It is estimated that nearly one million Poles resided in the UK prior to the Brexit decision. There is some evidence, mostly from anecdotes indicates that around 200,000 people from this Polish community have gone to the UK. What are the main reasons these Polacy Wielka Brytania have left or are planning to leave?
I was thrilled when I received an email from a dear acquaintance of mine Roger Casale, founder of the New Europeans and also a former member of the UK Parliament.
Roger sent me an email to inform me the colleague of one of him, Peter Conradi, who is the editor of Sunday Times Europe He was able to write a piece this weekend on the reason that so many Poles have already quit the UK and I was subsequently very happy to have the opportunity to talk to Peter.
It was a fascinating discussion that, perhaps at first, prompted me to think on the reasons for the Polish nationals’ exile of the UK. The trend has already been felt by many members of my own countrymen as well as countrywomen.
It is estimated that nearly 1 million Poles resided in the UK prior to the Brexit referendum. There is some evidence, mostly from anecdotes indicates that about 200,000 people from Polish people Polish community have quit the UK. It’s a massive migration of Poles and I believe could continue to happen in the near future. So , what are the motives that people have left or are planning to leave?
Brexit decision, its implications and the post-Brexit uncertainty is one of the main causes. I think that a lot of us were unsure which direction our country was heading in. Does my status as an immigrant change? Can I work, purchase or rent an apartment? My rights as a citizen be secured and secured? Many of my acquaintances were in an “limbo condition”.
Some people felt that the result of the Brexit vote also had emotional repercussions of feeling “unwanted” or an unwelcome second-class citizen. Many may have felt our contribution wasn’t valued and acknowledged.
My opinion is that the consequences of a pandemic in terms of health being unable to travel, to visit our family members (often aged and needy) or job uncertainty triggered for people to undergo a radical change in their decision-making process. Freedom of movement is one of the main pillars that define the European identity and something that me and my family has greatly enjoyed but has also ended.
A lot of us had to consider a range of questions about our lives, and weigh the importance of our living a full life against the necessity to take care of or be near to the members of our families. Does the pandemic have strengthened family relationships of many Europeans? It is possible.
There was another aspect, which I believe to be important, that “helped” individuals to make a decision about the condition of the Polish economy. The pre-pandemic world is an era gone by, but it is vital to stress that Polish economy was performing exceptionally well before the outbreak: the quality of life, the wages and the endless (literally) job opportunities in Poland might have been one of the motives behind why certain Poles opt to make the decision to move.
Am I worried? Yes. This weekend I received a letter from my Mum and brother gave us a wonderful parcel from Poland and included confectionery, Polish dumplings and clothes. It was interesting to speak to our driver (at 1am early in the early morning!) about the journey across Europe that, especially during the crossing of through the UK channel, was not without some challenges.
The driver of the delivery thought that the situation could get more difficult when the volume of traffic grows. So…we were informed that the so-called “red tape” will be cut down. It was said that it will be much easier to trade. We were informed that Britain will be the leader in the development in the world economy. In reality, quite the contrary is taking place in the UK. UK exports of goods to EU decreased by 40 percent in January.
After the pandemic is gone then the government will need to stop blaming the EU as well as COVID for its inefficiency, failures and inability to keep their commitments, often breaking.
I’ll admit that the topic of migration, an international phenomenon, fascinates my heart. The future of our lives after Brexit as well as post COVID are going to be different, but I believe that our urge to move and expand our horizons will never cease. Let’s hope that a lot of us will find “home” regardless of where we travel or decide to settle.