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Why I joined the European Movement
October 31, 2018
"I was asked, so I clicked and joined. Easy! I'm suddenly part of something momentous which I hope will change the future for Britain.
It’s another small milestone on the journey I am making with thousands of fellow UK citizens. I had to join really. Ever since the ‘shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot’, referendum, I have been in a kind of stasis. I call it this because I don’t want to call it depression, but there has been ‘grief’, pure and simple.
I confess to a centrist bias in my politics, but this is partly about ethics and I’m relieved to see other political persuasions sharing the awareness that we need to remain a part of something that unites us after centuries of war and conflict. That gives hope. This is such an opportunity for people of differing political views to talk and work together in a way that has perhaps, previously been unparalled in our nation’s political life. There is suddenly an amazing UK unity under a strongly shared concept of what being part of Europe really means. That is a high value attainment for such a large number of people. It’s a singular and precious gem. Perhaps even a miracle! May it continue even after we win the battle against our isolation.
TW-IN's letter writing sessions for the People's Vote Campaign
October 31, 2018
"I have taken part in a couple of letter writing sessions with TW-IN and it’s been a really interesting experience for many of us. Most of us just don’t write by hand any more, we don’t even write cheques very often, so it was quite an effort to literally put pen to paper, but also really enjoyable.
We gathered at a pub in Tunbridge Wells with other TW-IN supporters to write to our MP Greg Clark to ask him to support a People’s Vote on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations with an option for the UK to remain within the EU. This is a follow up to the highly successful People’s Vote march held on the 20th October where we had over 700,000 marchers including a big contingent from our remain supporting town in Kent.
Cambridge Stays supporters join 700,000 in historic march for a People’s Vote on Brexit
October 29, 2018
"On a bright Saturday morning, the 20th of October 2018, 123 Cambridge Stays supporters boarded three coaches to travel down to London to take part in the People’s Vote March for the Future. At the end of a week which saw the UK Government, held hostage by its own red lines, the DUP and the extreme Brexiters on its Back benches, fail to strike a deal with the EU, we were traveling to join hundreds of thousands of people from across the UK to call for a People’s Vote on any Brexit deal, with the option to stay in the EU.
As we were gathering we were joined by an ITV Anglia camera crew, who interviewed Cambridge Stays Chair Paul Browne, and several of our marchers, for a broadcast later in the day (short online report here).
Before we departed for London, Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner boarded do say a few brief words to us, before dashing off to open an event in Cambridge, and from there down to London to join the People’s Vote march in Westminster. He had warm words of encouragement, but also a message….“Write to your MP!”. Daniel stressed that whoever our MP is, whether they have come out in support of a People’s Vote or not, we need to contact them by emailing, writing old-fashioned letters, and asking to meet them at their constituency surgeries to call for a People’s Vote. This is especially for MPs like Heidi Allen (South Cambs), Lucy Frazer (SE Cambs), Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon) and Shailesh Vara (NW Cambs) who supported remain in the 2016 EU referendum, and whose votes will be crucial when any Brexit deal is debated in Parliament. Letters do not need to be long, it’s best to keep them brief and to the point. You can find contact details for local MPs and tips on letter writing on our website.
Then we were off!
TW-IN's experience of the People's Vote March
October 29, 2018
However, a couple of months ago, an idea had been put forward at one of their campaign meetings to give a group of non UK EU citizens living here in Tunbridge Wells the voice they lacked back in 2016, what better way than create a series of films highlighting their situation and how they feel. So far, the group has made eight films. The interviewees didn’t have a vote back in 2016, but through these films , they have given a voice.
From Charing Cross TW-IN headed to their meeting point, the Statue of Achilles in Hyde Park and waited for quite a while until the march began. In the meantime, they took this fantastic photograph that made the front page of this week’s Times of Tunbridge Wells.
