“The people voted to go. The MPs should have abstained or stepped down if they don’t want to be part of it.”
That was the view of Patricia from Belfast towards the MPs who opposed triggering article 50. She voted to remain in the EU at the referendum but would now opt to leave if the contest was re-run.
She was not the only person to have changed their mind since 23 June out of a group of voters asked by Britain Thinks for the Guardian to keep regular “Brexit diaries” of their responses to the UK’s process of leaving the European Union.
This week’s sample of 18 people was picked with equal numbers who voted in and out. Since the referendum, three remainers have turned into leavers and one leaver is now undecided.
The responses from diarists in Stoke-on-Trent, Belfast, Bradford, St Austell and Cardiff showed clear feelings of approval towards the passage of Theresa May’s Brexit bill.
This was the big diary topic of the week, with only two pro-EU Labour voters expressing sadness at watching the article 50 vote being passed and another worrying that it has not been thought through.
The majority of remainers seemed resigned to the process, believing that MPs should not interfere with the democratic decision of the people. “There is no way the MPs could have gone against the populist choice I’m afraid,” said one Labour remain voter in St Austell. “It would have had massive implications and caused uproar. Sad, but true!”
Meanwhile, leavers were relieved that the government is finally getting on with the job. Susan, a Ukip voter in Stoke-on-Trent – where Labour is battling to keep its seat in a crucial byelection, had positive things to say about May. “I believe that she is doing the best she can for the people who voted for Brexit. Her own parliament should help and support her and work as a team not as individuals.”
While both remainers and leavers thought the House of Commons was right to vote for Brexit, there was a small group sympathetic to MPs who did not want the UK to come out of the single market.
Caroline, a Labour voter in Stoke, thought MPs were right to vote against pulling out of the single market as it “will strip our future generations of travel opportunities, study and work across Europe”.
“I’m sure the millions of voters who voted leave didn’t expect this extreme version of Brexit,” she said.
But far more thought the MPs should swing behind May, including three erstwhile remain-supporting Conservatives, who now back leaving the EU. One of those, Lawrence in Bradford, said: “I respect that they voted according to their principles but it is a little worrying that after a referendum where the majority voted for Brexit there are still those who want to stop it.”
The diarists were also asked to analyse and give their response to Donald Trump’s ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, given some of the worries that drove the Brexit vote.
Most agreed with the aim of the policy, even if they had concerns about the way it was carried out. But there was a partial split along referendum vote lines, with all leavers endorsing the ban along with four remainers.
“I totally agree,” said one of the Conservative remain supporters from Cardiff. “There should be a ban, everyone needs to be able to prove that they are legitimate travellers and prove that they will not put other people in danger.”
Ian, a Ukip supporter in St Austell, was equally definitive, saying: “I agree, all countries should be doing it.” Sally, a Conservative voter in the same area, added: “I do agree. I applaud Trump for doing what he promised to do should he be elected. How unusual! For having the courage to do what he believes is right rather than cave in to the PC brigade.”
She felt sorry that “so many decent people will be affected by this ban but, as I understand it, the ban is on newcomers/visitors not those returning (such as in the press furore about Mo Farah) and I also feel that they should be willing to put up with it and understand it as part of the fight against global terrorism”.
Only two had an emotive reaction against Trump’s policy, with Tuyet, a Conservative voter in Bradford saying it was “disgusting”. A Labour voter in St Austell also thought it was wrong. “No! The United States started the war in Iraq, for example, how can they now stop people (including refugees) from entering the US! Also, the refugees coming from Syria are fleeing for their lives, how can Trump stop them from going to ‘his’ country!”
