In our day.
When I think of the state of the world, I see change. It’s a different world to that of a century ago, different to a decade ago, different even to a year ago. But whilst some sectors are allowed to progress, politics is stuck in nostalgia.
It’s a nostalgia of a distant past – a Britain that was better ‘in my day’ or in the days of empire, a Britain which was familiar and comfortable, despite two world wars, the three-day week and numerous economic depression. Yet we, as a majority, yearn after this rose-tinted past.
And why? Because it’s easier to remember and desire our past as a solution to all the problems facing the world – a pull up the drawbridge and help ‘our own’ first. However, doing what is easy isn’t doing what’s right.
It’s why I’m angry about Brexit. Those who have most at stake have been set off on a voyage upon a modern day Titanic – headed into the excited unknown. Though due to elitist politicians putting their own agenda before the true national interest, it feels doomed for catastrophe with those in control warning us about an iceberg a little too late.
The young, many who weren’t able to vote to remain or leave the European Union, have become the great unwashed. Their – our – opinions, heavily to remain in union with our closest neighbours and allies, have been discarded. It isn’t the first time politicians have rejected consensus of the youth and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
And those who will be least affected by any fallout from our exit currently retain their lucrative pensions, mortgage-free homes, free television license and subsidised winter allowance. This isn’t about us-versus-them, but it’s clear there is a huge generational divide.
Who therefore is Brexit for? It isn’t easy to simplify all the many nuances in the debate, but it’s clear that it wasn’t the young who got us into the mess, yet this generation, my generation, will pay the biggest price.
However, there is still hope. Theresa May mentioned this week three options in regards to her negotiations: the first was to accept her deal as the best that she was able to achieve – regardless of how meek it is rumoured to be; the second was to crash out of the EU with no deal whatsoever; the third – which coincidently is the first time May has mentioned it – is to remain in the EU.
Straight from the horses mouth, those who have the biggest price to pay as a result of David Cameron’s ill-conceived experiment to unify the Conservatives have a clear instruction that Brexit is not a done deal, that Brexit can be stopped.
So what should be the plan? How do we stop the decision to leave the EU?
In an ideal world, those with the most at stake should fight for election to parliament – only by sitting in authority can the viewpoints of our generation truly be heard and considered. Our representative democracy relies on trust in our elected politicians – but they have clearly failed the young. We can’t however force resignations, or hold a coup.
We can demand a referendum though, to pass the British public’s view on whatever deal Theresa May managed to negotiate. And should there be an election, we can vote beyond party politics, casting our ballots for whomever campaigns to reject Brexit. We can be a progressive movement so that the interests of the young and those set to lose most are kept at the heart of a future governments thinking.
In the meantime until either a second referendum or a general election is called, every young person needs to take personal responsibility to campaign to remain in the EU and stop Brexit, because if we don’t who will? It’s a heavy weight to have, but it lies solidly on our generation’s shoulders.
If you think the UK is better off in the European Union, then I’m afraid it’s up to you to pull your finger out and do some hard work. So join me, get out, knock on doors, donate cash to campaigns, talk to friends, tweet, inundate your MP with emails, and make the impassioned case for our futures.
This is not about political parties and pride – this is far greater than that, and as young people we will make those elected to represent us do their job so that in forty or fifty years, when we refer back to ‘in our day’ we can be proud of the difference we made to our countries future.