Grud keeps pot boiling with old data

We have been here before, but perhaps Guardian readers have short memories. This is another survey of people who are deeply worried about their rights after Brexit. Whereas an earlier one focused on EU citizens living in Britain, this one involves a survey of Brits living in Spain. It is the usual story of deep anxiety and resentment at being ignored:

Britons living in Spain are confused and fearful about their post-Brexit futures “to a quite shocking extent”, according to the author of a study, with poor support and communication from British and Spanish authorities mainly to blame.

The study itself is quite interesting, using different methods of research then amalgamating the data. For example, a resentful and anxious blogger reported that 

That is the measure of how we have been treated by our own Government. Spain's done its bit, the EU has too. But our own Government has done absolutely fucking nothing for us. Nada. Zip. This isn't a post about me, as it happens [!], nor the Embassy in Madrid, the Consul in Malaga, the Consulate in Tenerife, who've all been as brilliant as they were able to be in the circumstances. There is only one source of betrayal. Our own Government — Nov 2019

Note the date. Quite a few people felt betrayed in November 2019. Another component of the study was:

The small case study we conducted with young people living in Granada [which] revealed how ‘coping’ meant being as flexible and adaptable as they have already had to learn to be as young people in 21st century Europe. This case study was based on participant observation, numerous conversations, and in-depth interviews with younger people who had lived in Spain for various lengths of time. All but one of those who took part stressed that they felt the UK should remain in the European Union.

Overall,the data was aggregated from material gathered from May 2017 until January 2020. Much dismay was apparent from a 2018 survey where the respondents felt:

• A lack of confidence that the United Kingdom would act in the interests of its overseas citizen population; 
• Considerable mistrust directed at the UK Government, particularly around whether the agreement would be honoured beyond the date of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union; and
•  A high degree of misinformation and misunderstanding

But again we all felt that about the Government in 2018.

The study also concludes that the EU and the Spanish Government should also have helped allay anxiety and offered clarification; that many Brits abroad are following the advice to get registered or apply for Spanish citizenship; and that 'the Conservative manifesto promise[d] to extend lifetime enfranchisement to Britain’s emigrants'

So all in all, a bit of a damp squib and mostly irrelevant after Brexit anyway. Why does the Grudi report this stuff still? 

• Because they can't get out of their mindset of grievance,suffering and oppression
• This is what they mean by 'covering Europe'
• Because they are hoping to exert some influence on the Brit side of the talks
• Because they want to forge a new rainbow alliance with trans people,PR supporters and British and EU expats (no old people) led by Polly Toynbee ready for the 2024 Election