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Rishi Sunak, one of the candidates for our next Prime Minister, announced he would tear up decades of European legislation that protected food standards, animal welfare, employee rights, and the environment. 

A leader should prioritise tackling the biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation. If you or I were Prime Minister, I would like to think that we would look at the racket of crises facing our leaders — war in Europe, the like of which we have not seen in 77 years, increasing fuel prices, record-breaking energy bills — and do things differently.   

Our first 100 days would focus on issues that matter most to people. That can make a difference to so many facing an uncertain economic future.   

Instead, Rishi Sunak has said that in his first 100 days, he would repeal 2,400 laws and protections created by the UK and its European neighbours over the last 50 years.   

These laws limit the number of hours an employee can safely work every week. They protect animal welfare and ensure animal abuse does not go unpunished. They prevent over-processed food like chlorinated chicken from appearing on our shop shelves. 

Ripping up these protections is what Rishi Sunak wants to focus on. He said that the first 100 days are critical to “keep Brexit safe”.  

Rishi is right to run scared. Brexit is far from safe. Because of the actions of this Government, it is clearer now more than ever before that Brexit has failed.  

The first 100 days of the next Prime Minister will be more Brexit purgatory. More time spent out in the cold, a void of leadership and direction that has already claimed the careers of the last three Prime Ministers and will likely end the next one’s too.  

At the European Movement, we want to send Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss a clear message: your scramble to appease your party faithful confirms that we face a real Battle for the Soul of our Country.   

And we are ready. 

We will always stand for a strong united Europe, focused on the issues that matter the most to people. We are calling out the lies and warning against making the same mistakes that ended David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson’s premierships.   

Brexit is far from safe because Brexit isn’t working. We need to win the Battle of the Soul of our Country, and then we can finally take our place back at the heart of Europe.   

Lord Andrew Adonis

Chair, European Movement UK

Reacting to news that Boris Johnson is resigning as Prime Minister, CEO of the European Movement, Anna Bird, said:

“For seven years, the Brexit bullring has been used to spread lies, undermine democracy and strip away integrity from public office.  

“What followed was a tanking economy, collapsing businesses, families set to be worse off by nearly £1,000 a year and colossal damage to our reputation around the world.   

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Responding to recent events in Westminster, Andrew Adonis, Chair of the European Movement, said:

"Rather than making Brexit work, Boris Johnson is barely making it to the weekend.

"With every second that his fingernails dig deeper into the doorposts of Number 10, the very integrity of the Prime Minister’s office is being critically undermined.

"What started in 2016 as a false slogan on the side of a bus has manifested into a government founded upon deceit, dishonesty and delusion, setting an unacceptably low standard for public office and endorsing a dangerous leadership.

"These lies have landed us with a tanking economy, businesses collapsing, families worse off by over £1,000 a year and a reputation so tainted that countries around the world have turned their backs on us.

"This is a critical point in the Battle for the Soul of our Country, and we can only reclaim our future if politicians from all sides put our country ahead of Boris Johnson.

"The European Movement is the only organisation with the unwavering courage to expose the calamity of Brexit and reopen the conversation about our relationship with Europe that has so devastated Boris Johnson’s leadership."

The European Movement is delighted to introduce the first of our new Vice Presidents. Check out the announcement below:

That’s right! Political giant Sir Vince Cable is returning to the frontline as the new Vice President of the European Movement.

Did you catch all the clues in the video? Scroll down to the bottom to find out more about what was featured in the film.

Cable joins a prestigious line-up which includes former Deputy Prime Minister and Conservative heavyweight Michael Heseltine (President) and former Secretary of State and Labour titan Andrew Adonis (Chair).    

Sir Vince Cable was Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills during the 2010-15 Liberal Democrats–Conservative coalition government, leader of the Liberal Democrats 2017-19 during some of the most critical Brexit votes, a leading voice for a People’s Vote and the Member of Parliament for Twickenham for 20 years.    

He earned almost universal and cross-party respect for his repeated warnings, predictions, and campaigns on the high level of personal and unsustainable consumer debt and the housing market crisis which led to the 2008 economic crash.  

His appointment was revealed with a 40-second video released on social media produced by Apostrophe Campaigns and LRB Media.

