Brexit breakdown: affluence, decay and fury in the Tory heartlands | Anywhere but Westminster

There's a row going on, down near Slough - between a remainer Tory MP and the hardcore local leavers who claim he's a "traitor".
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John Harris and John Domokos immerse themselves in the controversy, and then explore the towns and villages close by - where a mixture of affluence and decay cuts to the heart of both the Conservatives' seething tensions and the modern English condition.
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#anywherebutwestminster #brexit #slough #uk #politics

[@rockersidF1]

Dominic Grieve mentioning the cost in millions to businesses in form filling after Brexit. How right he was.

[@tobytroubs]

You'd be paying the Pensions of Germans by now if we'd stayed in . Check the state of the Euro before you get to excited...bearing in mind the ECB are still printing money , that ends soon .

[@YA-hm5zy]

I'm Indian and I can guarantee that Indian woman comes from a very affluent family. No one in India can speak English like that unless they are very rich.

[@JamesBu11]

Thats possible, but isn't it also possible that she learned English during the last 10 years while she grew her business and prospered selling Jewelry?

[@YA-hm5zy]

@@JamesBu11 There is no way someone who has lived the majority of their life in India, only arriving in England in adulthood, could have the ability to shake off their accent to such a degree. She was educated in a school in India for very the privileged. You don't go from India into a relatively affluent area in the UK unless you are loaded already.

[@MrMmnngghh]

@@YA-hm5zy I met a Sri Lankan Burgher who lives in one of Melbourne, Australia's most affluent areas. It took her less than two minutes into the conversation to denigrate non - Burgher Sri Lankans. The condescending air of superiority would have been oozing out of her pores if she wasn't wearing so much bronzer.

[@blazzz13]

@Yo Afinio Maybe her definition of "self made" is consistent with that of Kylie Jenner. Strange times

[@MrMmnngghh]

@@blazzz13 "Troubling times" - Naomi Robson, former Channel 7 Australia "journalist"

[@adampushkin1549]

I've watched a lot of these films, from Wigan and Walsall and everywhere in between. Weirdly, this feels like the most depressing of the lot. Even the rich people are miserable now. Oh Mr Cameron, what a catalyst you turned out to be.

[@mikebassett9195]

A lot of what's depressing about this, seems to be more about the way we live today. I mean you look around at everyone saying it's depressing etc. But they all looked clean, decent clothes and in general nice people. The internet has changed the way live and highstreets have no caught with it. But in time they will

[@iang1119]

Loaded the guns, then you run off home for your tea!

[@radjew]

@@JihadJoe_ The UK needed the additional tax to pay the military bill on that stupid US endeavour Bush prayed for.

[@radjew]

@@JihadJoe_ UK doesn't count people leaving so you actually have no hard number for the net migration status, just a one way flux. And the UK needed the extra tax because it is skint! Part of it due to a useless war.

[@dimitrisgikas8039]

@@JihadJoe_ when will the Brits leave the EU? Surely if you want to 'control your borders' on the way in,also make sure that you control them on the way out. Your numbers are wrong btw. EU citizens are 2.5 million. UK citizens in the EU 1.2m. If 27 countries sent u 2.5 m and you as 1 have sent us 1.2 then there's something really wrong with you people.

[@KingdomEnfilade]

'There's homeless people' 'And whose fault is that?' '...It's theirs, and the world's' What does that even mean? What is she talking about?

[@chownful]

It means you can't blame them being homeless on just one thing.

[@scottishbombolini7794]

It means I'm all right jack, what do I care....its the English voter's mantra

[@laurelb9165]

Sounds very much like the snp then?

[@MasterShake9000]

It means she blames them and then quickly realizes how that sounds so she throws in a lukewarm nod that other forces can cause it. But she clearly blames them first and foremost.

[@minimead368]

it means she doesn’t know but thinks she knows until she is asked to explain, It’s sums up this hole series, people thinking they have it figured out but can’t explain anything when asked, they just use meaningless phrases which somehow justifies their comment and position in their own mind, I blame the media for focusing to much on the politics of “how the opposition will react” instead of breaking down each policy to explain the details so people understand the decision being taken, By not doing so it has let the Conservatives get away with destroying this country while continueing to hold on to power

[@AlexeiRamotar]

Rich people always think they work harder and suffer more than everyone else. They are the most entitled of folks.

[@r3dp1ll]

@John Brighton That's factually not true. Most moneyed people inherited it or got great connections, education and opportunities.

[@denisdaly1708]

Research bears your thinking out.

[@cgawainf4785]

Sounds like socialist envy.

[@blueband8114]

@John Brighton rubbish.

[@treeaboo]

@John Brighton Then you've not meant rich people, you may have met upper-middle class people, but I doubt you've met many rich people in that case. I've met quite a few, they mostly either get a great education and contacts from the inherited wealth from their parents and then start some sort of company, or they inherit their wealth and then pay someone to invest it whilst they sit around doing nothing. There's a hell of a lot of the latter.

[@jsbart96]

I’ve come to met a Tory activist *enters literal mansion*

[@Doomedcreatures]

hahahah

[@marksimons8861]

Looks like a modest family home to many.

[@SanPeacefam]

@Adhi Wicaksono the key word is "many" haha

[@ValerioVota]

"Liberal mansion" while driving a "leftist car", I suppose.

[@chestypants78]

Reporter: "Any problems here in this area?" Indian princess:"My son won't eat pasta, haw haw haw." It's tough at the top.

[@progtom7585]

Regarding the lady @ 3mins, in the salon, the description of lack of community is surely a problem for all industrialised economies, not just Maidenhead? Also the lady At 6.10 sickens me with her hard work rhetoric, you have to combine hard work with opportunity, intelligence and timing to equal success - not everyone exists to pursue success, not all ideas of success are the same and everyone doesnt get equal opportunity and/or education.

