Chatting Brexit with Petrified Protesters at Last Night's Remain Rally

Soon enough, all the tedious debate we've been subjected to since David Cameron called the EU Referendum (which he has since insisted could plunge us into war) will be over. Instead, there will probably be an even more tedious constitutional crisis of one sort or another.

With Brexit practically either upon us or behind us, I went to a slightly underwhelming "Yes to Europe" rally in London yesterday evening and got the attendees to tell me what they think will happen to our everyday lives after Thursday's vote, and which politician has fucked up their career the worst.

Luke, 22

VICE: Which Tory is the most fucked if we leave?
Luke: Boris Johnson, because he's put his political career on the line with this referendum. He's decided to back one side, which is a bit of a gamble for him. When it doesn't pay off on the 24th of June, he's going to be fundamentally fucked.

Do you think Cameron should admit defeat if we vote for Brexit?
No, but I think he's made a mistake having the referendum in the first place. He's been pretty adamant from the outset that he doesn't think we should leave the EU, so if we vote In, so I don't think there's any reason for him to leave.

You said he shouldn't have called the referendum in the first place – is that because you're scared we might actually leave now?
Yeah, I'm petrified! But, you know, there's an argument for direct democracy, and that's what this is. We elect people so they can make decisions with the information we don't have, and I think a lot of people don't have the information to make a responsible decision in this referendum, so he shouldn't have handed the decision over to us in the first place.

Why did you decide to come along to the rally today?
We didn't, to be honest – we just saw some balloons.

Marta, 25

Why have you come along today?
I've had so many sleepless nights recently, genuinely worried the UK might actually leave the European Union, which seemed like an impossible thing just several months ago. It's now become a possibly tangible reality, so I'm here today in the hope of attracting attention so society can see how many happy, young, forward-looking people there are supporting the European Union.

What do you think will happen to people if we leave?
I think the really scary answer is that I don't know, and I don't think anybody knows; the details are very murky. I think we would be more isolated and live in a much more fear-fuelled society, focused inwards rather than outwards.

Jason, 26

Why did you decide to show up today?
We've got two days to save the country! We were going to go for dinner, but then I thought, 'This is it – I need to be doing something!'

Why are you voting to stay In?
I believe in unity. I believe in a close union for humanity, and I believe it's about what we can put into the European Union, not what we can get out. Even if we were losing out on Europe, I would still support us staying because we're a rich country, and we have a moral obligation to help the rest of the world.

If you could tell people one thing on polling day, what would you say?
Think of others before yourself!

Rachael, 25

Why did you decide to come today?
Just to show my face, to make sure there was enough support out there. It's far smaller than I imagined it would be – I thought there would be far more people, which scares me, because maybe I think there are more people who will vote Remain than there actually are…

It's a possibility. So, why are you voting Remain?
I don't want to give the government we have any more power.

What do you think will happen if we leave?
I hope there will be riots. That's what I'll be encouraging on social media! I don't think young people will stand for it, because it will have been imposed on us, rather than chosen.

What would you like people to know ahead of the referendum?
You Brexit, you pay for it!

James, 26

Why did you decide to come out today?
I think our young generation has failed a bit, so I just want to be more vocal. More young people need to be present, definitely.

Are you going to vote for Remain?
I'll always vote for something that's about unity and staying together over isolation, because it's always the better option. Also, when the people saying we should leave are Gove and Boris Johnson, it's a good measuring stick as to where you should put your vote.

What do you think will happen to us all if Brexit happens?
It will be annoying, because the people who will have voted for us to leave will be dead in ten or 20 years, and we'll be the ones who actually have to deal with it.

Cherish, 28

Why did you come along to the rally today?
I figured, why not? I want to stay, but I don't have any reasons for that other than the fact that being in the EU has always been a good thing for me – it's always let me travel and do lots of other cool shit. But yeah, I felt this would be a good opportunity to learn a bit more about all the arguments out there.

What do you think will happen to people if we leave the EU?
I think it will affect us, especially young people, in a really shitty way, because travelling, Erasmus, studying abroad and all those sorts of great things might go away. Yes, we put a lot of money into the EU, but we also get a lot back in the form of grants, jobs and all that other fun stuff. I also feel like leaving would have a negative effect on people in the creative industries, because I feel like the EU looks after their interests more than the government does.

Do you think Cameron should quit if we vote to leave the EU?
What would be the point of that? We'd get another one just like him.

@YasminAJeffery

More Brexit stuff:

Brussles Babylon: An Insiders' Guide to Sex, Money and Bickering and Money in the EU's HQ

How Brexit Would Fuck Festivals and Live Music

A Rainy Afternoon With UKIP's Only MEP in Scotland