Britons were told by government to ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ and Twitter didn’t disappoint
The government has unveiled its £100 million “Get Ready for Brexit” advertising campaign, sparking a range of reactions and emotions on Twitter.
The move came as the official Get Ready for Brexit portal launched on the Gov.uk website – but not everyone was a fan.
The government says the new campaign lets individuals and businesses know how they will be affected if the UK leaves the EU on October 31 as planned.
The slogan appeared on a huge billboard at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, east London, on Sunday, a day after thousands protested across the UK at prime minister Boris Johnson’s plan to prorogue Parliament.
It will be publicised on social media in the coming days and TV adverts will appear later this month.
The PR campaign is run by Michael Gove, the cabinet minister tasked with no-deal Brexit preparations.
Read more
Boris Johnson warns Tory Brexit rebel MPs they will be sacked if they vote against government
Thousands protest across the UK against Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament
Sadiq Khan calls Donald Trump 'global poster-boy for white nationalism'
Travellers were warned to expect delays at the UK border after October and to check with their vet before taking pets to the EU.
The hashtag #GetReadyForBrexit trended on Twitter, and while some users congratulated the government for getting on with it, many others were more sceptical.
#getreadyforbrexit pic.twitter.com/rrrbFxCoKJ
— christhebarker (@christhebarker) September 1, 2019
Twitter user @christhebarker doctored the official slogan to read: “Look, can you stop making such a fuss, some of us stand to make an absolute fortune out of this”.
Another user, @LuckyHeronSay, said: “Get ready for Boris Johnson’s right wing disaster”.
Get ready for Boris Johnson's right wing disaster capitalist no deal brexit
Hedge Fund Bankers will make more money by Christmas than you will in 5 years of hard work
Pound sinks? Johnson & Rees-Mogg have their investments in tax havens in other currencies#GetReadyForBrexit pic.twitter.com/WFQp75iYWb— #FreeAssange Heron 🌍 (@LuckyHeronSay) September 2, 2019
I’m sorted. Are you? #GetReadyForBrexit pic.twitter.com/p6VGafCC44
— Hannah Jane (@w11eyh) September 2, 2019
Couldn't resist using Photoshop to add some graffiti to one of the Govt's new ads. They've left lots of white space at the bottom, an ideal canvas for real graffiti artists - go for it! This ad campaign is a ridiculous & criminal waste of taxpayers' money. #GetReadyforBrexit pic.twitter.com/zDHNxY3mnZ
— Aidan O'Rourke #FBPE #RevokeArt50 #PeoplesVote (@Aidan4Europe) September 1, 2019
We can go back to drinking hot mud with sugar substitute, just like the old days.#GetReadyForBrexit pic.twitter.com/uk09JMsbBx
— Alex (@DrAlexMarshall) September 1, 2019
Other users were quick to point out the rather basic questions on the Get Ready for Brexit portal on the government’s website.
Well, I assume unless you’re at death’s door or are a massive homebird, you probably do plan on travelling at some point in the future 🙄
These questions are about as clear as this whole Brexit process has been…#GetReadyForBrexit #Brexit pic.twitter.com/N6eJwJQK1u— Rob Gainey (@RobGainey1) September 1, 2019
I might have strayed from the brief#StopTheCoup #GetReadyForBrexit #StopBrexitSaveDemocracy pic.twitter.com/62gHG1ijvM
— Pete Thorp (@Pete_Thorp) September 1, 2019
User Matt Monium joked: “Your internet might not work after Oct 31, so #GetReadyForBrexit by printing off all of our website now.
“Or we can send you a CD, like in the old days.”
Your internet might not work after Oct 31, so #GetReadyForBrexit by printing off all of our website now. Or we can send you a CD, like in the old days.
— Matt Monium (@mattycurry) September 1, 2019
There were also Twitter users who voiced approval for the new campaign.
Heather Hepplewhite tweeted: “YES!!!! at last.. #backboris #BelieveInBritain #buybritish and all of US prepare to #leave We can do this. Let us take our country back and save our democracy”.
#GetReadyForBrexit YES!!!! at last.. #backboris #BelieveInBritain #buybritish and all of US prepare to #leave We can do this. Let us take our country back and save our democracy #Godsavethequeen 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧https://t.co/Rmgms5Tcqb
— Heather Hepplewhite (@HHepplewhite) September 2, 2019
#UK is moving out of EU because EU leaders didn't respected the union.
What kind of deal we expect from EU leaders? #GetReadyForBrexit
All this is happening because of EU leaders, not because of EU people.
The good deals to make is with world not EU.— Venu Narukulla (@VenuNarukulla) September 2, 2019
#GetReadyForBrexit because like the millennium bug , absolutely nothing will happen , idiots
— Tom Bailey (@MrTomBailey) September 2, 2019
The Get Ready for Brexit checklist allows users to say if they propose to travel to or export to the EU, or if they are a British national living in the EU. It then returns results that suggest how to start preparing for Brexit in each scenario.
The site warns that people may not be able to take their pets abroad until 2020, advising them to contact their vet "at least four months" before travelling to have all the necessary paperwork.
People are also encouraged to "check for disruption" before travelling to the EU after October, as "border checks may take longer".
They are also advised to renew their passports "as soon as possible".
Mobile phone users are warned that "[you] may be charged for using your mobile device in the EU if your operator has re-introduced roaming charges".