[@Andizzyuk]

the woman at 6:10 just sums up the typical Tory belief of hard work = definite success - totally ignoring their inherited privilege

[@alfa8728]

@@Andizzyuk that woman isthe definition of stupid

[@danielwebb8402]

We aren't far from equal education. More working class than ever before go to uni. If you go to a rubbish comp in a city centre but get 3 Bs for A-level (in reasonable subjects) you do earn 30k plus

[@progtom7585]

daniel webb - true for formal education, but if you take informal education its not equal... some folks get an informal education from parents, relatives, mentors - and a lot of that comes down to pure luck. Ive seen folks ive grown up with inherit a lot of informal education from parents, which some of them barely recognise, but they can use that plus hard work to improve their own capital and standing in society. Hard work on its own is overly simplistic.

[@chownful]

@@danielwebb8402 People go to school to earn 30k plus GBP? LOL that's just sad

[@MrSwanseajames]

The indian womans family in this video owns a mine for precious metals. Great example.

[@EtcEtcAndEtc]

yeh she's 'worked so hard'.....

[@kirbycairo]

That woman is a quintessential Tory: she's rich, she thinks her wealth is a result of her merit, and she doesn't care about anyone else.

[@diegoalonso4731]

she's doing fairly well through hard work.

[@forza223bowe5]

Conservatives only support those who are elite and who are not short of a bob or two. If you are poor they are not interested

[@MrSwanseajames]

@@forza223bowe5 Labour Mps last time around nearly bankrupted the country. My argument would be both parties are incompetent.

[@DiRtYLaWs2007]

“If you’re poor, you’re not working hard enough”. Tories in a nutshell.

[@Jack-fs2im]

and Labour elite

[@forza223bowe5]

Some might find this controversial, but if you work harder and more hours and look for a well paid job then you will become richer. Smoking, drinking buying flash TV are expensive and it’s the same people who complain they have nothing.

[@Jack-fs2im]

Universities will take anyone to get the money and pass them all for the kudos

[@Jack-fs2im]

John Brighton I have run my own business for 30 yrs after being a merchant seamen when we had the biggest fleet in the world 900 ships.I never went to uni.Its a big racket to avoid work and tax

[@Jack-fs2im]

John Brighton I have run my own business for 30 yrs after being a merchant seamen when we had the biggest fleet in the world 900 ships.I never went to uni.Its a big racket to avoid work and tax

[@Hedonophobia]

"...and I voted to leave because of all of these reasons" *(Lists a load of issues nothing to do with the EU and everything to do with the government.)*

[@MrYorickJenkins]

Immigration(lots to do with the EU), industralisation of agriculture (lots to do with EU), bailing out of bankrupt countries and banks (lots to do with EU), metrication (lots ot do with EU) increased distancing of decision making process with feeble unaccountable "government" (that IS the EU)

[@magtak]

This was a sad glorification of consumerism. The only measure of how well a town is doing is "shopping".

[@kramer26]

It's not just "shopping", it's the beating heart of a healthy town centre that generates social interaction. The market always used to be the hub of all small towns and is where people would go to meet...

[@magtak]

@@kramer26 So what you are saying is that if the entirety of our shopping transitions to online (vs retail) shopping, that people will lose the will to socialize outside? If that is the case (and I'm not sure it is) has then socialisation always been a byproduct of consuming?

[@magtak]

@@jgt_ So socialisation alone is not a strong enough motivator for people to go outside. Give it some time though - we might be able to eventually disconnect socializing and shopping.

[@andrew300169]

J Thomas not necessarily dying just changing I remember some years ago ‘nobody’ lived in town centres in big U.K. cities where as places like Paris still had a busy lived in feel to it. Parts of the U.K. have much improved in this Regards. Now change some of this infrastructure for a few more parks, town squares not overun by cars

[@fuzzyfoods710]

@@magtak Shopping isn't always consumerism....when that market town was booming people were probably going there for food as much as anything, the bank the post office it's these amenities people are probably begrudging the most.

[@StarScream0722]

I love how the man at 14:40 said the best way to heal the country is for everyone to do what I want

[@justwhenyouthought6119]

The best wayfor democracy is to do what the minority want, as long as I agree with that !

[@robertjohnson9565]

He means do what the country voted for. And he is being too nice in not stating frankly why he thinks healing is still necessary at all in 2019.

[@Envexitytg]

YES AT 14.29 CAME THE LEFTIST , ACTIVIST UP IN HIM FOR REAL.. do what i think and we waont say , you are a right wing missoginist and devil. NB whATS JO COX GOT TO DO WITH MAIDS HEADS.. ONCE PRIME REAL ESTATE .

[@mokkorista]

@@justwhenyouthought6119 sadly, 48% of voters is not a minority.

[@BossySwan]

He’s absolutely right

[@CameronS437]

I have to say, I really love this series. Though the content is rather depressing and makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes, it alway puts a smile on my face to see a new episode showing in my subscriptions list.

[@homosexualpanic]

Me too; I love John Harris' methods.

[@raskolnnikov]

CL Stevens I wholeheartedly agree!

[@vagabondwastrel2361]

@boaty mcboatface look at the positions of ukip directly from ukip. They are basically saying the government is fucked. So there is a need for at least one political party advocating for the rights of the citizens not just the whims of activists. Also can anyone name a terrorist group or dictator that Corbin hasn't praised publicly?

[@riggald9864]

@@vagabondwastrel2361 But UKIP is run by activists. The problem is that people are generally active or passive. Only the active people do the grunt work of running political parties - by definition. And the name for people who do that is 'activists'

[@VShahOfficial]

The hairdresser so fearful for immigration when she's in a town which has a relatively low immigrant population - ??

[@chilldude30]

Classic tory

[@222browneyes]

It's always the way. I guess they need a scapegoat, but they'll never blame the people with actual power...

[@newmediaofficial]

Funny that the immigrant talks about immigration. The Indian lady, a tory activist and a vocal of tory mindset. She talks about having worked hard and not coming from an affluent family etc does not sound convincing. Bet she has private insurance too and does not visit local food banks where nurses queue up?

[@AlexeiRamotar]

What I find about any "self-made" anyone is that it rarely if ever is it self-made.

[@newmediaofficial]

@@AlexeiRamotar True! For her to come to London, as she says 10 years ago, and in 10 years to get not only her spanking shiny house but inroads to tory party needs to be looked into.

[@r3dp1ll]

@@AlexeiRamotar this. No one was ever self-made. It's so cringy and egocentric to believe that.

