity
    Charlatan-or-confidant
    Christmas Thoughts
    Claybornes World
    Coming-out-stories
    Cooking
    Coronavirus
    Croatia 2022
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell In The Uk
    Death Of Queen Elizabeth
    Dunbars
    Easy Horse Care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating-facts
    Friends & Colleagues
    Gran Alacant
    Guest Bloggers
    Ibs
    Immigration
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    Lifestyle Break
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    London 2022
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Marmite Watch
    Memories Of Fareham
    Memories-of-home
    Memories-of-southampton
    Memories Of Spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam Sociopathy
    Penelope Wren
    Photographs-of-hope
    Platinum Jubilee
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Remembering Gran Alacant
    Reviewing Gran Alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short Stories From My Youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Teaching Jamie
    Thailand 2022
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Visits From Friends
    War In Europe
    Weight Loss & Health
    Year In Review 2015
    Year In Review 2016
    Year In Review 2017
    Year In Review 2018
    Year In Review 2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Year In Review 2021
    Year In Review 2022
    Zest

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by realtruthblog
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture


    Instagram
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    A place to call home
    Finally, a place we can call home.  A community of like minded individuals, who used to call Britain home.  Now Spain is our choice, an altogether gentler, happier, sunnier and safer experience!
            Luke Feb 16
    Picture
Picture
Picture

Telephone

+447999663360

Email

lukemartin.jones@gmail.com
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets