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Brexit opinion divided in Leave-voting district

John Devine
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Reporting from March
John Devine/BBC Alex Cox is 64, he has a grey thinning beard and moustache he has dark rimmed spectacles on and grey tartan/tweed flat cap on his head with grey hair sticking out slightly from the sides. He is wearing a brown body warmer over a mauve jumper with a yellow open-necked shirt underneath.John Devine/BBC
Alex Cox, 64 said he regretted voting to leave because he felt the government did not fulfil its promises and "told us what they wanted us to hear"

It is now five years since the United Kingdom left the European Union.

The Fenland district of Cambridgeshire recorded one of the highest leave votes in England in the 2016 referendum, with 71.4% wanting out and 28.6% opting to remain from a turnout of just over 73%.

How do people in the Fenland town of March feel about it now?

Richard Humphrey Flowers on a road bridge over a river with some boats moored up on the left, a large ornate clock tower can be seen behind with a statue of Britannia in green bronze on top.Richard Humphrey
Fenland saw a high Leave vote in the 2016 referendum and the topic still divides opinion

Alex Cox, 64, said he voted to leave the EU so Britain could control its own borders and cut immigration.

He said he thought British people were being "left behind" and becoming "second- class".

Now, though, he believes some politicians in the Leave campaign lied, and said if he could turn back time, he would have voted to remain.

Asked if he felt there were any positives from leaving, he said: "Not in my eyes, there aren't."

John Devine/BBC Nick Lambert is 23, has a mop of dark hair with beard and moustache he has thin dark rimmed glasses on and a grey woollen sweater over a blue shirt with white spots on, behind him is a river bank and trees and beyond is March Broad Street with shops either side of a wide avenue.John Devine/BBC
Nick Lambert, 23 was too young to vote in the 2016 referendum but said thought people were misled by misinformation around Brexit

Nick Lambert, 23, was not old enough to vote on Brexit but was a keen observer of what happened.

"I feel like there was a lot of misinformation, particularly online, that might have influenced younger people," he said.

"It feels like a road perhaps we should not have gone down. I remember at school people like [Nigel] Farage and such were pushing how fantastic it would be and how it would benefit the NHS.

"Reflecting back on it, it was a misled conversation. Hindsight is a boon, but there is very little benefit that I can see from it."

A couple married for 33 years wanted to remain anonymous, but the husband said he had voted to leave in the 2016 referendum, while his wife voted to remain.

He said: "I have no regrets. It is OK to trade with Europe, but why should we have to pay for it?"

His wife said: "I voted to stay in the EU because there are a lot of advantages. I think countries should stick together and support each other; look at all the wars that are going on."

John Devine/BBC Nigel Lambert has grey hair sticking up and a grey beard and moustache. He is wearing a beige woollen jumper and a blue shirt collar is visible. He is standing in front of the window of a shop that sells balloons, greetings cards and gifts. Trees are reflected in the window.John Devine/BBC
Nigel Lambert runs a business in March and said he voted to remain because "he couldn't see any reason to leave"

Nigel Lambert, 60, runs a greetings card and gift shop in March, and voted to remain in the EU.

"I would say to everyone, what has been the change since we left the European Union? We were promised better, but nothing has happened," he said.

"It has been a tough five years. It would be more difficult now to import from Europe.

"All that has happened is suppliers that supply me have turned to other sources that are cheaper, the main one being China.

"It seems mad to me to support the Chinese economy when we could be supporting our neighbours."

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