[@overseastom]

I'm not sure I trust that her jewelry store is stocked with ethically-produced merchandise. She sounds like exactly the type of person that could justify buying blood diamonds.

[@kennethhwang3425]

overseastom Justifying? Jewelry shops owners generally don’t have a care if the stupid shining rocks are washed in young blood.

[@joshpuffpufftekken]

people who are affluent shop online now. This is why the highstreet is dying its got nothing to do with Brexit. The death of the high street started long before 2017

[@progtom7585]

So so true. Brexit is the solution to the root cause of everything! Country has become a little bit delusional

[@Andizzyuk]

I think a lot of people still prefer shopping in person, though. Some things aren't practical to buy before you see it. Yes, online shopping does bring serious competition but I know traders who own shops and wish to stay open as they enjoy their work. Brexit is only going to make things harder for small-to-medium, independent companies.

[@KazakhToon]

@@Andizzyuk Online shopping is attractive to consumers because it's competitively priced. Online retailers can do that because they run their operations from sites miles away from town centres. We as a country *need* people like your trader friends, and bustling, friendly, well-resourced town centres, more than we need cheap clothes. A pay rise wouldn't hurt either...

[@jimsy5530]

Do they? I always thought affluent people go to little independent shops, butchers, grocers, because they have the time and are willing to pay a higher price. Poor people shop online to save a penny.

[@AlJalandhari]

Jimsy's right. One reason for the death of the high street alluded to in the beginning of the video is Tory cuts to council funding which has forced them to raise rates which shops haven't been able to pay

[@ismaeel747]

That Tory activist really annoyed me. Is she so arrogant and ungrateful to those around her to think that her success was entirely off her own back and no one helped her along?.. No one is self made...

[@Relisysification]

"it's [the homeless people's] fault" that there is an homelessness crisis... Wonderful thought that all those on the street know who to blame

[@RingtailCafe]

When that lady said that part I was sick to my stomach.

[@arkatub]

pretty sure she meant the politicians, they were probably just talking about them, watch back the interview and look at all the jump cuts.

[@stevencassidy6982]

It happens when there is a conservative government. It happened last time under Thatcher

[@arkatub]

@Viv Buckle it's not that there are too many people, it's just that the political class has other priorities, for example the EU's Erasmus program sends tens of thousands of uni students between countries each year, it would take a small fraction of it's budget to solve homelessness as it costs less to house a homeless person then it does to send a student abroad.

[@mikemhz]

@Viv Buckle I just did a back of the envelope calculation, considering birth rate, death rate, immigration and emigration, and the net gain to UK population came to around 300,000 people per year. If we didn't allow any immigrants in, we would have a falling population. That number is in no way world shattering. We can build enough schools, hospitals and houses accross the country to deal with that. The problem is, has always been, that the government isn't investing in schools, hospitals and houses. It's that simple.

[@SueEmmDee]

The various British people voted in anger and NOT about the EU. Also, the STYLE of the Monarchy is wrong and pulls the British into the Edwardian past and they feel they have an Empire and some may have voted Brexit and not Remain in order to go back to this Empire which no longer exists.

[@carlosandresmunozalatorre4433]

The only reality is that Britain voted for Brexit was about sovereignty where they believe that Britain must fix his own troubles and his economy and not by a Foreign law as is The EU.... But about The old British empire has nothing to do because they know that that is dead and it part of The History.....The Brexit is The hope that Britain coul be as China or Japan in a near future

[@fainitesbarley2245]

What rubbish. Only the left ever mention the empire. I’ve never ever heard a pro-Brexit person mention it. In case you hadn’t noticed it went a long long time ago. How could anybody seriously talk about bringing it back? What are we going to do? Invade India? What drivel the left talk.

[@Doomedcreatures]

Love it when people from India and China say they didn't come from a wealthy family, my friend from HK says she was the poorest person she knew in HK, what she means is she didn't have her own family private jet :X, when she moved to the UK she rented until her parents bought her a flat for her 30th .. which she says she earnt for renting for 10 yearsHAHA

[@Grd346]

Excellent piece. It really captures the angst "ordinary people" are experiencing with Brexit. Struck a real chord.

[@BritishMoralHQ]

That Indian lady is nuts... She has a jewellery business out of nowhere...

[@mk1st]

She's not worried. If Brexit happens there will be plenty more Russian money coming in to buy her shiny things.

[@jimsy5530]

@@mk1st I doubt very much she's selling much to Russians.

[@presidentelectzigenpuss3570]

I doubt she arrived via Calais in the back of a truck

[@denisdaly1708]

@Robbi rob minorities are always prejudiced against. And this includes native English females, people with disabilities and so on. Prejudiced people on the whole have lower IQ, dislike uncertainty, and like to see that they are superior. This research has been produced the world over. We are good at predicting prejudice.

[@stun9771]

Denis Daly....I seem to hear a twang of prejudice in your voice too....against it seems anyone who’s opinion differs from your own...by claiming they are prejudiced... everyone is prejudiced in some way or other...it’s just being human...the very basic tribalism that exists deep in our ancient phycological makeup...whether you know it or not...

[@danroberts4909]

All over the UK countries, the people have forgotten what life is supposed to be. This excellent series shows pockets of survival in a zombie nation.

[@kingpendaofmercia6947]

Dan Roberts a zombie nation is exactly how I'd describe the UK, the government mindlessly walking towards a cliff edge. The people mindlessly walking towards the pub every weekend, nothing else to do. Rotting and boarded up buildings.

[@digbycrankshaft7572]

Zombie nation. Perfect description

[@naomim4631]

Leaving the EU is NOT going to solve any of these peoples problems or make them less miserable. It will just make things worse. Britain has lost its way. So sad to see

[@ameyas7726]

Yeah it's all seems so miserable over there...and that is coming from someone who lives in a third world country....maybe it's just the music and camera effects!!!

[@tonyeff4447]

@@ameyas7726 The west is under spiritual attack. Time of great deceit

[@marksimons8861]

It's not going to make the blindest bit of difference. Did the EU force the council to demolish its Town Hall?