The European Movement is a cross-party, single-issue organisation with over 250,000 campaigners. It was founded by Sir Winston Churchill in the aftermath of WWII to build a closer relationship with Europe.   

Sir Vince Cable, Vice President of the European Movement, said:     

“The European Movement dates back 75 years to Britain’s original commitment with the European Union and I am delighted to have been elected Vice President and look forward to contributing to the important work ahead.    

“Brexit was a bitter blow for many of us, but the fightback is well underway. The European Movement is committed to exposing the failures of Brexit, holding leaders to account, and rebuilding our relationship with Europe.  

“We will give political leadership to the millions who do not accept the present self-exclusion from Europe and want to campaign and negotiate for something closer and better.   

“There are many ways of re-engaging with Europe but the best way to shape that debate is to become a member of the European Movement and the best time is now.”  

Anna Bird, CEO of the European Movement, said:   

“We are thrilled and honoured to welcome Sir Vince Cable to the European Movement. We are certain that his experience, insight, and knowledge will bolster our already established and growing movement.  

“The European Movement is a strictly cross-party organisation which already boasts some of the biggest and most respected names in British politics from all the major parties, and Sir Vince’s appointment makes this even stronger.  

“We are entering a critical stage in the battle for the soul of our country and as the European Movement goes from strength to strength, we are more confident than ever that we on course to succeed.  

“The European Movement is the only organisation with the grassroots power, political stamina, and unwavering courage to expose the calamity of Brexit and win the battle for the soul of our country. 

How many of the announcement film clues did you catch?

The film draws on Cable’s mammoth public career spanning from a local councillor up to Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Secretary of State, but how many clues did you spot before the reveal?

• The films opens with rain lashing down and roaring thunder which are the first references to Cable’s many warnings of the 2008 economic crash, outlined in his book ‘The Storm’.
• We see a mysterious figure dressed in black walking past the against the iconic Twickenham Stadium with the rugby players sculptures reaching into the sky, both nodding to his 20 years representing the area.
• With another nod to the storm but
• We cut to a bike splashing through a puddle, the second ‘Storm’ reference, but also a nod to Cable’s passion forcycling, which earned him a poke on BBC’s Have I Got News for You? as he continued to bike around London whilst Secretary of State.
• Next, we see a couple dancing the Waltz with an echoed music track, alluding to Cable’s success on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing where the politician scored an impressive 36/40 from the judges, including a 10/10 from head judge Len Goodman. 
• The hints become easier when we see the same cloaked man wearing a hat and carrying a briefcase walk past the ‘Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,’ where Cable was Secretary of State for five years during the Liberal Democrats-Conservative coalition government. 
• A lifelong Liberal Democrat, and leader of the party during the Brexit crunch votes in Parliament, the next scene sees him hammering the famous Lib Dem diamond in a garden. 
• Opening up in Parliament Square facing Big Ben, we see the same hand pick up a ‘Put It To The People’ placard,referring to Cable’s long-established opposition to Brexit. 
• Just before the end, he tips his hat, which took on a life of its own after appearing in multiple party-political broadcasts. 
• We reveal Cable with an imposing shot of the political giant, donned in his black coat and iconic hat, arms folded with the Houses of Parliament behind him. 

Today’s publication of the Sue Gray report clearly exposes failures of leadership from Boris Johnson’s government and a toxic culture at the centre of Number 10. The behaviour Sue Gray describes is appalling. But the erosion of trust it represents is unforgivable.

The report is clear. They set the rules. Then they sang, partied, fought, and got drunk. They broke their own rules. Then they tried to cover it up.

We, the people, need to have trust in our government: that it can lead us out of crisis, that it will support those most in need, that it will prioritise that which is most important – peace, democracy, prosperity. That trust is earned by a government when it acts with integrity.

The European Movement UK has questioned this government’s integrity since the referendum in 2016. We were lied to during that campaign like we have been lied to on Partygate. We were promised the impossible. The Brexit lies peddled during the referendum campaign are now being spouted from the dispatch box on Partygate.

We simply cannot trust him. The European Movement UK has been consistent in calling out the Brexit lies. Boris Johnson wants silence on the toxic behaviour in Downing Street, he wants silence on his botched Brexit deal, and he wants us to stop talking about the lies and deceit that got him into Downing Street.

