I'm Sebastian Payne and I write editorials and columns for the Financial Times on British politics. Everything in Westminster is currently in chaos. AMA.

[u/financialtimes]

I have worked at the FT for the last three years, commenting on the increasingly mad political discourse in the UK. As part of my job, I am a member of the editorial board. I also present our weekly politics podcast and often pop up on TV.

I tend to come at things from a centre right political perspective. Before the FT, I worked as a writer and editor at The Spectator magazine, And before that I was at the Washington Post and the Daily Telegraph.

I am happy to answer anything about Theresa May, the state of Brexit, the ruptures in the governing Conservative party, the economy, Jeremy Corbyn and what lies ahead for the Labour party. Or whatever else is on your mind. I also have far too much to say about trains, Pink Floyd and the north east of England.

Here are some recent articles:

• https://www.ft.com/content/0eadbb2a-eb5b-11e8-89c8-d36339d835c0
• https://www.ft.com/content/40380478-e766-11e8-8a85-04b8afea6ea3
• https://www.ft.com/content/c6eef948-e80d-11e8-8a85-04b8afea6ea3

[u/bitofrock]

Thank you for responding. I suspect not just cathartic, but purgative at that.

That nearly half the voting population would consider saying "good riddance" to people like my family and I is the problem. The British in me is appalled at the idea. The foreigner in me is thinking "Well screw you, if the country wants this, and the others won't fight against it (see Labour's weakness), then I might as well go somewhere we're going to be more welcomed."

That's a net loss to the country. 75% of the ownership of the firm, plus other shares held, would suddenly be held by someone in a foreign country, with the taxes going there as well.

[u/M1ckey → u/bitofrock]

I could not agree more. Thanks for your comment.

[u/fuscator → u/bitofrock]

There are others of us in the same or similar situations.

My personal situation requires stability at the moment but right now I feel a strong urge to leave the UK.

I have to remind myself that there are still millions of liberal, open minded people and the UK has been an actual leader in progressive policies at times. I'm hoping that this current nationalist, mildly xenophobic phase passes.

Other countries have problems too.

[u/bitofrock → u/fuscator]

Oh God yes... I was watching the local elections in Poland recently and had to shake my head at how that was going and who got voted for and why.

When I lived in Antwerp they elected some rather horrible right-wingers into power.

When I was in love in Paris they managed to get Le Pen (Sr) into the presidential run-off. They only went and did it again recently, with his daughter. And the only place I ever got told to "Go home" from was France.

And Spain - it's awesome in so many ways, but fucking hell they don't understand some simple civil concepts at times. And the corruption is far worse than here.

Germany would drive me nuts for many reasons. I mean, church taxes and public shaming of those who don't pay? Fuck that.

Switzerland is cool in some ways, but I was astonished by some restrictive local laws there and it'd get me down.

Luxembourg is a bit like Switzerland, only smaller and without the skiing.

Everywhere is a bit shit, really.

I do feel like Scotland is pushing progressive thinking further. On holiday there recently with my foreign partner I was surprised at how twice she was asked if she'd consider a job. They're mega keen to get people there, grow the economy, and move forward. But it's affected too much still by Westminster. Nicer attitude to non-English immigrants. I could play on my Irish heritage there to get away with it!

[u/mainhattan → u/bitofrock]

You’re not a foreigner, no matter how badly people, and, now, desperate for votes, governments, treat you. You’re a European, you belong here. Put it into perspective though, this is the nation that produced Chamberlain.

[u/bitofrock → u/mainhattan]

Thank you, but it still hurts when you end up in an argument about immigration with a friend and they say something like "well of course, not people like *you*, it's the others that cause problems."

Unfortunately, when my partner moved here (I have UK citizenship anyway, and so does she now) there was no way she would have been anything other than one of the "others". She sought out an entry level job (albeit one needing languages), and she didn't earn much at first. Now she's well into easy visa territory, and her job is Brexit proof. It's a shame that the UK is changing into a country that is easy for people like my family (we're pretty well off now) but not easy for people like us when we were younger.

[u/mainhattan → u/bitofrock]

Don’t be hard on the lifelong UK’ers, they don’t know any other way.

[u/red--6- → u/bitofrock]

Beautifully explained, thanks. I feel the same. And I don't feel British any more. I'm horrified by our stupidity