[@forza223bowe5]

So how can we control immigration to sustainable levels, avoid undercutting of wages, and make our own laws under the EU? We tried for reform, and we were told no. So I still believe leaving the EU is the right choice

[@naomim4631]

I would be delighted if all your hopes that somehow leaving the EU would magically solve all these peoples problems. But sadly I dont think it will. The world changes, whether we like it or not, you can not stop the tides of change & somehow go back to some mythical golden past when things were better. Think of the changes that smart phones & computers have made. You can not give those up. We live in a globally integrated world, whether we like it or not

[@CarWhiz22]

What strikes me in this video is the portrayal of the dying high street. Sure, politics will have had an affect on it, but one of the main reasons for the death of the high street is the rise of eCommerce. The way we shop is changing and as current trends show the high street will continue to die as people continue to click.

[@muckadeezy]

Automation and amazon

[@pandora8478]

Amazon

[@MrYorickJenkins]

True but lowering commercial rates would help small shops-councils dont want to lose the revenue though

[@karla.karlaabbott3254]

CarWhiz22 lazy people I love going out to shop !

[@Mrgingerdread1]

The internet is taking alot of business away from our towns.

[@enoeht5519]

Hello Guardian. You guys need to be doing these sorts of videos on a daily basis. Thumbs up John!.

[@sicgc7658]

I live in Newtown Edinburgh, supposedly one of the most affluent areas in the entire UK. Since Ruth Davidson became our MSP, who I actually came close to voting for but ended up voting Green for environmentalism, has made this place awful. There are consistent delays in infrastructure works which obstruct my route, cause travel issues, noise issues and have been left almost abandoned. The road next to me has been under construction for months, and the sole reason being is because Ruth left the works on delay for weeks, then took maternity leave. I don’t have an issue with the maternity leave, it’s the fact she put it off for so long that she tried to use the leave as an excuse, when it was down to her ignorance to the problems in her constituency. Shops have lost investment, there’s no communication with our representatives outside of the Edinburgh a Council, and there’s no dialogue between Ruth and the people that live here. Not a single person on my street our the neighbouring ones is actively campaigning conservative anymore. They use our affluence to win over votes, all whilst draining our pocket and our local communities of resources. Most of the streets, including the West End, has SNP posters in the windows now, between Brexit and the potential of Angus Robertson being our candidate. I’ve been pro-independence since 2015, and SNP since 2017, and I’m surprised that most of my area is now too. The conservatives will run our island of nations in the ground to fund their vanity projects and line their own pockets.

[@ChrisRedfield--]

Next time vote Lord Buckethead!

[@whocares2087.1]

He has lasers!

[@TheBushdoctor68]

Donkeys for everyone!

[@Lee-70ish]

You may laugh but I will not be suprised if somewhere a Monster Raving Loony party member gets into parliament. Can't be any more loony than the ones already ensconced there.

[@Doomedcreatures]

yes!!

[@Zeleniprojekt]

@@marcbennet4346 Cost of EU membership is on average cost of coup of coffee a day per citizen. Money that goes to Eastern European goes in first place for infrastructure, law reforms, border security and social projects with emphasis on improving quality of education. Most of these projects are run by british consulting companies, one study showes that 30% of all consulting contracts are won by UK companies securing many high paying jobs. So it is utterly stupid to deny all those jobs and contracts for UK companies that in the end come from the common EU budget. Furthermore, the point is to have cheap fresh produce in UK by helping all farmers in EU, and in general to have single, common market of 520 million people to be able to compete with USA and China, and in the long run with Brasil, Mexico, Africa and India. If Eastern Europeans are well off, they will be able to buy british produced cars, and then those british producers will be able to produce more, will be able to employ more people, and those cars will be cheaper to export to the rest of the world. How in f* you do not get it?

[@robertmcdonnell6039]

This series is great

[@isoaqua5825]

That woman at 1.25 is so f-ing spot on....

[@shelde8344]

My god the audacity of that Indian women talking of austerity in the area with the highest house price rises in the whole of the uk beaconsfield. She came here on an arranged marriage and married a British indian. Pure hypocrisy and leaving in her own world

[@Richardparent879]

I really wish we had someone like Mr. Harris in Canada doing visits to different areas. I've seen the dramatic decaying of many communities here in Canada Post Pandemic... And none of the political parties have a grasp of how dire the path our country had taken. Please keep doing these Guardian.

[@lulusmith4877]

Decaying cities depressed people I wonder why The rich getting richer and the poor well we know!!!! No surprises there !!!😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@WickedRibbon]

Great series. Actually provides some much needed perspective in a time when our government is driving us to despair.

[@Whysosadams]

My dad had a flat in Beaconsfield and it is utterly abysmal there. Direly empty streets. All upmarket places, the main shop is a Waitrose. A lot of people live around this area like the 'Tory Activist'. People who either come from hard-working families or from wealth who think their own money is down to their own merit. I simply don't understand the mental gymnastics required to be a Tory. And Beaconsfield is the distilled Tory heaven. With nice (private) schools, nice neighbours (if you can catch them entering their mansion) and no sign of the working class people who commute in to run the town.

[@harrimi]

Woman at 10:46 sums it up. Narrow-minded rich folk thinking they know best.

[@mattimhiyasmith]

Totally agree!

[@MrYing78]

Hardly surprising the hairdresser didn't believe that a lot (not all of course but a lot) of immigrants are doing the jobs people from here don't want to do - but then moan that jobs are being taken away. That's one thing May has done really well for some of her constituents...make them believe all immigration is bad. Nice one Tel.

[@KazakhToon]

The business rates are high because the current system confers advantage on out-of-town and online retailers, since the value of their premises is generally lower. If custom is moving online, the government needs to recognise that and move taxation in the same direction, otherwise they will lose tax take and gut the UK's town centres simultaneously. And none of that stuff is the EU's fault!

[@tams805]

@@headhunter7616 A what point are the owners going to admit that their units are worth almost nothing? As it's not gone so far, it seems never. Of course, should the situation, they'd be quick to raise rates again and trigger the whole thing again.

[@andrew300169]

Towns are changing shops are closing because of new technologies, they are not dying just changing. Over time apartments are built, offices etc

[@KazakhToon]

@@andrew300169 Of course change is inevitable, but saying apartments and offices will replace small businesses is massively problematic. It completely changes the local economy, a pound spent online in a town like that is immediately taken out of the system, whereas in a town with SMEs and independent shops, the money spent circulates locally much longer, having a multiplier effect on economic activity and producing a healthier tax take.

[@andrew300169]

KazakhToon wouldn’t disagree with you but instead of shops, you may see other things supplying the new intake of people coffee shops, cafes etc. People spend their money for convenience, in Paris I believe (maybe wrong) small family restaurants are taxed at a different level to large multinationals so it should be in this country tn encourages a more interesting high street. The high street killed itself, once going to one was exactly the same as any other, why go and browse you know what you will see it’s the same in every town.

[@chamkaur1160]

An excellent suggestion, but if you don't like it go hone

[@ladi7133]

Alot of people are focused on the Indian lady but the 10:46 lady was rather interesting. She had a great critique of affluent Brexit voters.

[@diogennesthesinope61]

Inasmuch as you seem to like the idea of hard, hard work espoused by your Cameron and the Tories, remember NOT everyone has the same opportunity and talent/ability! There MUST be a social, safety net that caters for folks who were left behind especially because/maybe the tories and other politicians" generation stole from them.

[@diogennesthesinope61]

@devontodetroit Fair point. I was not trying to stigmatize them. I am saying it is only human to know that we MUST create a safety net in every society for those who have been cheated deliberately or in-deliberately, by the system. The Tories and other right wingers like tagging those at the end of the economic ladder as beggars and lazy people who should be guilty of being made or created to be the way they are! This is the case in many western countries - the same politicians and their donors feed off tax payers money the most and do not want to pay any taxes. It is indeed complex.

[@barbariandude]

@devontodetroit In fact, it's not even that 100% employment is impossible, 100% employment is destructive and detrimental to a capitalist economy. 100% employment means that no new company can start up without poaching employees from other companies, leading to ripple labor shortages causing companies to either fail or underperform en masse. I completely agree with the core point in this comment thread about safety nets for the underemployed and unemployed btw.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

@@barbariandude except every year there is a fresh crop of high school and college graduates to fill the ranks of retirees and new business poachers. Did you consider that. Society is a ladder of sorts. You can choose to stay at the bottom of you can climb. Greed has hurt the climb considerably. High housing prices, taxes and rents dessimate those at the bottom. England looks like it's very expensive.

[@decoyrev3219]

Sure we can work hard, but the system's rigged in favour of the company you work for and, by extension, the government and it's outdated neo-liberal capitalist agenda. It's not working anymore - New economic models are desperately needed, but the government still has to promote 'hard working families' to continue grinding their outdated model into the ground. I'm very grateful to be living in a country where I can work and better myself in the eyes of society - that is a great thing - but the train has come off the tracks and they are just telling us to keep putting coal in the engine at this point.

[@diogennesthesinope61]

@devontodetroit Yes never mind the other side of the debate who pretend to close their eyes to the issues. And we can talk about Brexit and the 45th president being consequences of the silent rebellion. If nothing is done, the worse is still to come.

[@williamcallister3276]

So the politicians want to learn the hard way so be it they will learn the hard way

[@kolendamp3360]

Thank you John Harris, the problem appears to be UK governance and not the EU. Greetings from Brazil (we have our own problems).

[@NLTops]

I love how even people from the other side of the world see this clear as day. Yet people living in Britain don't.

[@dickhamilton3517]

that's right. The problem was always here, not there.

[@GeorgRusbeck]

you made my day!

[@forza223bowe5]

I think it’s fair to say that both the Uk government and the EU are to blame for this countries problems. Successive governments have looked after their own interests and not the average Joe

[@dickhamilton3517]

Forza223 - it's not as simple as that, mate - it's about a revolution that hardly anybody here knows they participated in, because it did not have just a single identifiable name - an ideology introduced first to Britain and then to the US and Europe by Thatcher and continued by Blair's government and all following. Ever wondered why Thatcher and Helmut Kohl in Germany didn't get along? It was a step too far for him, he was a conservative, Thatcher was not. The revolution has many names, thatcherism, reaganomics, new labour, the third way, chicago-school economics, and what the south americans (actually the first countries to suffer it, in the mid 70s) called it - 'the model', or neoliberalism. Look up Mises and Hayek - they changed your life, but you never heard of them or voted for them.

[@alexhayden2303]

Shopping Malls are DYING in the US. Britain is just a bit behind the curve!

[@karla.karlaabbott3254]

alex jervis Such a shame,I want to see and feel what I'm trying on in clothes not look at pictures and hope for the best ,it's very sad !!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I never thought I'd say "well done Guardian", but this is a thought provoking video. Satisfaction comes from achieving something, I used to feel proud to be British when I travelled around the world, now I'm slow to admit I'm British, we don't make anything anymore, this is really noticeable in somewhere like New Zealand where back in the 60's most of the cars, trains, lorries and buses were made in the UK, today nothing I see in New Zealand is from the UK. I'm fed up with our politicians apologising for things Britain did over 100 years ago, I know we were not perfect, but we did a lot more good than harm, now we are becoming the butt of jokes, that doesn't make me feel good. Like most British people I want a new Prime minister I can look up to in the knowledge he or she is standing up for Britain, someone who is going to get us manufacturing again, someone to restore our pride in being British, someone who realises we need apprenticeships not more low grade graduates who have little or nothing to offer industry. I listen to youngsters in India, China, Vietnam etc, they are driven, unlike so many of the apathetic British youngsters who seem to believe the world owes them a living. Without a strong leader Britain will become a third world nation. If ever a nation needed a kick up the backside, it is Britain today.

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

No Tim, what we need is to leave neoliberalism behind. The Labour Party had a manifesto to do just that back in 2019, but it was impossible to wean the English off their love of posh boy c***.

[@JordanjamesX]

I love this thank you Guardian going out talking to real British people about brexit.

[@0penminds]

And painting everyone as miserable, when the average joe is nothing of a sort.....

[@kirbycairo]

I am SO glad that I left England in the late 90s.

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

Yeah? Where are you now? Spain?

[@MrYorickJenkins]

One of the worst things about Britain is the outrageous tax on alcohol. Glad to be in a country (Germany) where i can afford a bottle of wine

[@plv3186]

"There's a row going on down near Slough" ....The narrator knows his Jam lyrics.

[@matthewshedden6456]

Props to the Guardian, this "Anything but Westminster" series is good and eye-opening. It is a shame so much attention has been put onto the matter of Brexit instead of the communities and the underlying reason why. Since this series has probably got a lot more fuel in the tank, it would be interesting to see an episode in rural UK (e.g. North Wales, SW Scotland etc.).

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

Brexit was a con. Voters thought they were voting for change. They were in fact voting for even more of the same.

[@oneki]

this is all david cameron's fault.

[@MrYorickJenkins]

That pathetic Remain mantra popular with comedians and Private Eye "it's all David Cameron's fault for letting people vote boo hoo". He honoured an election commitment. Poltiicians are usually chastised for not doing so. Seems you cant win as a poltiician. If a fault lies anywhere it lies with Harold Wilson not laying down rules when he called Britain's first ever referendum, for defining how often referenda can be held on the same subject. People who do not believe in referenda should be honest enough to admit that they dont believe people should be allowed to decide on single issues at all

[@bell1036]

Sorry for the Britain, but it seems like it is just the start of its downhill trip.

[@forza223bowe5]

The Uk has been going to the dogs for ages, well before Brexit.

[@carlosandresmunozalatorre4433]

This has been so since before of The Brexit.... Britain has had This trouble always

[@forza223bowe5]

John Brighton I would say around 2007, things started to change

[@itzthemuffinman42]

Keep these coming, they’re so valuable and informative.

[@deepnunder]

Amazon locker is not just accidentally there at the end.

[@phillhb]

Caught that one too..

[@LynxChan]

I think it's a call-back to the episode in Wigan where that bloke was an Amazon delivery driver and didn't even make minimum wage with what he earned.

[@jerryorange6983]

Perhaps walking on these streets with the closed shops someone should think: Why on earth we have voted in these people. But no one think this way and they just vote same people again and again

[@whalewatchersa]

All this talk about empty high streets, yet no mention of online shopping (unless I missed it)

[@michaelhulbert7983]

That little pan over to the Amazon drop-box at the end was, I thought, a nice little nod to larger forces at work in the decay of High Streets. You can't tackle everything in one film!

[@gennaterra]

Are you trying to say that now online shopping is for struggling working class people? Where you scratching your azz on the first half of this report AND MISSED IT? UGH

[@studiotech6194]

Online shopping has changed everything and all these people needs to realise. why getting things in town centre when you can get those products cheaper online from China or any where else in the World. in year's to come we will lose almost 50% of our Jobs to robotics industry.

[@ChristianIce]

@@studiotech6194 It's not who buys that has to adapt. If people are trying to buy stuff in town center and there's nobody who sells, sellers are bad at their job. It's the basics of supply and demand, and it's also the reason why if people don't buy fridges in the north pole it's not because they are bad customers :D

[@jameseden9380]

I think online shopping is a well know issue. Rates for high Street shops is something that could be changed, that's the government's perogative.

[@withoutwroeirs]

The Ian character left me wanting to punch the screen. "Best way to heal the divisions of this country is just to get on with it and get the hell out of the EU" Doesn't he realise that's almost certain to result in dissolving the union? You'll only be twisting the knife and stabbing the Scots in the back.

[@guywilloughby3383]

If brexit has proven anything to me it is that I couldn't care less about the Union I especially couldn't care less about Ireland. I used to be a royalist but this has also proven to me that the royal family are a waste of time Parliament sits in their name and yet she has done nothing about what's been going on, so yes get out of the European Union, break up the United Kingdom and become a republic!!

[@Mugdorna]

The idea of “get on with it” is a symptom of the lack of education/lack of espousal of Brexit lies about the whole issue. Certain Brexiteers trumped the idea of an easy exit with only benefits to experience. The reality is that it’s a seismic change for a nation, the vote was taken with no proper information to the UK public, no proper robots challenges to the sound bites sprouted by Brexiteers (and some Remain MPs).

[@guywilloughby3383]

@@Mugdorna what an absolute load of rubbish. Leaving on wto terms is exactly what I voted for, at best a free trade agreement with the European Union as an independent nation but the Parliament are in cahoots with the EU and have been conspiring to bring an end to brexit from the moment we voted to leave. I knew exactly what I was voting for and if you put the same question to the people tomorrow I will still vote to leave. However if they do put the question back to the people it will be a 3 question deal, remain..the pm deal or wto, that will split the leave vote and we will end up staying it is corruption at its worst

[@Mugdorna]

@@guywilloughby3383 Really? Because 'WTO terms' was rarely if ever mentioned by leading Brexiteers until mid 2017. There is in fact footage of several stating that 'crashing out' was not going to happen, or that the UK could leave the political union but remain in the single market. No Deal was first proposed by David Davies in early 2018 as a negotiating tactic.

[@guywilloughby3383]

@@Mugdorna actually I can remember the world trade organisation being mentioned a number of times during the campaign as a reference to how we used to trade with the rest of the world before we join the common market. The main argument made by the leave campaign was that we could strike a free trade agreement with the European Union because it was in their interests to have one unfortunately we have a 70% remain Parliament ,we have a staunch remainer in the form of our Prime Minister,and a remainer opposition!! If David davis had been left to negotiate correctly with a brexiteer PM that is exactly how it would have played out.

[@agt155]

The Guardian should pay Labour heartlands a visit once in a while. And I'm not talking about Islington.

[@nopasaran8660]

Think you should watch John Harris going to Wigan

[@tonymaloan]

Lady at 15.53, we need people like her to rebuild Britain.

[@nicholas4791]

this is almost the worst lot

[@abdullaali1799]

Enig. Håber vi går ikke igennem dette piss.

[@topcat8804]

Intelligent, informed and articulate people. I was expecting sneering, car-crash interviewing from this guy, but he actually let the people speak. Fair play.

[@csabatibor]

No disrespect to Slough but Wycombe is now becoming Slough LOL Brits CAN deliver an insult

[@ThereIsTooMuchButter]

You have to come to the south west, particularly the traditionally working class towns stuck inside tory areas. We always get overlooked...