St Albans for Europe attend the People's Vote March
October 26, 2018
On 20 October, around 200-250 people gathered at St Albans City Station, many dressed in the bright blue and yellow of the EU flag. Following distribution of hand-painted banners, a group photo and interviews with the local media, they were on our way to the march, taking two different trains as it was such a big group!
It was a gorgeously sunlit day – good job, as they were at a standstill for well over an hour and a half, giving everyone a chance to take in the array of thoughtful and often provocative banners hailing our cause: promoting a People's Vote to ensure that the government's Brexit deal is put before the country.
At last the group started moving, heading towards Parliament Square via Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. Traditional and yet spontaneous cries of 'shame on you' broke out as we passed Downing Street. The march remained peaceful yet was noticeably louder than previous demos, as they expressed our passionate opposition to the folly of leaving the EU.
“I was one of the lucky few from the St Albans group to make it to Parliament, and the square overflowed as we listened to speakers from across the political spectrum,” local marcher Anita Mannion said. “Ciaran, a delivery driver, warned of the destructive chaos that will ensue if border controls are implemented. One after another, activists spoke of their passion for the European project. The crowd vocally wondered where Jeremy Corbyn was... but David Lammy was there to exhort us: don't mourn; organise! Which is precisely what we shall continue to do.”
Ely for Europe attend the People's Vote March
October 26, 2018
There were about 20 Ely for Europe members waiting for the 9.17 train to London... and some people from our town they'd never met before - clearly all the leafleting we did had an impact! The group arranged to meet the people heading from King's Lynn on the first coach. The train was absolutely packed, and Ely for Europe passed People's Vote stickers around. Most of the people on board were going to the march. The oldest spotted must have been in his eighties. The youngest around 5, and he and his sister had made their own placards on paper plates.
Members from Southeast Cambs were supposed to join at Waterbeach and Cambridge North, but the train was so packed that they had to wait for the next one. The train was still full, with a very high and visible number of marchers, after leaving Cambridge with an additional 4 coaches.
Ely for Europe's members have a tendency to scatter for marches! Some got on the bus from Cambridge, some got an earlier train, some got a later train, some drove. There were over 120 attendees for Ely and Southeast Cambs.
Glostays enjoys the People's Vote March for the Future
October 26, 2018
Three full coaches left Stroud on Saturday, after picking up from Gloucester and Cirencester. Stopping on the way in Reading services, it was inspiring to see a sea of blue and gold, as other marchers from other areas also took a break from their journey.
On reaching London the sight was incredible, as swathes of marchers began to meet. The group joined them and, although there have been many marches over the years, most have never been part of something so huge and so special. There were many members of Glostays for whom this was their first experience! They were mesmerised by the whole event. There were lots of children who will never forget being part of this. There were also some leavers who have now seen the travesty that is unfolding and have changed their mind. Hats off to them.
Glostays left London at the end of the day, having signed up many more activists, who will now become part of the fight to stop Brexit. The group will continue to demand a people’s vote and make ourselves heard. The March was peaceful, exhilarating and hopeful. It made many feel proud of the country for the first time in a long time.
Find out more about Glostays on their facebook, twitter and website
North Hampshire for Europe marches for a People's Vote
October 26, 2018
Staffordshire and Macclesfield attend the People's Vote March
October 26, 2018
At just before 6:30am last Saturday, 18 people loaded flags and banners into the hold of a coach and clambered aboard to start their road trip from Macclesfield through the market towns of Staffordshire, where they would pick up their fellow People’s Vote campaigners, and South to London to join the hundreds of thousands of like-minded people converging for what they hoped would be the biggest political march of the year. Half an hour later another 18 campaigners climbed aboard in Leek bringing with them more flags, banners, campaign T-shirts and even a box of cakes.
