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A pair of British expats who voted for\u00a0Brexit say that are still \u201cpleased\u201d with their decision and that they \u201cwill have the last laugh when Europe falls apart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wigan-born Michael Stevenson, who voted for the UK to cut ties with the EU and lives near Malaga with his wife, said: \u201cWe were very aware of putting our country first, unlike people here who were worried about how it would affect them. We were concerned with the sovereignty of the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am quite pleased that we did what we did. We will have the last laugh when Europe falls apart,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The retired insurance official, who has lived with his wife in Spain since 2007, said that unlike other British expats who voted remain, he and his family chose not to vote \u201cselfishly\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the vote happened [Remainers] wanted to kill us. But we are in the minority, the educated elite who voted Brexit. We had the last laugh,\u201d the 76-year-old told the i.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Tories’ warning after Ed Davey refuses to say if Lib Dems want to rejoin EU<\/strong><\/p>\n As Keir Starmer proposes a closer working relationship with the EU if he makes it to Downing Street at the next general election, Brexit supporters in Spain remain firm in their anti-EU position.<\/p>\n Retired pub owner Philip Smalley, 76, moved to Spain from Preston in 2007. He voted in favour of Brexit and is unlikely to change his mind anytime soon.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cCloser trade ties with Europe is fine but anything that smacks of the EU interfering in British matters and dictating things from Brussels or Strasbourg is not on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cBoris finally got Brexit done but he was smacked down by Covid and the Blob [the civil service] and the left-wing media. We still have a lot of things to do.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 400,000 UK expatriates live in Spain, the largest community of Britons outside the country. Britain\u2019s exit from the EU has meant that a new set of restrictions apply to people wanting to move to Spain, meaning travellers can only stay for up to 90 days within every 180.<\/p>\n Anne Fernandez, president of Brexpats in Spain, an organisation representing 45,000 UK immigrants who are affected by Brexit, welcomed closer ties with Europe.<\/p>\n \u201cBoris had a timetable to get Brexit done but he did not do it properly. Every week there are Brexit wood worms crawling out of the woodwork and causing problems,\u201d she told the paper.<\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome closer ties with Europe but Starmer has said he is never going to reverse Brexit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n