John Moffett, Author at Bremain in Spain

Elspeth Williams’ Invitation to Parliament

Jul 4, 2018 | Articles, News

Bremain Council Member Elspeth Williams was invited to a People’s Vote thank you event for pro Remain activists. Here’s Elspeth’s story about her day in London and the event itself: “It’s not every day you’re invited to Westminster! So we were delighted when Bremain in Spain received an invitation from the #PeoplesVote campaign, Britain for Europe, and European Movement to attend a ‘Thank you’ event for activists on 5 June. I was lucky enough to be the only Council member available to make the trip, and I was really excited to be able to attend.

I travelled out of Perpignan Airport in France, since I live in Northern Catalonia about equidistant between Barcelona Airport and Perpignan, and I always find it particularly poignant to be leaving Perpignan on #StopBrexit business. When I arrived in London, I first stopped by to say ‘Hi’ to Steven Bray (see below). It’s always exhilarating to pay Steve a visit at his permanent SODEM installation outside Parliament, where he protests against Brexit on a daily basis. He’s always good for a chat on the latest developments, but constantly keeps an eye on passers-by as he waits to tackle MPs with a simple question: ‘How will Brexit benefit me?’ Needless to say, a good answer to this question is a rare thing.

It was also lovely to meet Anne Juliff (@patanna) at last – a young campaigner from @Valleys4EU. Other people gathered in advance of the event included Mark from @stratford4eu, Sally from @BathforEurope, and Polly (@RemainingKind) from @Hereford4EU.

We made our way into the Houses of Parliament early, since we had been warned that the security queue can be lengthy. Security measures are tight, of course, but the staff could not be friendlier or more welcoming. One security guard even asked another campaigner, ‘Do you think you’ll be able to stop it?’ No prizes for guessing the answer! The official dress code is ‘smart casual’. Jeans are OK – but preferably not trainers. T-shirts referring to Brexit had to be covered up or turned inside out, but EU stars were allowed, and Sally from Bath felt like a rebel wearing her fabulous beret!

Walking towards Committee Room 10 for our meeting, we had time to look around. The name ‘Palace’ of Westminster seemed apt, since the building is impressive in its beauty, and packed with statues and sumptuous works of art. Even the toilets are worthy of high praise!

The atmosphere, however, is surprisingly relaxed, and all of the security guards we came across were friendly and helpful. At a certain point, photos are no longer allowed (in the circular hall where you see MPs being interviewed on TV, for example). As we waited in the corridor outside Committee Room 10, we spotted Ken Clarke ambling along, deep in thought, and took the chance to thank him for all of his hard work.

Soon, we entered the room, which quickly became packed with campaigners from all over the UK (and Spain!) – all of them focused on stopping Brexit. The host told us that we’d been invited because we were the people who actually put our foot down and said ‘No!’ to Brexit. The session aimed to thank us for our work whilst promoting the People’s Vote campaign to give the British public a say on the negotiated Brexit deal. It included a Q&A session with MPs Caroline Lucas, Tom Brake, and Chuka Umunna (Anna Soubry sent her apologies as she was unable to attend at the last minute).

The MPs were frank and generous in their replies – there was no political rhetoric to be seen. The general message was that gaining a people’s vote is now the best way forward to stop Brexit. Even though referenda can be flawed, the people started this process and must finish it – with a final say on the Brexit deal.

The challenges ahead were not understated: The need to convince Leavers that they should be able to change their minds and that Brexit will not improve their lives. The need to take the campaign out into the community.

All in all, the session was productive, energising, and another reminder that the #StopBrexit campaign belongs to all of us. Now is the time to act and truly own that campaign.”

Bremainers Ask…. Steven Bray from SODEM

Jul 1, 2018 | Bremainers Ask, News

In the second of our series of exclusive Bremain in Spain interviews with Remain activists Bremainers Ask…. we talk to Steven Bray from SODEM about his vigil on St Stephen’s Green opposite Parliament. Steven and his supporters are there every day when Parliament is sitting and supporters are welcome to come along and join him. Steven gives us a bit of background about himself:

Steve is originally from Wales but spent his childhood in various locations due to his father’s military background. Steve is a passionate coin collector, having started collecting at the age of six. He turned his hobby into a business in 2001, though admits that he sometimes finds it hard to sell, as he struggles to let certain coins go.

