Brexit - mixed reactions on the streets of London

By Catherine Hardy with Reuters, BBC

Published on 29/03/2017 - 11:44

While the majority of Londoners voted to remain, there were mixed reactions from many people heading to work in London on Wednesday.

The decision to leave the EU was taken in a referendum in the UK last June.

51.9% of UK citizens who voted opted to leave the EU.

48.1% of those who voted wanted to remain.

The majority of Londoners voted to remain. Reflecting the national feeling, there were mixed reactions from many people heading to work in London on Wednesday.

What they are saying – the Remainers

There are concerns about the future of cultural diversity in the UK. “I work in central London,” said one woman,“and I think we have so many people from different countres, different cultures here and I think that is how it should remain, so for me it is a sad day.”

Others are concerned for the future. “Mostly, it was older people who voted for Brexit and it will be young people who have to live with it in the future. I think it is a disastrous move,” said one man.

What they are saying – the Brexiters

Some people feel it might not make much difference. “Is it going to affect me personally,” asked one woman, “probably not. I shall still go about my daily business. I shall still work. I shall still carry on having holidays. And we will see what happens.”

Some say the UK and London are in a prime position make the most of the global market. “Obviously, there will be a couple of difficult years in negotiation but I think the UK, and London in particular, will end up being the largest financial centre because of its time zone, the resources and the intellectual capital and the infrastructure that we have here,” said another man on the streets of the City.

Brexit – what the papers say

Freedom! Britain's euroscepticpresshail#Brexit but othersfeartrouble aheadhttps://t.co/0Qtpb2up40 pic.twitter.com/6EHEkUGaJb

— AFP news agency(@AFP) 29 mars 2017 Today's Daily Mail front page https://t.co/TEm7lwNoZF pic.twitter.com/j84SZLqlsI

— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) 29 mars 2017The Daily Mail – “Freedom!”

today's Sun front page looks likea jokemock-up of whatthe Sun mightdo whenBrexithappenedpic.twitter.com/ikTswW2dMm

— Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) 29 mars 2017The Sun – “Dover and Out”

GUARDIAN: TodayBritainstepsintothe unknown#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/uY63zlSVtn

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) 28 mars 2017The UK Guardian – “Today, Britain steps into the unknown”

Brexit – the timeline

March 29: UK delivers letter to EU Council president Donald Tusk
March 29-31:Tusk sends draft negotiating guidelines to EU 27
March 30:Great Repeal Bill published
April 23: first round of French presidential election
April 29: The EU 27 meet at a summit to agree final guidelines and mandate for negotiations
April 29-May 2: EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier gives detailed recommendations for negotiations
May 7: final round of French election
Spring:Great Repeal Bill announced at opening of parliament
Late May-early June: Formal face-to-face talks begin
September 24:German parliamentary elections
Late 2017: Great Repeal Bill passes through Parliament
December 2017:Barnier expects initial talks to conclude
Early 2018: Great Repeal Bill likely to get royal assent
30 September 2018: Barnier wants Brexit terms agreed
Late 2018-early 2019: both UK Houses of Parliament vote on the deal
March 2019: two year Brexit negotiating window closes. The UK will leave, deal or no deal.