We will not stop calling out those lies; we will not remain silent. And we won’t rest until the calamity caused by those lies is reversed.

Anna Bird

CEO European Movement UK

At the European Movement and Mayor of London’s UK with Ukraine rally, Anna Bird, CEO of European Movement will say:

Freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, human rights – these are the true values that unite our continent.

But just as these fundamental values have their champions, they too have their opponents.

That is why we've come to Trafalgar Square today, the centre of national democracy and protest.

With 100 years of important and necessary acts of protest and solidarity before us.

I wish it were not the case but contributing to that legacy of protest is deeply, deeply necessary.

So today — we join citizens across Europe to oppose Putin's aggressive war in Ukraine.

Because it cannot be that President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine must put their very lives on the line for the basic right to live in peace.

A right we take for granted.

The question now asked of us is, will we, as a country stay true to our values and defend the rights of our neighbours?

For me, for the European Movement, the answer to this is rooted in our belief that a closer, more united and peaceful Europe is in all of our interests.

For one day, our children and our grandchildren will learn about this horrifying time in their history lessons.

They will come home and ask us what we did in these moments that mattered.

What did we do when we saw a senseless, immoral and illegal attack on our neighbour?

I want to be able to look my children in the eye and say I — and all of us here — did everything possible.

That we spoke up, protested and marched.

That we donated, petitioned and demanded action.

That we opened our homes, opened our arms and brought the world closer together.

That is the duty of all of us here.

And whilst it is easy for opponents of peace to say that Putin doesn't care about what's happening here today or that he isn't listening.

The world is watching.

The people of Ukraine are listening and looking for hope. They need to know we're on their side.

I am certain of this: The only route to a peaceful future is one where we unite with our neighbours in Europe and around the world.

And that means me. That means you. That means all of us. Here today. Together. Protecting and fighting for Ukraine's right to live in a peaceful and united Europe.

So today — together — as Britons, as Europeans and internationalists we tell the world that Ukraine is with us, and we are with them.

Today — together — we tell Putin he will fail.
Today — together — we draw the line.
Today — together — and each day until Ukraine prevails.

Thank you.

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A devastating consequence of Putin’s invasion has been millions of people forced to flee Ukraine.

In just the first 3 weeks since the conflict started three million people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine to find a place of safety.

Right now, in response to this humanitarian crisis European solidarity, collaboration, and action could not be more important. And that’s why our latest event brought together organisations working on the front lines with refugees to discuss - What can we, as Europeans, do?

You can watch the event here: 

Europe's response to the Ukraine refugee crisis. What can we do? https://t.co/eoW0a3vYiD

— European Movement UK (@euromove) March 15, 2022

In the face of a humanitarian crisis like this, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But already we have been moved by the response of individuals across the UK and Europe who want to help.

During the event, we asked every organisation who was a part of the event what European Movement UK supporters, activists, and members can do to help. You can watch back here to find out more, or we have put together a list of actions that you can take right now: 

Here’s how you can help: 

• Ask your MP to act 

Ukraine is under attack. Appallingly, so is the UK's refugee protection system. You can ask your MP to stand with refugees here on Refugee Action's website and against the punishment the Anti-Refugee Bill promises to dish out to people seeking safety.

• Do you speak Ukrainian? 

If you speak Ukrainian or Russian, you can help by volunteering your time and helping to get clear and simple information to refugees in Ukrainian and Russian. 

You can volunteer with Care4Calais here or Settled here: 

Or you could even work in the Settled team by contacting them at this email address: [email protected].

• Chip in to help the work of people supporting refugees 

Your support could make a real difference to refugees who have been forced to flee. You can donate or fundraise for various charities, including the ones that took part in the event: 

• Donate to Care4Calais here
• Donate to Refugee Action here. 
• Donate to Settled here. 
• Support the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

• Host a refugee in your home. 

We have been amazed by the response of individuals who want to help. Over the past 24 hours in the UK, we've seen over 100,000 families register to offer a place in their homes to people or families who need a place to stay. You can do this here.

• Attend more events in our Ukraine series

This week’s event was just one of many in our series on Ukraine. If you would like to attend events like this in the future, you will have access to our exclusive member events by becoming a member. 

We will be hosting more events in this “What Putin's invasion of Ukraine means for Europe” series, become a member now to avoid missing out: