Britain’s Poles appear to be struggling with a sort of Brexit-induced identity crisis. Earlier this month, BBC News showed Poles in Leeds expressing support for Brexit. I’m sure many people would have found this confusing. Aren’t a lot of these Poles in Britain thanks to an EU work permit and therefore benefitting directly from Britain’s EU membership?
Witold Sobkow, Britain’s Polish Ambassador, says Britain’s exit would be problematic for Polish people living in Britain. ‘EU labour rights of 800,000 Poles in the UK would become void if the UK left the EU,’ he says. Their future in Britain would be in the balance. So why are they in favour of Brexit?
It seems Brexit is as appealing to many of Britain’s Poles as it is to Britain’s Brits, and not just in Leeds. They just can’t deny a life outside the EU might suit Britain better.
The most uncompromising of Brexit-backing Poles are those who came to Britain when Poland was still a communist country.
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