A Spanish woman who moved to the UK eight years ago, and who has now settled in Fife with her family, has spoken of the ongoing uncertainties surrounding Brexit and the impact it is having on their lives – including concerns about the “worst racism” she ever witnessed.
Auxi Sousa, 31, who lives in Cardenden with her husband Victor and children Hugo, 7, and Fabio, 3, told The Courier that she and her family were now “fully integrated” into their community and their UK-born children, who hold Spanish passports, are completely settled here.
However, with six months to go until Brexit, the worker at Amazon in Dunfermline, who is also studying for an HND in Accountancy at Fife College, said she and her husband – who works in a Glenrothes factory – remained fearful that their employment prospects might be damaged in Britain after March 29 and have some worries they could be forced to return to Spain.
The Spanish citizens, who now own their own home in Fife, are also uncertain of the status and future prospects of their UK-born children who hold Spanish passports.
Auxi, who initially moved from Seville to be with her sister in London while searching for work, said she felt that Scottish people were “much more protective” of foreign nationals than anything she’d experienced in England.
However, she revealed that having moved to Scotland, she knew of at least one incident in Fife after the 2016 Brexit vote when an English co-worker made a racist comment to another non-British co-worker.
“That was the worst incident I’ve experienced during eight years in the UK,” she said.
In another incident, she said a worker claimed all migration to Britain should be stopped “because of ISIS”.
“People seem to be more confident that it’s ok to be racist,” she added.
“But generally I think Scottish people are much more tolerant than in England. At the end of the day we are all people and as far as I’m concerned a passport is just a piece of paper.”
Auxi and her family have no intention of leaving Fife as Spain now feels “alien” to her. “I feel more British than Spanish now,” she said.
However, she does know of several EU nationals who are planning to leave Fife and go home due to the ongoing uncertainties of Brexit and concerns over what will follow next.
She worries what the impact might be for her after she graduates and tries to find a job. Will she be discriminated against because she is “not British”?
However, she believes it would be “unfair” for a second Brexit referendum to take place.
She added: “People voted yes and people have to face up to the consequences of that. But I am confident that if people remain strong and together they can get through this. Britain has got through many challenges in the past which I admire it for. I am confident it will do so again.”
