Virtual Rallies

While COVID-19 may have halted normal life across the world, the world of politics continued and throughout 2020 the clock was ticking for the Prime Minister to secure a deal with Brussels to avoid a catastrophic No Deal Brexit.

Normal campaigning was not possible due to ongoing restrictions but the European Movement UK met this challenge head on by organising two big online rallies which both attracted more than 10,000 live viewers across all channels. Both rallies focussed on ensuring voices from across the political spectrum were heard, and across both rallies we welcomed speakers from the governments of the three devolved nations of the UK and from every party with actively participating members in Westminster (except the DUP!).

PAUSE THE TRANSITION RALLY

In June 2020 the European Movement called on the Government to press pause on the Brexit transition period in order to focus on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, so that all efforts could be focused on protecting lives and protecting the NHS.

Speaking at the rally were:

Lord Michael Heseltine (former Conservative Deputy PM)
Layla Moran (Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon)
Philippa Whitford (SNP Spokesperson for Health and Brexit)
Amelia Womack (Deputy Leader of the Green Party)
Stephen Farry (Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland)
Geraint Davies (Labour MP for Swansea West)
Matthew O'Toole (Member of the Northern Irish Assembly)
Colum Eastwood (Leader of the SDLP)
Eluned Morgan (Minister for International Relations, Welsh Government)
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru Brexit Spokesperson)
Hugo Mann (Interim CEO of the European Movement UK)
Activists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The event was hosted by Curtis Parfitt-Ford, a young activist from West London, and you can watch the replay below.

NO2NODEAL RALLY

In October 2020 the European Movement organised the No2NoDeal Action Day which centred around a mass lobbying of MPs around the country, where thousands of activists called on their elected representatives to do everything that they could to avoid a No Deal Brexit.

The day ended with a mass online rally that featured the following speakers:

Caroline Lucas MP (Green Party MP)
Ian Murray (Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland)
Lord Michael Heseltine (former Deputy Prime Minister)
Stephen Farry (Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland)
Polly Toynbee (Guardian Columnist and former BBC Social Affairs Editor)
Vaughan Gething MS/AM (Welsh Minister for Health)
Jenny Gilruth MSP (Scottish Minister for Europe and International Development)
Shaffaq Mohammed (former Liberal Democrat MEP)
Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour Party MP)
Sajjad Karim (former Conservative MEP)
Gavin Esler (Chancellor of the University of Kent)
Anna Bird (CEO of the European Movement UK)
Local activists from across the UK