Until the referendum, he describes himself as “just plodding along”, and says it’s a shame that it took a disaster to wake him up so he could take life by the horns. He tells us that there are so many things that he never appreciated or never got round to doing. Now he does appreciate all manner of things, and he will get up and do them! Steve finished by thanking us at Bremain for our efforts. He is certain that united, as a team across the UK and Europe, we are a force to be reckoned with, and together we will stop Brexit – FULL STOP!

Below are Steve’s answers to a few of the questions put forward by Bremain in Spain members:

Pat Kennedy: “What is your main motivation for keeping this incredible vigil?”

Steven Bray: “My main motivation in keeping this going is that countless people’s lives are being torn apart in the UK and in Europe. It’s a massive social injustice. Every deprived area of the UK voted to leave… false hope from false promises, misleading information and blatant lies. We were always going to be better off socially and economically as a member of the EU. This is not who we are, and it is certainly no way to govern a nation. We are the good guys, and it is down to each and every one of us to stop Brexit.”

Judith Hartley: “Do the reporters tell you when they’re on air, or do you sneak up like a ninja to wave the flag?”

Steven Bray: “Occasionally, a reporter will tell me they’re on and ask me or a few of us to come down. It’s quite rare, though: 99 times out of a hundred we remain silent. We make an exception for ‘The Mogg’ (perhaps some of you will have seen his interview last week) and a few others. Once we are there, they are live and know there is little they can do. One funny one was Al Jazeera TV – the producer was jumping up and down silently by the camera, really angry, “shouting” in silence. It was funny to watch.”

Mo Clements: “Is there any one person who has been particularly nasty? And who has been the most hopeful and encouraging?”

Steven Bray: “The one person I encountered that was particularly nasty was John Redwood. I really think he is actually certifiable. The nicest person… hmm… I’ve met so many genuine and nice people. I can’t possibly nail it down to one. I will say this: Something the MPs never say to me – the one benefit of the referendum is the people I have met and the friends I have made. I think we can all honestly give credit to that one point. Remainers have crossed all the boundaries in whom we now socialise with and accept as friends.”

Sandra Stretton: Do you have any plans for the future once we have stopped Brexit?

Steven Bray: “My future plans after Brexit is stopped are to campaign to ensure that our electoral system is addressed. The two-horse race that is over a century old is not fit for purpose for the 21st Century. Proportional representation is a must. I’ll also go back to dealing in coins, and one day I hope to retire to Spain or Malta. This may amuse you, but I have never been to Spain! One day…”

Ruth Woodhouse: “What do you plan to do in the event of the worst case scenario of the UK leaving the EU?

Steven Bray: “I can’t plan for an event that will never happen!”

Alison Curtis: (1) “Do you have a sense, from people’s reactions, that support for Brexit is changing?”

Steven Bray: “As time has gone by, I have seen a distinct change in people’s approach to us. The black cab drivers used to be very vocal in favour of Leave, and that has declined at least 80% in the last five months. That has to be a good benchmark. There is far more support now than there was back when we started. The tide is turning. The more people see the butterfly effect and implications, the more they realize how dire the consequences of leaving the European Union really are.”

Alison Curtis: (2) “Are there days when you wonder whether SODEM is worth getting up for?”

Steven Bray: “There is not one day that I think, ‘I can’t do SODEM today!’ Every single day is worth it – for so many people in Britain and Europe. I wish I could do more.”

Gerald Abell: “Why do you do what you do?”

Steven Bray: “I have always been relentless in what I do, but it does come at a price. I have to give 100% to what I do. I can’t multi task so to speak, so to try to keep my business going AND give what I give now would be impossible, and both would suffer. One day I will go back to my business… and we will still be members of the European Union!”

Thanks to Steven for taking the time to answer our questions. You can follow Steven and SODEM on their Facebook Page:

SODEM Facebook Page

Next time, Eloise Todd, CEO of Best for Britain answers your questions which can be submitted in advance via enquiries@bremaininspain.com

Recently, Bremain’s Media Relations Officer, James Gambrill, joined Steven on his vigil and presented him with a Bremain in Spain scarf. Here’s his story:

“On a recent trip to London, I once again took time out to thank the people who, come rain or shine, continue to make our voices heard outside the courts and parliament. My morning started off thanking all those who had attended the overnight vigil outside the High Court. It was nice to put some more faces to names. Unfortunately due to work commitments, I wasn’t able to join them on the actual vigil, but I think they were grateful for a cheery ‘good morning’ and thanks on behalf of all of us.

