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One thing that is frequently missing from our discussions of the EU is how very popular an institution it is across Europe. Not just in France and Germany but across the continent. Several countries have gone to great lengths just to be considered for membership because it is regarded as such a prize.

While the economic benefits are often discussed, there are three other key reasons why the EU is important. Peace, co-operation and equality.

Peace
The start of the EU came in 1952 when France and Germany started the Coal and Steel community. It was a very simple beginning with a much greater purpose. Both coal and steel were essential to any war effort. By tying both countries industries together they hoped to make war impossible. As the EU expanded it included more countries and covered more industries and became the modern European Union that we have today, whilst retaining the fundamental purpose of preventing war. 

Europe has been at peace now for 70 years. This may seem normal to us, but it’s not. This has been our continent’s longest period of peace in two thousand years.

The EU also helped stabilise countries as they emerged from dictatorship like Spain and Eastern Europe. It’s conditions of membership included democratic government, respect for human rights and treating citizens equally. It gave emerging democracies a goal to work towards.

Co-operation
The motto of the European Union is “United in Diversity”. While I like it a lot, I sometimes wonder if we should add the motto “Stronger Together”.

In the second half of the 20th century there was a profound shift in how countries behaved. The balance of power shifted towards big countries like the US, USSR and more recently China.

The EU has provided a way for Europe to remain strong by working together but still remaining individual nations.

Each country is sovereign and each has its own laws, but in a few areas, countries have found they can get better results by working together. This includes workers' rights where there is an EU wide minimum standards for worker’s rights. With the whole of the EU agreeing to the same minimum of worker's rights, Europe countries can protect their citizen’s rights with protections such as sick pay without the threat of job losses.

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The European Movement heard with the great sadness of the passing of Lord Paddy Ashdown.

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"SSTIE Brexitometer evidence shows that The demand for a People’s Vote is growing

As part of the People's Vote National Action Day on Saturday 8th December, SSTIE were joined by some residents of Tonbridge from other groups and most encouragingly by several new people joining us at our Brexitometer. This bustle of people became a magnet for many passers by and drew many into discussions with us.

The results of our polling speak for themselves with 78% in favour of a People’s Vote and 73% in favour of No Brexit. These results echo what SSTIE has uncovered in the past fortnight in Swanley and Sevenoaks.

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European Movement Macclesfield and East Cheshire, along with Wilmslow for Europe ran 3 very successful street stalls on Saturday as part of a nationwide People’s Vote Action Day. 
 
In Macclesfield, many of David Rutley’s constituents were eager to express their dissatisfaction with Theresa May’s deal and how the Brexit negotiations have gone; over 100 postcard messages were written during the morning. One local campaigner, John Handford said, "Standing around casting long winter shadows in Macclesfield could have been a chilly experience but the warm reception and enthusiasm from so many people, very keen to sign and send off cards to their MP in support of a People's Vote, certainly has been growing noticeably in the past few weeks. Many were keen to take extra cards for family and friends too. All very encouraging really."
 
The Nantwich stall meanwhile drew people to its Brexitometer, a straw poll which revealed most enthusiasm for ‘No Brexit’ and the right of the public to have the final say in a People’s Vote. But even many in favour of Brexit agree that, now so many of the 2016 promises have been shown to be undeliverable, it would be fairer to put the Brexit deal that we have ended up with back to the people.

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Campaigners braved the driving rain on Saturday to continue their request for a People’s Vote on Brexit.

Representatives of Wilmslow for Europe and 15 volunteers spoke to local people on Grove Street about the possibility of a vote on the Brexit deal.

More than 400 postcards were distributed during these discussions calling on constituents to make a stand, write to their MPs and demand to have a final say on Brexit.

The public-engagement event was part of the People's Vote National Action Day, with thousands of people taking part and asking for their MPs to reject May's Brexit deal and instead support a People's Vote. This deal was due to be voted on in Parliament on Tuesday but was pulled at the eleventh hour because it could not garner enough support to win.

Wilmslow for Europe Spokesperson Sarah Murphy said, “The overall impression was that people were incredibly fed up with Brexit, whichever way that they had voted. They felt that May’s deal was worse than being a member of the EU with the voting rights and benefits that includes and that, despite some reservations about putting a vote back to the public, it seemed the only fair way out of an impossible political stalemate.”

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As part of the People's Vote National Action Day on Saturday 8th December, a street stall in Alton, Hampshire, jointly organised by North Hampshire for Europe and Hampshire for Europe. Volunteers came from as far as Woking and Farnham to help on the day. 

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Women aren’t buying Brexit for a very simple reason : they understand Brexit in ways that men don’t.

For women, Brexit is tangible, in your face and confronted daily. Dip into a shopping trolley and it’s there, as women disproportionately do most of the shopping in households. 40% of vegetables and 37% of fruit come from the EU. Smaller packaging and sugar taxes can’t hide that or the fact that 18% struggle to feed their families.

90% of single parents are women, often part-time workers about to lose EU employment protection. Brexit is full-on shame when as health workers (who are also disproportionately women), their families, friends and children being torn apart by a spiteful disregard for being part of a mixed-nationality family or community, taking for granted the joys of travelling, living, working, loving and playing in a borderless Europe. The neglect of Northern Ireland and the peace the EU helped and cement is so horrifying that it's mind-blowing.

Women understand all too well that sneakily dumping the Charter of Fundamental Rights, along with maternity and paternity rights, social, welfare and employment protection, steals our legal right to tolerance, mutual respect for diversity and non-discrimination.

Women aren’t buying Brexit because it's clear that Brexit will overwhelmingly have a negative impact on women, especially women who will be negatively impacts by intersects such as race or sexuality. The 2017 White Paper mentioned ‘trade’ five times and ‘women’ and ‘equality’ not once. Ignoring women doesn’t mean they will shut up about bearing the brunt of Brexit.

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More than 30 Ealing residents, joined by local politicians, distributed over 3000 leaflets in Ealing Broadway on Saturday calling for a People's Vote.

As well as in Ealing, local activists organised over 140 events throughout the country, in areas that voted remain and leave.

The National Day of Action was organised by activists and supporters from the People’s Vote Campaign, just days before a crucial vote in Parliament on the government’s proposed Brexit deal.

In Ealing, Rupa Huq MP, Steven Pound MP, Council Leader Julian Bell, Cllr Fay Block, Cllr Andrew Steed, Cllr Deirdre Costigan, Cllr Miriam Rice and Cllr Amarjit Jammu all visited to show their support, and to talk with local residents about why they believe that the final decision on Brexit should be made not by MPs, but by their constituents who will be most affected by it.

Opinion polls consistently show a clear majority of voters in most constituencies across Britain, including all three Ealing parliamentary constituencies, want their say on Brexit in a People’s Vote.

As part of the government’s Brexit deal, the UK has agreed to pay a £50 billion divorce bill, but we’ll get nothing in return. Instead, we’ll lose all our rights as an EU member – with less trade, fewer opportunities, and lower living standards.

People across the UK will lose the right to live, work or study visa-free around Europe. And following what would be the biggest single biggest loss of sovereignty and control in British history, we would continue to follow EU rules, but have no say over how they’re made. 

Curtis Parfitt-Ford, of the Ealing European Movement, said: 

“This was a hugely successful day of action, with over 130 events happening nationwide telling the government that we are not buying this dodgy deal. With over 3000 leaflets handed out by our largest volunteering force yet, it's clear: this deal satisfies no one and solves nothing. The only way out of this mess is to give the decision back to the people in a People’s Vote.”

/ends

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