Expats air Brexit fears
Euronews crew visit Calpe to gather opinions from local expats
BREXIT and the views of British expats continue to fascinate the European media, with people in Calpe the latest to be lobbied for their opinions.
International television channel Euronews visited the Costa Blanca resort as part of a tour of the European Union ahead of the May elections.
The television station’s ‘Roadtrip Europe’ and its slogan ‘Your Voice, Your Choice’ saw the camera focus on a traditional tea dance held at Marcia’s Dance Centre and Stage School.
And the resulting programme – later broadcast on the station’s English and Spanish channels – revealed not everyone was in step over the UK’s “chaotic” move to leave the bloc.
Calpe councillor Carole Saunders was asked in advance to take journalists Anelise Borges and Cristina Giner to a place they could meet British residents – and was interviewed herself.
“They said they wanted to go to a typical English place; Marcia’s was holding a tea dance and I thought that would make a good venue rather than just going to a bar,” she said.
Carole said some people were upset Britain had voted to leave, others who were “sick and tired of the whole thing”; and a lady who voted to leave because she believed the EU 'ruined' her sister’s business.
And she added: “I told them it is an absolute mess; it is embarrassing to be British at the moment because the House of Commons cannot get its act together.
“I think there should be a second referendum, or at least a referendum on what they agree...if they ever do.”
Carole added: “I also said expats main worries were healthcare and their pensions. To be honest, at the moment I have more faith in the Spanish government and its Royal decree to protect British residents than the British government.
“The Spanish obviously don’t want to lose us because we are an integral part of society here and will do their best to ensure we continue to enjoy our lives here.”