In the afternoon, I stopped by at the SODEM muster point to hand deliver a gift from Bremain to Steven Bray. A couple of days before my trip, fellow council member Elspeth Williams had mentioned that Steve quite liked our Bremain in Spain scarfs. So one of my tasks was to give him a scarf as a thank you for all he does each day. The weather has since changed somewhat in the UK so he may not be needing it as much of late, but it did get an airing on C4 news that evening!

It was SODEM’s ‘Pies not Lies’ day. There was a great crowd, and just before I arrived Philip Lee had resigned, which had a positive impact on the day’s “Stop Brexit” chants. It was good to catch up with people from many different groups, some of whom I’ve now met several times. I even bumped in to fellow Bremainer Cliff, who attended a Bremain barnstorm event recently in La Herradura.

With so many news teams on the green that day for May’s cramming session of the Lords’ amendments, Steve and friends weren’t able to flag bomb as much as usual, but they found a way to be featured by lining the pavement instead, which led to quite a few TV appearances. I also got the impression that the tide is well and truly turning, as many more passing by were in support of stopping Brexit than was the case the last time I visited.

I know it’s not possible for all of us to pop by, grab a flag and show our support, but if you are ever in London, a visit to SODEM really is worth it – and much appreciated by Steve and all the team. Thank you to everyone who has already stopped by to show their support!”

Steven sent a video message to Bremain in Spain members via James prior to the People’s Vote March on June 23rd:

Bremainers Ask………Femi from OFOC

Jun 30, 2018 | Bremainers Ask, News

This is the first in a series of exclusive Bremain in Spain interviews with leading Remain activists, starting with Femi from Our Future Our Choice. Bremain members were asked to submit questions and here are the answers you’ve been waiting for! Firstly, a little bit of background about Femi:

Femi Oluwole is the co-founder of ‘Our Future, Our Choice’, a campaign organisation formed and run by young adults who firmly believe that the best future for the United Kingdom lies within the EU.

Femi was born in Darlington and is 28 years old. He grew up mainly in Worcestershire, but has also lived in Dundee, Birmingham, among other places. He studied Law at the University of Nottingham, and his parents are Nigerian doctors.

He says that the best year of his life was the year he took part in Erasmus, which allowed him to experience life in Brest, France.

After graduating, Femi spent a ski season working in a hotel in France and has also undertaken three EU Affairs internships in Brussels as well as one in Vienna – specialising in Human Rights. He says that he quit the best of his internships to come back to the UK in order to #StopBrexit.

Caroline Guerrero: “You go out on the streets and speak to a lot of people regarding Brexit. What is the strangest encounter you have ever had”?

Femi: “Oh there are so many. I met a Leave voter who’s still staunchly anti-EU but thinks that given the tiny majority, the vote should have been disregarded. I recently met someone who said “I’m British, not European, because if you’re European, you could be a terrorist.” When I was campaigning before the 2016 referendum I met someone who told me that if we didn’t leave the EU, Sharia Law would completely take over the British courts.”

Lindsay Burrell: “How can we engage with 18-30 voters using a medium that they will both access and respond to?”

Femi: “Show your relatives clips of things OFOC have done so that young people can see that they’re both capable of and entitled to challenge what’s happening. Then tell them that they can help by sending us anything creative, videos they can come up with, that tell their MPs a very simple message: ‘F*** Brexit. You’ll never get my vote if you don’t give us one.'”

Sian Shaw: “How can we encourage apathetic Brits to be far more proactive in fighting Brexit and in understanding the very real threat to democracy in the EU Withdrawal Bill?”

Femi: “Point out that Brexit voters aren’t happy with what they’re getting. Tell them that Brexit voters who were promised a better deal that makes us more sovereign are furious that the only deal we seem to be able to get is one that not only leaves us at a competitive disadvantage against EU companies in the Single Market but also leaves us following rules over which we’ll no longer have a say. Tell them that if both Remainers and Brexiters are disgusted with Brexit, Parliament needs to know that, or all our futures are screwed. Especially young people.”

Sandra Stretton: “Once Brexit is cancelled, do you intend to pursue a career in politics, and – if so – in what capacity?”

