I cannot recall in my lifetime a situation where there has been such political turmoil in this country, writes our regular contributor Jim Gannon after the 52-48 majority vote by the UK in June to leave the European Union (EU).
The Conservative Party has been caught in stormy waters without its sails, the Labour Party is without a rudder, UKIP is without a captain and the Lib Dems have disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle, while the rest of the country ponders on whether we have now created a desert island in a sea of discontent. It is a most unrealistic situation. With all the experts we have around, no one seems to be able to answer even the most simple question concerning our future. It is as though someone has just stepped in and turned Britain’s lights off and said, good night see you in the morning.
EU reeling
The EU heads of state are reeling from the UK’s vote to leave the European Union as are the 48pc of UK voters who wanted to remain in Europe. The EU now has to respond positively to the Eurosceptic mood and create a new vision for Europe without the presence and participation of Britain. While European heads of government plan to meet in September to discuss among other things the fallout from Brexit, high on their agenda will no doubt be security within the EU and its associated implications. Taking our young generation into account where our industry will take its trainees from, around 70pc of people aged between 18 and 24 voted to remain in Europe and the result is likely to affect them most. It is understandable why they are so upset about losing their automatic right to work, study or reside in Europe.
What it might mean for the security community
The exit vote has not just created apprehension or anxiety for those Europeans living and working in our country. It’s about not knowing what the future holds for them, it has created an element of fear of this unknown factor. The fact is that many working in our industry are on the lower rungs of the wage scale ladder especially those working in the manned guarding sector. Like many sectors of our service industries, involving unsocial hours and low pay it is the European workers who have stepped in willingly to fill the gaps to do the jobs that many Brits are unqualified for or just won’t do. While those in authority have repeatedly stated that the exit vote will not affect those Europeans already employed and living in our country, our industry has now become reliant on the European community to fill the constant flow of vacancies occurring in security sector both by employee movement and natural business growth. The future of those UK security businesses already operating in Europe or who have European clients is no doubt already being discussed to ensure a secure and profitable future exists.
The fall-out
The Brexit campaign has brought out an adverse side by introducing the fear factor involving media coverage concerning migration, refugees, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants all wrapped up in one bundle as they were described in various forms of media rhetoric in the case for retaining our national identity. As we learn in recent weeks about the increase in reported hate crimes coupled with cases of identified intolerance and discrimination, it follows that there will be an increased case load for human resources, security personnel and the police. An alleged five-fold increase in reported hate crimes since the referendum result is just one indicator of where this may go. While a proportion of what is now going on appears to be categorised as hurt and humiliation, a number of victims are stating that it often occurs in the workplace.
If this is the case then employers need to be alert to the fact, as they have a responsibility to their own employees. Closet racists have always been there but it has always been a major step to actually stand up and racially abuse someone. But it only takes something like a national referendum especially where immigration is a keynote factor to turn a spark into a fire, the results of which we have experienced over recent weeks. They say that tolerance always begins from a negative starting point in whatever area one operates in. If you simply do not like someone it is difficult to share the benefits of joint enterprise. The same is said of doing business especially in our industry. People do business with people, not necessarily with a company.
The #moreincommon initiative
The #moreincommon initiative has now raised over £4.5m from circa 45,000 donations since the Labour MP Jo Cox was cruelly murdered in her own constituency before voting day, has sparked a nationwide strategy to try and calm community tensions and challenge the post referendum reported increase in racism and hate crime. Anti-racist groups are working together in haste to launch a campaign for unity amid fears that far right organisations may try to provoke racist conflict in the wake of the EU exit vote.
Shifting the narrative
Over the coming months it becomes clear that it is now a time to shift the narrative away from the negativity of the result to one of positivity, solidarity, and the sheer joy of living in Britain. While some of those engaged in front line politics have been slow in coming out on behalf of the two million EU nationals who reside in the UK, Tim Farron the Lib Dem leader has demanded that they are given guarantees that they will have the right to stay indefinitely if they so wish. While everything now hangs on the triggering of article 50 which commences the EU exit, the end game is by no means settled.
Photo by Mark Rowe; shop front roller shutter, London
