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We read daily of what leaving the EU will mean, could mean, might mean, probably mean such as:

-The loss of  rights such as EHIC cards, visa free travel, the Erasmus student exchange programme, pet passports.

-The concerns of businesses about loss of markets, hold ups at borders, impacts to supply chains, more red tape.

-The ability of the NHS to fill its thousands of nursing and clinical vacancies.

The impact to farmers and growers of a shortage of seasonal workers.

-The loss of participation and influence in the direction of the many agencies that make food, medicines, chemicals and aviation safe.

-The loss of EU grants and access to the many joint projects and programmes that bring the best of Europe together in fields of science and research

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Today, Europe commemorates the end of the First World War with the signing of the Armistice in the woods of Compiegne. But the flawed peace Treaty of Versailles the following year did not end the war – tragically, it merely set the stage for Part Two to start in 1939.

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"We are keen to continue to engage in the struggle for a People's Vote. There are many reasons why women in particular are so angry and frustrated, not least because our voices have been heard far less than men’s both during the referendum, and over the last couple of years. 

This was very much the theme of the rally we held with Women for a Peoples Vote, the Womens Equality Party and the fabulous speakers that joined us on the day before the People's Vote March.

We would like to extend our thanks to Rupa Huq, Labour MP and dogged campaigner and proponent of women’s issues in Parliament, Mary Honeyball Labour MEP on the Womens Equality committee in the European Parliament and Julie Ward,Labour MEP  also a keen supporter of gender equality in the European Parliament who works tirelessly for her constituents and the wider European project. Catherine Meyer, co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party talked of her and her party’s opposition to the Brexit now on the table and their support for a Peoples Vote and  Shola Mos-Shogbamimu from Women’s March London, inspired us with a cry that without proper representation by MPs on this issue, they could expect nothing less than a drumming in the next election if they fail to hear our voices.

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Who writes letters these days? Who bothers to pick up a pen? Find a piece of paper? Locate an envelope that still sticks… BUY A STAMP?!

Passionate, angry and determined people who want a People’s Vote, that’s who.

St Albans for Europe’s letter-writing event last Saturday was a storming success, bringing people flocking to the latest market stall and then round the corner into the reception area of a nearby friendly hotel. Helped along by the promise of a free tea and coffee and all the writing materials, the writing corner was a hive of activity.

Two of St Albans team had not only provided a lengthy list of all the local MPs likely to crop up (St Albans market attracts visitors from a large surrounding area) but also those of relevant ministers too – why stop at your own MP, after all? MPs need to have those postbags filled to bursting, so that we leave them in no doubt that the ‘will of the people’ is to have a People’s Vote.

But they didn’t stop there. The group also provided a list of topics for individuals to consider when penning their letters. The topics were intentionally personal – encouraging people to write as individuals, expressing concerns about the impact of Brexit on their lives. Letter authors put pen to paper and expressed their deep concerns about the impact of Brexit on their jobs, their families, their communities, on the UK they love and the risk to the union.

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"About a year ago I was asked to start the Wandsworth Branch of the European Movement (EMW). Our goal is to stop Brexit, which causes one or two raised eyebrows. “Well, good luck!” people say with a smirk.

The thing is – I can’t just sit and watch while this wonderful country self-destructs. The UK is truly amazing and it is so sad to see evil forces creating conflicts and destruction. We can’t let a few loudmouths control the agenda and leave this country in ruins. I want to say “Well, at least I tried,” when my grandchildren ask what I did to stop Brexit.

When EM Wandsworth started a year ago we had two big projects. One was a campaign group working in the community and the another group was survey among local businesses and other employers in Wandsworth about their views on the future after Brexit.

The Brexit Audit shows businesses concerns
Our Brexit Audit was published in March and shows that some 70% of respondents expect – or indeed already experienced – difficulties within all areas – financial, staffing, clients, export/import and so on. The only positive comments were from a charity shop, which predicted an increase in turnover, and a hedge fund which was looking forward to deregulation of the financial markets.

This has proved to be the pilot of the Business Survey which is now being conducted all over the country.

The Brexitometer – a visual genius
The campaign group is out on the streets every week. During the spring we started using the Brexitometer, a great tool that easily engages passers-by. It asks if things are going to get better or worse after Brexit within areas such as health care, jobs, economy etc. It also asks if you want a say on the final Brexit deal.

We hand out postcards with the message to stop Brexit – or at least get a People’s Vote – for people to send to their MPs.

700,000 out on the streets
The Big March in central London last Saturday is another example of how we have gathered people to show that their minds have changed since June 2016. Coachloads from all over the country came to have their say.

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On the 1st November 2018, the Ealing European Movement launched Ealing's largest survey on Brexit's impact on local businesses, the BrexitBusiness survey.

"After over 700,000 people marched on Westminster to demand a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal a few weeks ago, the Ealing European Movement wants to find out what the key issues small businesses in the local area are facing, so we can lead the charge in protecting local people's interests whilst fighting for a People's Vote," Curtis Parfitt-Ford, the Ealing European Movement's communications officer, said in a statement.

The survey will look to speak to hundreds of local businesses from across Ealing, and consists of 12 questions, all of which are designed to study the reaction of local businesses to the Brexit vote and the fears they're facing if Brexit goes ahead.

One small business locally, Clark Foyster Wines, have already confirmed to the Ealing European Movement that they have "decided to put off new projects and defer recruitment" until after March next year for fear of economic impacts, and the suggestion is that many more may be feeling the same way.

Local business owners can fill out the BrexitBusiness impact survey here.

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"Swindon for Europe has a letter writing group. Most of us communicate via a messenger group. We have found this to be an excellent medium for exchanging ideas, encouraging each other and suggesting responses to the replies we have had from our  MPs. Some people like to share their draft letters for comments prior to sending them. Others seek ideas or facts to include in their letters. 

Not all of our writers are on Facebook however so we also communicate via email. One person, a retired MFL teacher, requested a one to one meeting with me to gather her thoughts and ideas before she felt confident enough to write. 

Several people confessed that they hadn’t sent letters because they were procrastinating, redrafting and seeking to send the perfect letter. We keep repeating the “quantity not quality” mantra but not everyone is convinced by this, so we held a letter writing party on the afternoon of 13 October in a hotel in the town centre. Several people attended and despite the fact that our meeting place was crowded and noisy we produced and posted close to 20 letters.

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"When I first moved to Britain from the United States four years ago, I only intended on staying for a year to attend drama school. But I quickly found myself falling in love with so many things about my adopted country- the British sense of humour, the NHS (as someone who grew up in America, I know the importance of Universal Healthcare), and of course, Bake Off.

Eventually, I decided to stay and make my home here. My grandparents fled the Holocaust, so I knew that I was eligible to obtain German citizenship through reparations. The decision to become a citizen of a country that caused my family so much pain only two generations earlier was a difficult one. Knowing that I would be living in a country I loved - the UK- helped. But what made the decision so much easier was the knowledge that I was gaining a new identity as a citizen not only of America and Germany, but of Europe.

The EU rose out of the ashes of fascism with the goal of promoting peace through economic ties - a goal that I would argue that it has been remarkably successful at. It has its flaws, yes, but I firmly believe that the EU has made Europe a more just, safe, and peaceful place.

EU migrants have also made significant financial contributions to Britain. On average, we pay more in taxes and consume less in public services than our native counterparts. According to figures from the government’s Migration Advisory Committee, EEA nationals living in the UK made a positive contribution of £4.7 billion in 2016/2017 alone.

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