United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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The man setting the tone in the Brexit stronghold groans when he thinks of the recent drama in the British Parliament. "Disaster," says Dave Blackwell. "People are fed up, they want this to end." Many Britons have changed their minds about whether their country should leave the EU. But in his homeland, on Canvey Island? "No!" Blackwell laughs. "Canvey will never change."
Only one and a half hours by train from the center of London lies the small island on the Thames estuary. In Castle Point County, which includes Canvey Island, 72.7 percent of voters voted for Brexit in the 2016 referendum. Only in two British constituencies was the approval higher. In the elections to the European Parliament in May 2019 reached Nigel Farages newly formed Brexit party here from the stand 58.7 percent of the vote, even a peak.
What is this place? And how is the mood here - now that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suffered several setbacks in a row? Now, where leaving the targeted time on October 31 has become a lot less likely?
On the water behind the sea wall, the sun glitters, in the gardens in front of the brick houses stand rowan trees and palm trees. Around 38,000 people live here. Over some houses the Union Jack blows, here and there also the red-white flag of England. Nearly every building on Furtherwick Road houses a store: Opticians, Bank, Fish & Chips, Brokers, Tapas Bar. In front of the Costa Coffee sits the retired horticulturist Blackwell, 72, a gripping man with a smile and a mission.
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In 2004, he founded the Canvey Island Independence Party (CIIP) and has been sitting in front of her ever since. Today, the party makes every single council member who is entitled to the island. She wants to undo a great injustice: In the course of a territorial reform in 1974 Canvey was merged with some communities on the mainland and received, says Blackwell, too few council seats. Since then, the interests of the island were regularly ignored by those over there. This displeases the islanders who used to fix their own affairs since Dutch settlers plundered the land from the water in the 17th century. They want to reign themselves.
A narrative to which the Brexit campaign was easy to build. "At first I believed what I was told," says Blackwell. "Control over our rules, yeah, I like that." A tiny bit of party politics came along: he, Blackwell, had pledged to the local representative of the EU-hostile party UKIP to support him on the Brexit issue - if he did not make any candidates for local elections. At that time, the whole island was thrilled: "Get out!"
This has since clouded over. "I'm split," Blackwell admits. He was still in favor of Brexit, but not without a deal - then the economy would surely break. One of his sons lives in Sweden, which he wants to be able to visit without a visa. And that with immigration, that's basically not an issue here: "Canvey Island has virtually no migrants," says Blackwell. "At the last census, 95 percent said English as a nationality, not British." Many of his fellow citizens are of advanced age - "they tend to believe what's in the paper".
The hand-work round at the tea: "we were all for Boris"
Half a dozen English ladies sit embroidering in a church that has been reclassified as a cultural center, surrounded by a picturesque dilapidated cemetery. The collapsed tables in the middle are covered with yarns and fabrics. Like every Thursday afternoon, tea is drunk and palavered for manual work, this time it's about Brexit, of course.
"We were all for Boris," says one.
"He's not as stuffy as the premiers we usually get over," another.
"You gave him no chance," complains a third.
At the referendum, they all voted in favor of Brexit. The fact that the House of Commons passed a law last Wednesday that prohibits the Premier from leaving the country in disorder is considered by some as a monstrosity. "If we go without a deal, at least we do not have to repay the £ 350 billion, or whatever that was," growls Mavis Worsfold. The unwilling parliamentarians are cowards. "It will be uncomfortable for a few months, then everything will stop."
How should it continue? General helplessness, then dares Linda Bracci with an idea. "I know that the royal family can not interfere in politics, but in the end it is Her Majesty's Government, I think it should intervene." Short consideration, then there is agreement that the Queen is for Brexit.
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Canvey Island: "Canvey will never change""I do not want to be told by Brussels how I have to be," says Worsfold. "We have won two wars, and we are still dictated." It is then about Angela Merkel and the refugees, overrun schools and an overstrained health system. You pay too much money to the EU, which is better invested elsewhere.
One would like to know what the few non-white Canvey people think about the situation, but many are holding back. The young men with the dark beards in the barber shop say they have no idea about politics; The staff in the Turkish restaurant say in good English that they speak the language too badly.
The fear of foreigners and price increases
Even Jay, the Jamaican seller at the fruit stand, first refers to his blond colleague. This explains, even after a Brexit the French would have to get rid of their apricots and the Spaniards their peaches, it could not be so bad consequently. As Jay intervenes: "All our goods come from other countries, which is more expensive, is not it?" He thinks Britain should stay in the EU.
Jay does not want to be photographed, nor does he want to reveal his last name. "People will say, do not go to the fruit man anymore!" He turns to a man who's walking past the booth at that moment, evidently knowing, "Hey Steve, do you think the UK should get out of the EU?"
Steve stops. Tinted glasses, the collar of his red polo shirt stuck in the neckline of his hoodie. "Yes, we should, as soon as possible!" He does not have a problem with Germans or French. "But all these Bulgarians and Romanians!"
You can not be more British than Ray Howard, the former chicken farmer is a living cliché: 77 years old, red wool sweater, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. On his tea mug - no milk, no sugar - photos of the young queen are printed. A photo on his dining room wall shows him with Prince Charles. In the mess on his desk is a DVD of "Darkest Hour," a movie about Winston Churchill.
In 1968, his fellow citizens elected him for the first time in the local council, his honorary name is "Mr. Canvey". As his performance suggests, Howard is a conservative. He is deeply concerned about the condition of his Tories. He points to the television on which the news was still running: "Boris Johnson's brother has just resigned, so divided is our party." He is a devout man, go to church every Sunday. "I hope and pray that everything comes to a good end."
Howard also maintains that the result of the referendum will be implemented, "17.4 million voted in favor". The attitude of a true gentleman, considering that Brexit put an end to his own political career after 51 years. In local elections in May, he lacked 40 votes, a deputy from Dave Blackwell's CIIP moved in his place in the local council.
It had cost Howard sympathy that he had voted No at the Brexit referendum.
