We talk to leave campaigners featured on the Daily Mail’s front page the day after the referendum. Are they still optimistic?

The day after the EU referendum, this picture of leave campaigners in Peterborough was used on the Daily Mail’s front page to capture their euphoric mood.

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Under the headline “Take a bow Britain”, the paper’s edition last Saturday celebrated “the day the quiet people of Britain rose up against an arrogant, out of touch elite”.

One turbulent week later the Guardian has tracked down several of the people in the photo to see how they feel now. None of them said they regretted voting out, but they did admit surprise about the racist attacks, criticised David Cameron for quitting, and wondered whether anyone actually has a plan. Ukip members were bullish that the party was still gathering strength at the expense of Labour.



1. Wayne Fitzgerald: Conservative, deputy leader of Peterborough city council

I don’t want to be rushed into anything by anybody. I think the country needs to take stock. The isolated incidents that may be race-related, I think that’s appalling. People should be ashamed of themselves. Rightwing lunatics will always look for an excuse to have a go at “Johnny Foreigner”. Immigration is an issue, not because you are a foreigner, but … we don’t have any school places. We have unprecedented demands on [health] services. We just cannot cope. I don’t think Mr Cameron was helpful by resigning. As far as the EU is concerned, we are a like a married couple getting a divorce. We want to live together, but no hanky-panky.

2. Hani Mustafa, 15, Conservative Future activist



I am surprised (about the racist attacks), but sadly some people will want to exploit any situation for their own twisted views. As a Muslim who was born to parents born overseas, I find it appalling that people are using this as an excuse to make racist comments … I think it’s another example of a certain far-right minority who are using this to spread their vile dogma.

3. John Peach, Conservative, mayor of Peterborough

I guess Michael Gove decided Boris Johnson wasn’t Eurosceptic enough! David Cameron has never looked so prime ministerial. I suspect he is demob happy and feels a bit of relief. Personally I don’t think he should have resigned, and I am a bit surprised he did. The number of racist incidents is concerning. The Poles in particular do work very, very hard. I think people have got the wrong end of the stick where they think that the migrants from the so-called accession states will be going back, but that isn’t the case.

4. Emily Fisher, 19, chair of Conservative Future for Peterborough

Like everyone I was very surprised by Gove’s move, the latest unexpected twist in British politics. I campaigned on the issue of sovereignty, not immigration. I think the upsurge in racism is very disappointing. The idea that the appalling, hateful actions of some disgusting people should delegitimise the clear democratic choice of the nation is wrong. I think the government should have had a plan – it is ridiculous there wasn’t a contingency plan.

5. Adam Collins, Ukip activist, Peterborough

Still plenty of time to steady the ship. I am quite concerned about the racist attacks. Freedom of speech has gone out of the window. Am I surprised that nobody seems to have a plan? Yes, kind of. What worries me the most is the pressure on us to come out of Europe almost immediately. Only time will tell how well it will go.

6. John Okonkowski, Ukip councillor, Peterborough

Over 17 million people voted to come out of the EU – that’s got nothing to do with racism. Everybody jumps to the conclusion that if it’s racism, Ukip were involved. I don’t know anything about these attacks. What do you expect me to do about it? My parents are Polish and I have a Polish name. The campaign was nasty.

7. Jay Beecher, secretary and deputy chair of Ukip in Peterborough

There were always going to be people that exploited Brexit. There are going to be far-right people like EDL … the National Front, far-right fascists. Any racist attack is completely deplorable. We definitely don’t think anything less of people who weren’t born British. For a long time in England, the Labour party was supposed to represent the everyday working man. It doesn’t any more. Labour party supporters are starting to come to Ukip … we are going to prove that we are not a one-policy party, locally and nationally.

8. Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough

Jackson, an arch-Eurosceptic, had a spat with the author JK Rowling after the referendum. The episode began when a reporter wrote: “I can’t get over the fact that the winning side lied about a whole bunch of stuff & yet expect us to live cheerfully with the result.” Mr Jackson responsed: “Suck it up whiner …”

Rowling commented: “Welcome to our post-referendum, anti-elitist, in-touch-with-the-people politicians.” Jackson told the Peterborough Telegraph: “I could not care less what JK Rowling thinks.”

The Guardian approached Jackson but did not receive a reply.

9. Sarah O’Grady, Daily Express journalist

O’Grady, the wife of Jackson, has written extensively about immigration as the Express’s social affairs correspondent. Her articles include: “How regions will be hit by soaring immigration”, “We’re sleepwalking to a migration nightmare”, “Immigration does cut house prices”, “White British now a minority in London” and “Pupils lose chosen schools to migrants”. O’Grady declined to comment to the Guardian.

10. John Whitby, Ukip councillor