May 30

I don’t know what I expected in Liverpool. I was excited, in a curious way, for this trip, but had thought that it wouldn’t be as easy or as enjoyable as some of the other legs. I guess the looks on people’s faces in London when I told them that I was going to Liverpool by train to meet and talk to people didn’t lead me to expect a treat.

Well let me tell you, today was a total treat.

The Virgin train was fast and clean. I’m not a train guy – I like to drive – but this was totally an easy way to get here. Then the Loft hotel, the cheapest hotel so far on this trip (£64 a night including £10 for breakfast) was the best so far; I really like it (and I’m not usually a cheap hotel guy either).

So what did we find? Well firstly, today was different because I had a film crew with me; George on the camera and Scotty producing. This was so awesome; we could set up in busy public places, and the camera attracted people like bees to flowers (not really, but almost).  We must have interviewed over a dozen people in four locations – so, so much easier than trying by myself with an iPhone in Maidstone.

Liverpool is an optimistic, happy place, with a thriving retail centre and really friendly, kind people. I was told to expect a North/South divide, so we looked for this and, oooooooh yeah London, they don’t trust you, they don’t feel well represented or understood and, guess what, most people like being in the EU, because they think the EU balances out London’s self-interest and power.
They don’t believe that decisions made in London are in their best interests.

Many of the younger people we spoke to identify as much as living in and being part of Europe as they do with living in the UK.

We spoke to small business owners, tradies, labourers and housewives, and heard comments like, ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’; ‘I don’t fear for my job with immigration’; ‘I like the cheap holidays and it’s easy to travel’; ‘I think things might go backwards economically if we leave’.  They displayed such a generous spirit toward those in need; ‘we’ve got plenty of space up here, we should be doing more for the refugees’.  One woman even told us of her project to resettle people in an unoccupied church-owned building.

My favourite conspiracy theory for the day came from a Scot: – he hopes the UK leaves the EU, then Scotland can leave the UK and join the EU and they’ll be better off than now.

We talked about brands they love and hate.  By the way Starbucks, Google & Apple – you’d be surprised how many people talked about your tax minimisation strategies and they don’t like it.

It might have been the bank holiday or the sunny weather, or both, but I leave Liverpool looking forward to my next trip here, and when I think of Liverpool I think of a thriving, positive and friendly town.