[@soixantecroissants]

This is and excellent piece, I live in the North East and my town is pretty much exactly the same vibe - and I'm anti-brexit and a labour voter for what it's worth.

[@forza223bowe5]

Every part of the North east voted out, except Newcastle, but that is mostly likely due to students

[@soixantecroissants]

@@forza223bowe5 if the students were registered to vote in Newcastle yeah. Might also have been the research professionals at the various world class facilities we have here. You usually get quite an international bunch working in high tech industry positions.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Brexit was a sick idea from the very beginning.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Brexit was rooted in racism and hatred of eastern european migrants. Brexit must be cancelled by the government in the interest of the nation.

[@MrYorickJenkins]

Why? It will lose you money will it? Spoil your materialist internationalist career?

[@Mike.Muc.3.1415]

Why would anybody seriously believe that "the conservatives are about social mobility"? Do I somehow miss the irony?

[@paulwalker797]

That 'modern' chap' thinks getting out of the EU will heal the division!!?? Clueless.

[@paulwalker797]

@@Hoxification You will be out of the EU and the divisions will remain and deepen because the social collapse of the UK has nothing to do with the EU. I am no fan of the EU by the way.

[@paulwalker797]

@@Hoxification I think the UK has made a very serious mistake. Sure the EU is a set up that certainly aids German exports at the expense of southern Europe but it has nothing to do with the economic segregation and social disintegration of the UK cities. To me, it's always a question of priorities. First thing is to tackle your leaking roof and your rotten foundations and only then seek to build your extension on a solid base! Brexit effectively strengthens the hand of the very people who caused the rot in the UK, and the collapse of the UK party system will not concern them. They don't even need democracy...which is why WTO suits them just fine...they will adapt with ease. Sometimes you need to tolerate the lesser evil a little longer while you tackle the greater threat.

[@paulwalker797]

@@Hoxification I am familiar with Lapavitsas but cannot avoid the conclusion that the UK is kaput due to our own making. The people who 'own the country' couldn't give a monkeys about the EU...sure there are a few industry types whose offshoring may take a hit but it will merely rock their pension plan for a while...the yacht will remain on order for future delivery. A few low rank entrepreneurs will go under...that will suit the system just fine...speculation by accumulation is the plan as ever. These so called owners can function in Beijing, Moscow or on Mars if necessary. They have enough to ride out any short term or long term turbulence...poor and working people do not. These are high times for the powerful and yet again the working class have dug their own grave by misdirected ire and cynical anti intellectual reactionary thinking. my extended family are typical of the pro brexit phenomenon ...and despite them being my family I can say that they are a clueless embarrassment. Bitterness and ire 'feelings' and, like it or not, an unhealthy dose of racism are not the base for a political/ economic transformation.

[@suryavajra]

How do you heal an irreconcilable difference?

[@HimmelGanger]

@@paulwalker797 and ​ P Carr blimey! What's this a reasoned and civil conversation on youtube, first the craziness of Brexit, Trump, and now this, we are living in interesting times indeed...oh pardon me, please go on.

[@BDaMonkey]

Once again, these videos are a really interesting insight. Cheers for posting.

[@PaulArthurTV]

Every publication takes a position to tell a story; this film is no exception. It tells a truth, but not THE truth - because there isn't one. Here are come other points of view from Maidenhead: Mrs May has been an excellent MP (I didn't vote for her, but I acknowledge her qualities and commitment to the community); Now with Crossrail about to offer Maidenhead-to-Tottenham Court Road in 40 mins, the Council is adopting a 'dormer town' strategy; make it a place where you sleep, travel into London (or Reading) to work / eat / play, then come home to sleep. Hence a LOT of residential development, and not much else; If you shop online, don't whine about the decline of retailing in town centres; if Amazon is your first (and second, and third) choice, don't be surprised when shops close; Maidenhead's 'Nicholson Centre' went into receivership last year, and bought by 'asset and management group' Tikehau Capital, who are French. Oh, the irony...

[@mididoctors]

Good post that compliments this video in a productive way making both pov relevant

[@billgreen576]

"I understand austerity" whilst living in a house that has rooms bigger than most people's houses in one of the most affluent areas of the country. I am all for people getting their own success but in 10 years. I think the question where did the money come from springs to mind.

[@AG86UK]

"The British people have lost faith in everything now." - a more important comment than one might at first think.

[@jrisner6535]

Love this series! Please keep it up & make more!

[@sarafernandesdelrey7840]

The blonde hairdresser really needs to get her facts right. If immigrants were actually to blame I don’t where we’d be... And the Indian miss 😂 worst example would be hard to find

[@stuart6412]

Come up North mate its far worse.

[@forza223bowe5]

It always has been well before Brexit was even thought off. The north died, when the industry stopped

[@raskolnnikov]

He already has been up North, mate.

[@danlewis92]

You do know he's from near Manchester?

[@gopalashetty6405]

Why UK is so scared of EU.

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

We might catch forrin! 🤣

[@HuplesCat]

John Harris is a national treasure

[@user-eo8jx7jq4u]

A well balanced, unbiased, programme which I didn't expect from The Guardian.

[@peterobbo7512]

Harris isn't a typical Guardian journalist.. more's the pity.

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

The Guardian is one of the few mainstream newspapers which is NOT billionaire-owned ......

[@clockmonkey]

That meeting looked unpleasant.

[@flycrashrepairrepeat6225]

Never thought I would ever say this but.. well done The Guardian for some rounded insight. can somebody pinch me.

[@Hinderlengjes]

An example of how Tory policies have produced the conditions that led to people voting for Brexit.

[@0penminds]

I'll think you'll find it was Labour policy starting under Blair and ending with Brown that started the EU mess, but ignorance is bliss i suppose....

[@Hinderlengjes]

@@0penminds Blair and Brown were basically continuing Tory policy.

[@0penminds]

@@Hinderlengjes And what policy would that be?