The coach made further pickups in Stone, Stafford, Rugeley and Lichfield and by 9:00am forty four campaigners were heading to London. Campaign t-shirts and cake were handed out. Mike Ottewell,72, from Cheddleton, the chairman of Staffs4Europe which organised the coach, stood to express his thank to Hugh Hudson and Peter Coates for their generous sponsorship which had enabled two coaches, including ours, to take campaigners from Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire to the march.
Although the group included a number of seasoned campaigners many were heading to their first campaign march, the Brexit mess created by the politicians having motivated them to take a stand. “Whatever your views on Brexit and the EU, the politicians have messed it up. The people need to take back control and decide when the facts are known. I hope we will Remain but if it’s a fair vote on the facts and people choose to Leave, then I’d go with that, but not this mess”, said one campaigner echoing the views of many.
Jamie Morrison, 9, from Leek, our youngest campaigner said “I’ve already started to learn Spanish and French. I don’t know what I want to do for a career yet but I don’t want my opportunity to travel and study in Europe to be affected by Brexit.”
His mum, Susannah, 51, a supporter of Scientists for EU and an NHS public health nurse she said she was attending the march because "My main interest is the NHS and I think it is at risk” and because she is concerned about important environmental protections saying “ I fear they will be trashed.” Susannah describes herself as “a British and European citizen” and wants “our children to have the same opportunities we had had to live, work and study in Europe”. She acknowledged “the sacrifices past generations made to secure peace across Europe, to develop laws which have greatly benefited the UK, and which are extremely important for our future security, prosperity and well-being as a nation.”
The group arrived in London to glorious sunshine. With one glance around it was clear that this was going to be big. After posing for a group photo, they headed off to join the march at Marble Arch. The route down Park Lane was already packed and the group was soon absorbed into the mass of people.
The atmosphere was friendly, conversations were struck with strangers: about their banners, where they had travelled from, why they were marching. Young, middle aged, old from every walk of life and every corner of the country. Our “Staffordshire’s Not for Brexit” T-shirts featuring the Staffordshire knot attracted much attention. “Staffordshire!” exclaimed one lady, “It’s good to see you here.” It was surprising how many people in the crowd had Staffordshire connections and were keen to introduce themselves. Some asked where they could get one of Staff4Europe's T-shirts and they sold all their spares but didn’t have enough to meet the demand. Who knew Staffordshire was so loved? The group is very proud!
People's Vote March - a Winchester perspective
October 26, 2018
The Hampshire European bus was parked by King Alfred statue in the historic city of Winchester. The driver was Polish, a good omen for the People's March on London. The bus trip organiser, Milan, was raised in the Czech Republic and is their best known European activist who has held information stalls in Winchester's High Street on regular Saturday mornings for 2 years. The fifty plus Winchester residents encompassed a complete age range of men and women from the city with the over eighties mingling with students from the University of Winchester.
The sun shone throughout the journey to the final destination opposite the Dorchester Hotel by Hyde Park. Ian, the Hampshire European movement chair, commented that anything less than 100,000 protesters on the march to Parliament Square might be reckoned a failure. By the time, they regrouped at 1:15 PM for the march, the roads leading to Marble Arch led them to believe 500,000 might be a realistic estimate of the actual numbers on parade. The group waited for an hour, many chatting with groups who had come from all over the country carrying banners which identified their geographical grouping or the cause which they most identified with – the NHS, teachers, local authority workers, students, the very young, and grandchildren who might, as they grow up, be deprived of the European connection in future years.
Some of the protesters had mass-produced colourful banners with familiar wording, others carried banners with coloured photographs of eminent Brexiters, all named. One banner, in particular, held by young woman swaying hypnotically to a nearby drumbeat caught my eye. She held out a photograph of Boris and David Cameron grinning at each other with the words 'Eton mess'.
They slowly clambered over barriers, the young assisting the old, till by chance we were reunited with some of Milan's Winchester group. I took a photograph of a most original banner, a version of Banksy's shredded picture recently auctioned by Sotheby's: this time, the word Brexit was being shredded as it emerged from the picture frame.