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I'm from Ebbw Vale and the result of the vote has left me to feel embarrassed to be Welsh.
Many people I have spoken to since the vote could only give xenophobic reasons or wanted to punish the "elite" for the state of the economy or to get our country back.
If this was a protest vote they have only damaged themselves and the future of the Valleys.
Over the last 20 years it has been EU funding that has provided the infrastructure changes that the Valleys needed and help with the clean-up of the Valley following the mining industry collapse. Drive around the valleys now and there is no sign of the blackened landscape that the legacy of mining. This would not have happened without objective one funding from Europe. No Tory government would have spent money on the Valleys as they are a lost cause to them.
By leaving we have cut off the main source of funding that was not reliant on political positioning. The EU funding is based on need, not how the area voted in the last election. For those who say it was own money, I will point out that Wales receives £70 per head above what the county contributes.
We have now lost our protection from extreme governments of the left or right, which Europe provided. There are 40 years’ worth of laws that now are up for shredding. The next government can cherry pick which laws they would want to change. They will keep the ones which suit them and rewrite the ones which they don’t like. Expect changes to employment laws that would benefit corporations rather than employees. Laws that protect us from being overworked, health and safety and employment rights will be amongst the first to change.
A depressing future awaits us.
But they aren't suffering the areas that can afford to contribute more than they get out do, the same way people who earn more pay higher taxes.
I'm originally from Blaenau Gwent and you can see how the area has benefited over the last ten years, it wasn't enough but it was something. I'm worried to see what will happen to these areas next, whoever gets in. I wouldn't trust a labour or a Tory government to take notice of the area, especially one fronted by Boris.
The companies in the buildings and the continuing A465 development have and are continuing to provide employment for a great many people, things would be worse without them. The Metro and M4 expansion, should they go ahead now they won't be eligible for EU grants, will also provide great opportunities. Perhaps those without jobs could use the new college facilities and/or EU funded training (while we still have it) to improve their job prospects. Sadly I suspect a proportion of the population would rather use baseless excuses than trying to better themselves and their employability.
It was a shame how badly the area was neglected until the Objective 1 money started to arrive. I shudder to think how bad the area would be now without it.
Which proves my point about the funding being based on need, not political posturing. So the Valleys will now be dependent on political patronage. Tories will not invest because were are not their people and the central Labour party will not invest as were are unlikely to vote tory.
Why have a referendum on this though and not any other big decisions the government has to make? It was purely a vote winner that Cameron expected to be vetoed by a coalition government.
None of us (or 90%+) were educated enough on the subject to make an informed decision and we elect others to speak to relevant experts and make informed decisions.
The funniest thing about this is how the conspiracy nuts are doing back flips to make it a conspiracy. Oh we won't get a vote on this, oh umm the vote will be rigged, oh right make sure you take pens because they'll rub out your cross and make sure we remain, they won't actually take us out of the EU.
The only actual conspiracy here is Rupert Murdoch rules this country via his media companies and knows how to get straight to the heart of the electorate via fear mongering over immigration. The man is a **** and has more power over us than ever.
It is also true that as the EU expands eastwards, The UK (and Wales) will receive less and less. So it may not always be the case that we are a net beneficiary in Wales. And we don't know where the EU is going to stop. Who's next after Turkey? Are they going to join together the whole of the ME with Europe? N.Africa? These guys in Brussels have some big plans.
Last edited by Wales-Bales; 26-06-16 at 17:50.
Sadly as the EU has pushed eastwards the Welsh valleys have still been amongst the poorest areas.
Correct.
All the Valley towns Ive been to are shitholes.
Lovely people raped by the Tories and not given the corect aftercare by labour.
They were bound to fight back one day