We never thought that Brexit would finally get put in place, and a lot of us hoped it wouldn’t. However, on the 31st January 2020, it is officially happening. It’s been a long road to get here, and I think by now, most of us are just glad to be out of limbo, but what it represents is really, really sad.

Over time as I’ve met both remainers and leavers, I’ve realised that maybe my preconceptions about Brexit being entirely down to racism were wrong. There are genuinely plenty of leavers who have valid and commendable reasons for voting the way they have done. However, I do believe that Brexit itself has allowed racists and intolerant people and excuse and a platform for their behaviour – one that should never have been given to them. The government don’t seem to be doing much to stop it and in fact, I know a lot of us have felt this issue has been ignored.

The displays shown in the last couple of days from Parliament have just been embarrassing. It just makes me feel frustrated and disappointed that those people in charge of Britain are willing to go down this path, and allow divisions to shape us, and that so many people are supporting this. If there’s anything to be learnt from my books and the Atlantic Split, there’s nothing good that can come out of being so divided from one another – whether it be with each other or with the EU. Despite the message on the Brexit coin: ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations,’ I’m sure not everyone feels that way about something that’s left us so split apart as a nation. It’s a kick in the teeth for us remainers to see the celebrations going on for something that so many of us understand will just set us back. It’s not the kind of world I want to have to call my own and I really wish this wasn’t a reality.

However, I really don’t want to end this blog on a negative note. Maybe there is hope for a pre-Brexit United Kingdom? But I do believe the strength of that comes in the form of the people. Because whilst we may not make up a majority, there are still so many people here who believe that Brexit was wrong. So many people willing to take a stand against it and refuse to let it dictate them and their lives. That’s what we have to do, because if enough of us stand up against it, then maybe there is a chance that we can live alongside it, focus on the positives it may bring, but most importantly banish the hatred and racism that came with it. Because ultimately, that’s the reason I voted remain – because I couldn’t bear to see my country go down the same way that Luke Bright has had to watch the UK and USA go. I just hope there’s a a Luke Bright who can help us reunite and banish these divisions and there’s enough people who also feel the same way and won’t lose hope in this country – just in the people who have made it worse for all of us.

Atlantic Split, At Liberty To Live and An Undercover Dream, the first three books in The Luke Bright Series are available to purchase NOW! The final book of the series A Long Lost Time will be released in 2020!

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N.A.K