One of the most amazing and precious things in our lives, in my view, is that we meet so many different people. Some encounters might be difficult and challenging, others can be inspiring and fulfilling.We all have a wonderful story to tell. We have all embarked on this incredibly rewarding and rocky journey; a gigantic life adventure. Each one of these stories is unique and special in so many years.
In May, it will be 20 years since Poland and 9 other European countries joined the EU. So many European migrants left their countries of origin and settled in the UK. These individuals became our friends, neighbours, partners, wife, husbands or work colleagues. We have learnt a lot from each other, haven’t we?
So…let’s come together and celebrate, not so much the actual membership in the EU, our life stories, accomplishments and achievements! There is so much to be proud of! I think that we don’t do it often enough!
Our event will give us an opportunity to enhance and strengthen our relationships. It will also enable us to listen to some interesting anecdotes and experiences!
When: 9th May, 6:30pm for 7pm start
Where: Barn Theatre, Barn Close, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6ST
Due to the venue capacity, the booking is essential. Readers of this site should email [email protected] if they are interested in attending.
* Michal Siewniak is a Lib Dem activist and councillor for Handside ward, Welwyn Hatfield.
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10 Comments
Fom….A one way ticket …Where was a 50 year old from a council flat working in a warehouse on a triple shift mw agency , actually going to up sticks and work in the EU ..Nowhere…
Come on, Martin, stop exaggerating, many Brits emigrated to EU countries taking advantage of FOM.
So it wasn’t a “one way ticket”.
Martin, remember “Auf Weidersien Pet”, plenty of Brits in manual work benefited from EU membership.
It’s true that UNSKILLED workers throughout the EU are not much in demand anywhere.
In what way has leaving the EU helped them?
The correct response should be to improve training, improve wages for such workers, not exit the EU.
And many SKILLED workers, as Andy rightly points out, did take advantage of FOM, various of my family members included.
In those post Industrial towns that voted heavily to leave fom was a one way ticket. It was a huge mistake by NL in not applying any controls on that inward migration from Eastern Europe. Ultimately it facilitated Brexit . For the vast majority in those towns fom was meaningless to them in regards to living & working abroad…It gave Ukip & others a willing audience against the those in Westminster who think life stops at the Watford gap .
Ok, Martin, that’s a much more specific and telling point, which I very largely agree with.
Governments across the developed world have struggled to respond to economic and technological changes that have eliminated demand for lesser skilled workers. This has fomented disillusionment with mainstream parties amongst poorer voters.
Populist parties don’t have the solution though:
Leaving the EU has not improved life for those at the poorer end of society.
Understand that Chris . As I’ve stated previously – the status quo is never a good selling point . Who can blame them for voting out . Neither did being in it . The Danish pm gets it . Sadly, too many on the left do not..
Across the EU populists have tapped into that discontent, & ultimately that’s a failure of progressive parties .
I agree with that too, Martin.
Speaking more parochially about our party’s aims and electoral potential, many liberal-minded poorer off members of society voted for us in the past.
Many of those are concerned about a dysfunctional state and corruption in politics. (This is certainly true of many Reform voters/ none of the above voters.)
Post-General Election, I’d like to see the party widen its appeal to those voters. There really is common ground.
Also, I’m well aware of the wide research pointing to mass immigration lowering wages at the bottom end. But there are constructive ways to counteract that effect.
I’D just like to point out that back in the days of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, in order to work in (West) Germany you first had to que up in your local Landratsampt and apply for a work permit. The first work permit was granted for a 6 month period, subsequent permits were for 5 years.
I remember it well.