SelectionPhotographer Ed Alcock spent, for "Le Monde", the first day of a new era on the quays of Dover, then on the ferry bound for Calais, in a European Union detached from the United Kingdom.
First day offshore for the United Kingdom. On the quays of the port of Dover, on a ferry to Calais, a handful of Englishmen look in the rear view mirror three and a half years from a Brexit which is still not finished. Because, if nothing has changed today, everything has changed.
ED ALCOCK / M.Y.O.P FOR THE WORLD
Raymond Sayer (88) is a retired optometrist from Grantham. He is on vacation in Dover.
“Brexit is absolutely great. We got what we wanted, and it looks good. Finally, not completely, of course. But the country is overwhelmed by immigrants and it has to stop. Boris Johnson will make a better negotiator than May – partly because he is a man, but also because May was remainer. "
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Jess, 18, and boyfriend Nathan, 21.
The two no longer remember who they voted for in 2019. "Now that we have Brexit, I hope it will be good for the economy of Doversaid Jess. I have lived here all my life. It was way before, but it’s really run down now. "
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Rob May, 45.
The man wishes to emphasize that he does not know much about politics, and even less about Brexit. But by digging a little, we learn that he voted "Remain" in 2016. He was surprised by the result, having gone to a local meeting, and of the 32 people present, only two wanted to leave the EU. He has a fear: that Brexit will raise prices.
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Paddy and Ian Rogers, 72 and 76, are retired and live in Sheffield.
They are on vacation in Dover and, in summer, they like to travel all over France with their caravan. They both voted "Remain" in 2016 and "Lib dem" (Liberal Democrats) in 2019. They say they respect democracy, however, and want Brexit to work. "This is the first day out of Europe, but it doesn't look much different. But it’s strange not to be in the EU. That said, today's EU is not the one we signed up for in 1973. "
ED ALCOCK / M.Y.O.P FOR THE WORLD
The trucks wait to be loaded on the Spirit of britain, as the ferry prepares to embark on its first voyage the day after the enactment of Brexit.
ED ALCOCK FOR THE WORLD
Madeleine Hall, 71, retired, lives in Dover.
She voted to stay in the EU in 2016, and for the Labor Party in the 2019 general election. For her, not much will happen – and she is generally right. But she still worries. "My biggest fear after the breakup is to become the bitch of America. It’s horrible, absolutely horrible. It’s so overwhelming to live in the last four years. "
ED ALCOCK / M.Y.O.P FOR THE WORLD
Andreas Frangenberg (61) is from Erkelenz, Germany.
“Brexit is very, very sad. We had 70 years of peace in Europe, he explains on the ferry to Calais. Our different nations have grown stronger together. I am very concerned about the current trend towards nationalism that is seen in many countries. "
ED ALCOCK / M.Y.O.P FOR THE WORLD
Alex Goodwill, 38, lives in Kent, where he sells used cars.
He voted "Remain" in 2016, and "Lib dem" in 2019. “I feel drained, disappointed, embarrassed and ashamed. Friday night I was watching Twitter and listening to the racist songs sung during the Brexit celebrations. It really upset me, so this morning I took the ferry to Europe for a few hours. I don't want to spend my day off with all these racist wankers. "
ED ALCOCK / M.Y.O.P FOR THE WORLD
Sabry, 30, is Algerian and has lived in Zurich since graduating from university in the UK.
“Brexit is terrible, and will affect me directly. I live in Switzerland, a country that has concluded a reciprocity agreement with the EU. What will be the agreement for third countries which have such an agreement with the European Union? I hope that the United Kingdom can negotiate an agreement similar to that which Switzerland has concluded with the EU. "
ED ALCOCK / M.Y.O.P FOR THE WORLD
On board of Spirit of britain, in the middle of the English Channel, where the maritime border between the United Kingdom and Europe is today.
ED ALCOCK / M.Y.O.P FOR THE WORLD
Mac McCollum lives in Dover, where he works as a real estate agent.
“Brexit is an absolute travesty. People who voted to leave the EU have no understanding of tax policy and all the benefits of being a member of Europe. We are moving towards an even greater uncertainty. "
