Will politics ruin our Christmas?

Yes pancakes I've never had anyone argue with me about it. Some members of my family voted in, some voted out. When we have discussed it, we have all given our reasons for voting the way we did and it's been left at that. Maybe we're not passionate enough!

Really KatyK? I guess it depends on where you live, what you voted and your perspective on the result. Most people I know have such strong feelings and the lack of clarity around what will happen next and the effects on jobs and housing and finance that have already been seen are enough to fuel a row for most people I know

I'm quite shocked that people argue about Brexit

My eldest 3 children are all vehemently left wing and the two younger ones are both resolutely right wing. DH and I belonged to the SDP when it started. Luckily, i think we all voted Remain and none of us like Trump. We ban politics talk generally, by mutual consent!

The generation thing has been an issue in our family too. I'm getting bored of the 'it's alright for you rich babyboomers' comments

yes I agree. There's a bit of a generation divide in all this too (in some parts of the family)

Oh well if all else fails I will retreat upstairs with a book and a tin of quality street

We have a big family gathering too. All of us except for my Mother in Law voted the same way. So we have decided to have a gang up on Grandma game.. .... No of course we won't . For goodness sake it's one day. Surely adults should be able to contain themselves and not spoil things for everyone. A bit of give and take and good manners are needed.

Good points thank you. It may not happen, you are right, but I suspect it will. We have, some years ago, had a Christmas bust up on an entirely different subject and it left a bitter taste for several years to come. The thought of all those leave/remain arguments coming up again makes me feel quite ill. I have strong feelings myself but Christmas is neither the time nor the place and also I try to be mindful of others which, sadly, some of the others do notl

Good idea M0nica - we never discuss politics at Christmas!

Monica if I tried to control my family in advance like that, they'd tell me to take a running jump. Also, once "a few drinks have been downed", all control goes out the window...

pancakes maybe ask the experts on that Relate thread. But my feeling is don't project (it may not happen), and unless there are fisticuffs, I'd go into the other room and let everyone fight their own corner!

Politics ruins most thing! IMO, starting discussions on Politics or Religion leads to people falling out which is why "tribes" stick together in the main. As a family we do not discuss politics; it is an unwritten taboo. All you can do when anyone starts is to put a quick lid on it; eg, "It's Christmas and we want joy, not woe".
You are right about Brexit being a very hot topic. We have friends who voted opposite to us and I am trying to find a way to avoid them this Christmas. Mind you, I have been off them for a long time and Brexit has given me (in all probability tbh) the excuse I need.

Read/email/write/phone or face to face them all and set them an ultimatum. There is to be no, absolutely no political discussions over Christmas. Anyone who starts or takes part in a discussion must put £1 in a jar placed in a prominent position, contents to be sent to a charity helping Syrian refugees as a reminder of where bitter political arguments can take people.