Chats

Ruth Shaw is a frequent traveller and has been throughout her life. When the Brexit Referendum was held in 2016, with a verdict of Leave, she was dismayed at the prospect of not being able to travel freely through Europe, and the wider implications of leaving the EU.

I spoke with Ruth to find out more about her views on Brexit, and to discuss the future for travellers and holidaymakers in a non-EU Britain.

J – So today we’re going to talk about Brexit, and how travel is going to be affected in particular. I understand that your travel plans have been somewhat spoilt by Brexit?

A – As much as Brexit is a national issue, from a personal perspective I had been looking forward to taking a period of time off work to travel. I booked a scuba diving holiday to the Galapagos – the trip of a lifetime really – and I booked it two years ago before the word “Brexit” became an everyday term. I return from this trip on 30 March 2019 on a connecting flight from Amsterdam and I wonder what the implications will be on that day? I have no idea. My tour operator has no idea. It seems like a ridiculous situation to be in. I had also planned to travel through Europe to Croatia on 8th April for two months in my campervan with my partner and dog. Obviously now those plans are in jeopardy as the pet passport requirements are currently ambiguous with various scenarios possible depending on whether there is an agreed Brexit with a transitionary period where existing regulations remain the same, or a hard Brexit where everything changes and requirements become more onerous for travelling with a pet. It is also impossible at this time to determine what is required for driving abroad in terms of permits and insurance.

J – So as a holidaymaker alone you can see a big adverse effect on your plans for the future. Did you think Brexit would have as much of a personal impact as it has during the time of the referendum? (2016)

R – I think that was one of the major problems with the referendum, I don’t think many voters actually did realise the impact of the vote. Obviously my inconveniences are minor compared to the colossal economic impact which I think this country is going to have to bear, but they are real to me. Many people don’t vote because they say that politics doesn’t affect them, little realising that it affects everyone in both tangible and intangible ways. I think that many of those people who decided to become politically active and voted for Brexit have spent the last two years waking up to the realisation that the impact of their vote will be felt by themselves, their families and their friends and may not always be as positive as they hoped. Job losses, reduced hours/salaries, visas, increased costs, additional restrictions and loss of opportunities will become a reality for those who hoped to travel or relocate.

Personally, I voted to remain. I did this for two reasons. Firstly, I firmly believe that we are better together, working in partnership on issues such as security, environment, economy, transport and social issues. Secondly, I think being part of a wide European partnership gives young people in particular the freedom to travel, relocate and take up opportunities that would otherwise not be open to them. Travelling, living in another country, being part of a different type of society helps people to be more open to new ideas, more accepting of peoples’ differences and more understanding of one’s own prejudices. Travel, as well as being good for our emotional and mental wellbeing, really does broaden the mind and anything that restricts our ability to do this, makes us a poorer country in more than just the financial sense.

J – Everything you’ve said so far sounds rather negative. Do you not believe there could be some benefits to leaving the EU?

R – Unfortunately I just don’t, I think that the life that we once knew where travel was easy across Europe, with all the cultural richness, opportunity and diversity that this offers, appears to be coming to an end. To me, the future post-Brexit looks socially and economically bleak for Britain. The impact and the cost of what appeared to be a fairly whimsical decision for many will, in my opinion, be immense. The burden of the cost is likely to fall disproportionally on the young and the poorer elements of society. If there are even marginal increases in the cost of living, including the cost of travel, this will decrease life-opportunities for many on low incomes. All I can do is feel so incredibly sad that we are turning our backs on European partnership and hope that I am wrong in feeling that the future looks grim for our country.