Swansea MPs say Brexit 'legitimised racism' and want Leave's promised £350m for Wales

Brexit provided a "street legitimacy" for racism and caused social divisions in Swansea, after the city voted to the leave the European Union, claims a local MP. Almost 62,000 voters in Swansea voted for a Brexit compared to 58,307 who wanted to remain. The result was in keeping with the rest of Wales and England, which wanted to sever the UK's ties with Brussels.

IBTimes UK visited Swansea in the aftermath of the result and found a city divided by the outcome and unsure about what happens next. Carolyn Harris, Labour MP for Swansea East, said one of the consequences was legitimacy for racism.

"The consequence of the Brexit vote is that both the campaign and the result has caused unnecessary social divisions and in some cases provided a 'street legitimacy' for racist sentiment," she wrote in an email.

"Sadly, the Remain campaign relied too much on 'self-evident' truths. There were never going to as easily absorbed as the simplistic gut-level Leave messages of sovereignty and immigration.

"In the end, it descended into turning from a means of influencing public opinion into confronting voters with a political loyalty test. That probably repelled as many Labour supporters as it attracted.

"David Cameron described the referendum as a 'giant democratic exercise'. My verdict is that it was a giant error of judgement on his part."

Byron Davies, Conservative MP for Gower, said all eyes were on Westminster after a tumultuous week saw the UK vote in support of Brexit, David Cameron resign as prime minister, a beleaguered Jeremy Corbyn battle on as Labour leader as the majority of his MPs attempt to force him to resign, and the beginning of the Conservative leadership contest.

"That is the big question [what happens next] and I really don't know. It is up to the people where I am standing [Westminster] to decide what happens next. The prime minister was as positive as he could be after the result.

"I would like to think we can continue with the same level of funding for Wales. We were, of course, promised there would be more money available in the event of a Brexit. We have already heard that £350m is coming back."

Back in Swansea, Rob Stewart, leader of the council, accepted Wales voted to leave the EU and called for the governments in Westminster and Wales to get the best possible deal.

"From my perspective, the people of Swansea and the people of Wales have clearly voted to leave," he said. "Now it is important to secure the best deal for Swansea from the government in Wales and in London.

"We will be seeking assurances from the government in London and Wales that they [Leave] come through on their promises. There is funding in place until 2020, that is not in doubt. Above all else, we need calmness and stability."