[@Hinderlengjes]

@@0penminds Lowering income taxes, which benefit the relatively and especially the very rich more than they benefit the relatively and very poor. Increasing other taxes which benefit the rich - for several years in Scotland we had the poll tax, which quadrupled what used to be my rates - when they tried this in England there were riots and Thatcher was out on her ear, but they'd just overstretched themselves slightly. Remember Ken Clarke as chancellor putting tax on fuel, which disproportionately punishes the poorer, while they were cutting income tax, which benefits the rich. The privatisation of services such as the railways, which has created the terrible service we have now while bleeding off public money into private pockets. Rewarding rather than punishing the bankers that caused the recession - remember George Osborne over in the EU arguing that they shouldn't lose their bonuses, while the Icelanders were jailing them? The use of Scottish oil money in the 70s to finance tax cuts for the rich, rather than paying for public services and building up a fund, like the Norwegians. The deliberate running down of British industry and encouragement of the financial sector, not to mention the farming out of such industry as does exist to foreign companies, which only came here because of the EU connection, which is why they're now leaving. The privatisation of education and health - if you own a private company why do you get involved in those things? To earn money. Where does the money come from? The public purse. What happens if you fail? The public pick up the tab. Allowing tax dodging soon to be outlawed under EU law, which is why the Brexiteers are so keen to avoid it. All of these things benefit rich people more than poor people and rich areas more than poor ones, and create dissatisfaction which the gutter press, owned by Billionaires who benefit from aforesaid policies, can use to hoodwink people into blaming the EU for so as to escape those EU restrictions which do exist in order to milk the country even more before jetting off the the Cayman islands with the dosh.

[@0penminds]

@@Hinderlengjes A nice mish mash of policy there, are you just listing everything that's annoyed you in the past 40 years or something? I just listened to the EU parliament for 6-7 years prior to the referendum, it became quite obvious the EU isn't our friend

[@Djura__]

How many times will you go round and around baffled by the result? This wasn't about economics, the British people voted for Sovereignty and Democracy, regardless of the economic consequences.

[@lewistyrrell866]

You have got to come to buckingham and speak to the people there to find out more on episode 2 of decay in Tory heartlands because it is a whole different story with many new retailers and shops opening as we prepare for the new oxford to Cambridge expressway and the original railway opening too.

[@Brickfrog427]

Come back and tell us how all that is doing a few months after brexit.

[@JoseWhon]

For god's sake, Internet shopping has caused the decay of every high street in Britain (and Europe). Nothing to do with the Government or Brexit. It's changing modern shopping trends. Don't dress it up in something it's not.

[@mididoctors]

That's the point thou...he doesn't. People have!

[@ZiomekPatrykC]

Shops are disappearing because of internet shopping, I think it will happen in all developed countries

[@daveb3989]

This! Kind of sick of this being seen as a council problem. We're transitioning from high street culture and no one knows what to do with the buildings...

[@jamesrobert4265]

Building don't have to be shops; it's like no-one can figure out what to do with space anymore apart from shelves or a bar 😂

[@karlanders686]

The woman at 11.23 is totally nuts & the fact that the remainers in London & people like her think we should have a 2nd referendum when my county voted 70% leave is totally offensive.

[@alanhill6182]

There are a few empty properties in Maidstone and Beaconsfield that would make a good home for the homeless.

[@dlenny3369]

Amazing videos from John Harris. Speaks volumes for Britain sad to say it but Britain sold itself off to the highest bidder London property...... to rich Emirati, Russian and Chinese Highstreet......... to any chain that would pay top dollar Premier league........ teams to billionaires TV............ to SKY Britain was about building the best of everything, ships, shoes, suits, cars, planes, democracy, language, culture, the list is endless.

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

Not any more, thanks to 40+ years of the "free" market. And the public who voted for it all. Unforgiveable.

[@Thanos1908]

That lady at 2:20 in two sentences "i live in a bubble and the world is changing..i don't want my bubble to change...."

[@googlereviewer1944]

Every high street in the UK is now either a Costa (or similar), Estate Agent, or Betting Shop. UK has gone downhill so much.

[@kingofracism]

Homogeneous societies are better

[@nicholascraigen8856]

Excellent work again.

[@Crmsnraider]

Capitalism and business interests are what conservatives prize most; not the people. Thats what happened.

[@gennaterra]

Capitalism simply just has to shift towards the working class... PROBLEM SOLVED. BREXIT prevents that... that's the whole purpose of it. And meanwhile... let the working class pick on each other.

[@clax19]

Nostalgia with the older generation saying "Never use to be like this" when change has rarely affected them, and never wanting to move forward.

[@ana_stefana]

I think the empty shops are not an economy related problem, it's all about on-line shopping. You can see this all over the world, it is not an English problem.

[@cmmndrblu]

Lady complains about homelessness and the gentleman complains about the construction of houses...

[@chestypants78]

Around 6:50. "I don't come from a very affluent family." I notice she says 'very'. I could easily say that I do not come from an affluent family, and leave out the 'very'. I bet she loves Trump. Another person who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.

[@tjj2294]

An update to those who are interested: the Tory activist who he interviewed has just been selected as the Conservative Party candidate for Slough... pretty sure that Labour will be sharing this clip soon.

[@FFM0594]

Loving the Jam lines.

[@dollyjeanstevens]

Same in my town, pubs mobile shops or charity shops, sad..

[@MrYorickJenkins]

What a lot of people are finally beginning to sense but canniot yet properly articulate is a world wide phenomenon is the disappearance of space and wilderness and room to do things. What EVERY nation in the world has in common is one thing: humans are covering green in concrete. Green parties are more interested in "climate change" which is by conincidence a great boost for various industries ,rather than dealing with the issue of over building and population increases and a society obsessed with growth

[@chewypiano7194]

Why are so many people stuck in the last century?

[@radjew]

because they were born in it?

[@jobapplicant8447]

because it was the most successful century in the history of mankind

[@chewypiano7194]

Karen Chadwick Most successful? Two world wars. Slavery. Concentration camps run by Nazi Germany in Europe and by Britain in Africa. Patriarchal society. Epidemics of disease. No NHS for half the century. Homophobic society. It really was the “most successful” wasn’t it Karen?

[@Chris-oz9qx]

Let me guess, this century of Pokémon go and advocado on toast is the one to be proud of?

[@chewypiano7194]

Chris What a pathetic argument. Why compare global, serious issues to food and games?

[@Shub99]

An excellent programme .. well done in doing this

[@paulmurray8922]

"There are no problems...". Simply amazing.