The Generation Blame

We can't really avoid the repercussions of the Referendum for one more weeks posts, because there has been much muttering and out right shouting by certain sections of our society, claiming that the Referendum result was somehow a betrayal by the 'Baby Boomers', perpetrated on the current younger generations X. That somehow the 'oldsters' ambushed the process, and pushed Britain (or at least the non Scottish part of it ~ and even there 2/5ths of those who voted, voted for Brexit. Which is something to mull over at a later date), out of the European Union.

The Generation Gap Has Led To The Generation Blame ...

Now I am happy to acknowledge that there was a large divergence between the voting in the referendum depending upon the age groups looked at. However this isn't actually something new ... in fact its not even linked to the 'Baby Boomers' generation.

Generation Brexit

One final thought on the EU referendum. I haven't heard any political commentator remark on the fact that its the generation who voted to stay in the EEC in 1975, who have turned against it and now lead the vote to leave. These voters are sneeringly portrayed by David Cameron and others as 'little englanders' now, but these were the same people who were the 'brave new Europeans' back in the day.

So why has no one has really questioned why, the generation who led us in to Europe, are so disillusioned by the whole experience and want to leave?

I know one thing that really grates with that generation of voters, and oddly it isn't necessarily mass EU immigration, although that's undoubtedly a big factor for many. No, its the downright lies we were told at the time.

In 1972 Edward Heath told us that the then Economic Union was only a common trade market:

“There are some in this country who fear that going into Europe we shall in some way sacrifice independence and sovereignty. These fears, I need hardly say, are completely unjustified."

A Sea Of Federalists To A Man, Signed The Treaty Of Rome