Feature: Britons preparing for uncertainty of Brexit

LONDON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Holding an EU flag, Clem Ruttet from Kent was walking in the London street between Westminster Abbey and the Houses of the Parliament to protest against Brexit.

"My daughter studied in Spain years ago and she could have been a teacher in Spain and could retire there without a Spanish nationality, but because of Brexit, she can just come back and teach in the UK now," he said.

If the UK remains in the EU, his daughter could work in Spain without being a Spanish, he added.

One of his friends, aged 73, with stomach, heart and cancer problems, has lived in France for the last 13 years and now can't live there any more because of Brexit, he said.

The uncertainty of Brexit has given rise to anxiety among the British.

"We should remain in the EU," Ruttet said: "We need to get our voice into the parliament."

The UK was set to leave the EU on March 29. The EUropean Council on Thursday committed to agreeing to an extension until May 22 on condition that British Prime Minister Theresa May's deal would be passed in the parliament in the coming days. The deal has been rejected twice by the British parliament since January.

A poll by Sky News on March 20 reveals that nine in ten Britons think that the way the UK is dealing with Brexit is a "national humiliation".

"It's a shame," said Amanda Hopkins whose job is to organize events. She said if the UK really leaves the EU, then that will have a huge impart on her daily life.

She had heard some Britons were preparing and storing food, medicine and the like for fear of a shortage caused by the uncertainty of Brexit and she may consider doing the same thing.

"Companies like Nissan are leaving the UK and many people will lose jobs. It's just beginning if the chaos keep continuing," she said: "I know it is impossible but I am still hoping for a second referendum, because we should remain."

Katy Brookes, a young woman without a job, has taken actions to stockpile food to prepare for the uncertainty of Brexit already.

"Nobody knows what will happen in the next," she said. As an ordinary person, her daily life will be affected by the price fluctuations of food likely to be caused by the uncertainty of Brexit.

Similarly, Julia Chen, who established the company, the Cheeky Panda, with her husband in the UK three years ago, has made preparation too.

The Cheeky Panda is an innovative company, making tissues and wipes from virgin bamboo for markets both in the UK and EUropean countries. Chen said, long before the first time May's deal was rejected in the parliament, they had felt the uncertainty of Brexit and registered a new company in EUrope.

"We don't know what will happen actually, but we think preparation should be made in advance for the uncertainty of Brexit," she said.

When those who prefer to remain in the EU are worried about a deal or no-deal Brexit which will make a huge difference to them, the others who prefer to leave the EU are worried about remaining too.

"Hoot, respect leave vote." Michelle Megan, wearing a red vest with the message, stood near the west gates of the Palace of Westminster. She said that she has protested here for more than three months.

"I have been here since the New Year," Megan said, adding she has suffered enough with the no-progressing outcomes of the negotiations that May has had with the EU.

"If there will be an extension, that means the members of parliament (MPs) want to remain in the EU and they are going to stop exiting EU now," Megan said: "If we are betrayed by the parliament, what I can do is just to stand here in the next weeks to make my voice heard by more people, because I don't have any other power."

"Nobody can predict the future of the UK now," said Clare Camborn, a woman who lives in London and voted to leave at the time of the referendum in 2016. She echoed Megan's view that they are taking preparation too.

"We need to keep fighting for Brexit," she stressed, adding that some leavers were preparing a huge march going from the north of the UK down to London "gathering everyone who voted to leave".

"If Britain must leave, then a soft Brexit is acceptable," said David Naslin, a remainer who has protested outside the Palace of Westminster many times. "Otherwise, it would be a disaster to both the UK and the EU."