The hills are alive... with the sound of Brits flying the coop
The Independent|September 24, 2024
When the most English man in England decides he’s Austrian, maybe Brexit hasn’t been the saviour of our national identity that was promised.
FEMI OLUWOLE
The hills are alive... with the sound of Brits flying the coop

Fry has adopted Austrian citizenship under a law that grants the option to the descendants of Austrians who were persecuted in the Holocaust. He says it also allows him to his “tongue out at Brexit”. Given the number of people and businesses that have left the UK since the 2016 vote, has Brexit now turned Brits against Britain?

Since the referendum, hundreds of thousands of Brits have applied for EU citizenship and more than 100,000 have been granted it. The bulk of this was, of course, for Irish citizenship. It exposed a great irony of Brexit: it was meant to be about freedom, yet without EU citizenship, we’re trapped.

We used to have the automatic right to live and work in 31 countries (EU, plus the single market countries of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). Now, we only have that right in the UK. I don’t know about you but I prefer voluntary love to forced marriage. Stripping Brits of their choice to live elsewhere has not made us love the UK more.

Denne historien er fra September 24, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 24, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE INDEPENDENTSe alt
Kneecap win legal challenge over Badenoch grant block
The Independent

Kneecap win legal challenge over Badenoch grant block

Irish language rap group Kneecap have won their legal challenge over a decision by former business secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a £14,250 funding award.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 30, 2024
Millions face mortgage bills hike, says Bank of England
The Independent

Millions face mortgage bills hike, says Bank of England

Roughly 4.4 million UK households could see hikes to their mortgage repayments over the next three years, the Bank of England has warned.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 30, 2024
Mauritius orders review of PM's Chagos Islands deal
The Independent

Mauritius orders review of PM's Chagos Islands deal

The new Mauritian government has ordered an independent review of the Chagos Islands agreement, The Independent understands, throwing the future of Sir Keir Starmer’s deal into even greater uncertainty.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 30, 2024
World in most danger for 40 years, MI6 chief warns
The Independent

World in most danger for 40 years, MI6 chief warns

The world is at its most dangerous point for 40 years, the head of MI6 has warned, accusing Russia of waging a \"staggeringly reckless campaign\" of sabotage in Europe to undermine support for Ukraine.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 30, 2024
Starmer has no other option but to attempt a relaunch
The Independent

Starmer has no other option but to attempt a relaunch

Louise Haigh's resignation from cabinet will mark a return to more disciplined, joined-up government, says Andrew Grice

time-read
3 mins  |
November 30, 2024
Alexander handed transport brief after Haigh resigns
The Independent

Alexander handed transport brief after Haigh resigns

Heidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary following yesterday’s surprise resignation of Louise Haigh.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 30, 2024
The Independent

After MPs gave the bill their backing, what comes next?

MPs have voted to approve historic legislation that will pave the way for legalising assisted dying in England and Wales for terminally ill patients.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 30, 2024
A day of prayers, heartfelt tales and pin-drop moments
The Independent

A day of prayers, heartfelt tales and pin-drop moments

It was a mark of how earnestly MPs approached the assisted dying bill that, I can reveal, some of the most firmly secular members of the House of Commons stood up during the private morning prayers rather than, as some do, sitting down in order to bag a seat without taking part in a religious ceremony.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 30, 2024
Assisted dying bill passes second reading by 55 votes
The Independent

Assisted dying bill passes second reading by 55 votes

Result paves way for historic change in British social policy

time-read
5 mins  |
November 30, 2024
'Sometimes tears come out, you have to be an animal'
The Independent

'Sometimes tears come out, you have to be an animal'

Whether you want him to or not, 40-year-old heavyweight Derek Chisora isn’t ready to stop yet

time-read
3 mins  |
November 29, 2024