Members of this Pro-Brexit support group claim Remainers have abused them for voting to leave the EU (Picture: Leavers of Bristol)

Leave voters in Bristol claim they are being ostracised by their own friends and family for voting to leave the EU.

As a result they have set up a support group to discuss opinions in a ‘safe space’ after being subject to racist and fascist abuse.

The ‘Leavers of Bristol’ meet monthly in a pub or restaurant to discuss politics without fear of being branded a ‘nazi’.

Members say their pro-Brexit views have left them feeling victimised in the city, where more than 60 per cent voted to Remain in 2016.


Jeremy, a 62-year-old member, joined the group after his partner’s son accused him of ‘ruining my life’ for voting to leave the European Union.



He said: ‘Being a Brexiteer has become conflated and bracketed as far-right, but essentially it’s just blanketing 17.4 million people as being fascist and racist or stupid.

‘I’ve been called a Nazi and a fascist because I voted to leave the EU.’

Pro-Brexit support groups are popping up across the country (Picture: Twitter)

‘Leavers of Bristol’ is one of dozens of splinter groups formed out of the ‘Leavers of Britain’ campaign.

Leavers of Britain was conceived by a Londoner who said she felt at odds with her friends over her pro-Brexit views and sought the company of like-minded people.

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Paul, 42, who formed the Bristol group in January, said Remainers get away with displaying ‘acceptable prejudice’ towards Leavers.

He said: ‘A lot of people who voted Remain equated a vote to Leave with racism and with good reason felt appalled by that.

‘It prevents a lot of people who voted leave from being able to talk about it, because rightly they don’t want to be associated with something that has extremely negative connotations.

‘But actually most ordinary, sensible people have a whole host of reasons for voting leave, just as I’m sure people who voted remain did so for different reasons.

Members of the Leavers of Bristol are sick of being called uneducated or racist for voting for Brexit (Picture: Twitter)

‘Unfortunately, there seems to be an acceptable prejudice from Remain voters that means they can accuse Leave voters of either being racist, uneducated, old and irrelevant or ‘chavs’, and then question whether these people should be given the right to vote in the first place.’

Paul blamed Tommy Robinson for tarnishing the Brexit image with far-right propaganda, but described the level of abuse towards Brexiteers as ‘frightening’.

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He said: ‘In many cases they are allowed to get away with it because they see themselves as being on the right side of history.

‘That’s what is great about ‘Leavers of Bristol’ – it gives people the chance to talk about Brexit in an environment where they feel they are not going to be shouted down for it.’

One person who appreciates the company is Teresa, 70, who lost a 50-year friendship when a group of childhood friends decided they no longer wanted to go on holiday with her after they discovered how she had voted.

She said: ‘There is a freedom to know you are able to express yourself, and your thoughts on Brexit, without the fear of being abused.



‘The meetings are a chance to exchange ideas with people without any kind of fear that someone is going to suddenly turn round and insult you.’

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