EU Referendum for Dummies

I really feel like I ought to read such a title if one exists and it shames me to say so. The reason for this post is the up and coming Brexit referendum. Should we stay or should we go (10 points to guess the right band)? Not only is this decision going to affect the UK for a very long time but the date of voting is drawing nearer and nearer and I have not a clue of where to start in making my decision.

As a women I feel there is no excuse to not have your say. It is crazy to think that less than 100 years ago the idea that women should be allowed to vote was only just being agreed to (and only for those deemed less radical i.e over 30). However I often feel as though I am letting the brave suffragettes down when my knowledge of political debates is so poor.

I could watch the news more frequently. However I detest watching the news due to the barrage of depressing headlines which make me question the humanity of the world, not exactly light evening viewing. I do occasionally watch News Night or Question Time but when I am at Uni I do not have a television and often feel guilt for using my laptop for anything other than essays or revision, (apart from the netflix and chill senarios *cough cough*). Am I just being negligent to my political duty and ignorant of the wealth of political material out there? Or is there so much on offer that it is hard to find out where to start? I really believe that politics and current affairs should take much higher precedence in schools, just so students have a basic understanding of their futures as voters. Maybe I am kidding myself that I care about what happens as I feel whatever the desciion my life as it stands as a Uni student will not change?

Back to the EU Referendum. I am undecided of my position as it stands but now that exams are over my time will hopefully allow a more relaxed study of the pros and cons of leaving and staying. A good starting point for anyone is to steer clear from the Daily Mail Online which is much too frequently visited by myself. Im not judging it but even I can sense political bias and just basic mistakes in some of the articles. Instead head to youtube and watch one the broadcasted debates.

I watched this one:

Once you get past Nick Clegg's attempt to laugh at his own previous lies and Farage's tragic 'joke' about Romanians there are some decent points and explanation made by both sides. However I was not swayed either way aside from Daniel Hannan's contributions to the debate which were excellent and very well communicated. I am going to try and watch more debates and read more leading up to the vote and hopefully my vote will be used to its full potential.

#Politics #EU #Referendum #Youtube #DanielHannan