Femi: “When the referendum happened, my plan was to work in EU Human Rights for a year, which is where my passion lies, and then come home to stop Brexit, and failing that keep the UK from swinging too far to the right. Theresa May’s plans to scrap the Human Rights Act are a major red flag for me. Brexit or no Brexit, that’s still something I’ll focus on, but addressing the concerns of people that led to the Brexit vote will be the first objective. That means rebalancing the country in favour of the North by pushing the government to invest in northern infrastructure and create incentives for businesses that employ in the North. If I run as an MP it will almost certainly be as an independent. Everyone except the Greens seems to be tarnished with the “establishment” brush.”

Valerie Chaplin: “What would you say to members of the younger generation who have moved to another EU country, feel abandoned by the UK, and risk the loss of their freedom of movement and EU citizenship?”

Femi: “If you’re a Brit abroad, make your vote count. Do absolutely everything you can to send the message that Brexit will not be tolerated. Talk to your MPs from your home town. Let them know that supporting Brexit now will cost them future elections. Know that you’re not alone. Spread the message to them and to everyone you know back home that “No Deal” would be a fundamental betrayal of Brits such as yourself.”

Alison Curtis: “Has the treatment of the Windrush generation, in illustrating the UK government’s unreliability and poor treatment of citizens, made the exit agreement more difficult?”

Femi: “The government’s treatment of the Windrush generations (incl. descendants) means that whatever willingness there was on the part of the EU negotiators to trust that the UK will act in good faith in its treatment of EU27 citizens has vanished. They will definitely require that the strictest of safeguards be put in place to avoid any such “mishaps” with their own citizens. This scandal also sends a strong and frightening message to EU27 citizens living here that their futures aren’t secure. Given how much the NHS relies on EU doctors, that message is bad for our health.”

Phil Walsh: “What, in your experience, do young people fear most should Brexit actually happen?”

Femi: “For us it’s racism and just the country just getting poorer. We see the world as our friend because we’ve been more connected to every part of it than any generation before us. So, the notion that close ties to Europe are a bad thing just seems completely alien to us. We know that most Brexit voters aren’t racist, but we know several of the big voices driving it are. Letting them direct the country is unacceptable to us. As for our economic futures, we trust experts. We’re more academic than any generation before us. So, when we see that 9 out of 10 economists say Brexit would permanently harm the country, we listen.”

You can read more about Our Future Our Choice on their Facebook Page here: OFOC Facebook Page

The next Bremainers Ask…. feature will be with Steven Bray from SODEM.

Sue Wilson’s latest trip to Blighty!

Jun 28, 2018 | Articles, News

Bremain in Spain’s Chair, Sue Wilson, recently attended the People’s Vote March, along with Bremain Council members Elspeth Williams and Sue Scarrott.

Sue used it as an opportunity to set up meetings with some of our partners and friends and here is her daily journal:

Fri 22nd June

I started my day in Westminster having lunch with Peter French, director of Reuniting Britain. Peter & I have become close friends over the last 2 years, & he has invited me to speak at 3 marches over that time – in London, Manchester & Leeds. Peter has now asked me to speak at his next big event on 20th October 2018 & gave me an update on how his plans for the event are developing. Although October sounds like a long way off, at the time of writing, it’s actually only 17 weeks away, so the plans are already well developed.

Most of the action is under wraps, but I can tell you that this event will be much more than a march & a rally. In fact it will be a whole day of events, starting with a pan European/British village of stalls, with food from all over Europe, starting at 10.00 a.m. The rally, with an incredible list of speakers will be from 12.00 until 2.00, followed by a march on parliament in Westminster. The rest of the afternoon will be full of surprises – a visual extravaganza, the like of which you will never have seen before.

I urge you now, book your flight & make it a firm date in your diary. This will be the last big event before parliament votes on the deal. It’s going to be big, it’s going to be expensive & it’s going to be amazing. I’m going to be there, along with the Bremain council – I hope you will be too!

In the afternoon, I visited the SODEM protest outside parliament to support Steven Bray in his daily protest. It is always encouraging to hear support from passing pedestrians, cyclists & drivers, whether it’s a cheer, a toot or a “Stop Brexit” shout, though Steve’s oft-heard chant would be hard to beat. The House of Commons was taking a day off today, so we didn’t have any politicians visit us. However, Steve is quite the celebrity in parliament now with members of both Houses regularly popping over to say hi & show their support. His dulcet tones are often heard above the debates inside too!

Saturday 23rd June

I had been looking forward to this day for weeks, & the #PeoplesVote march did not disappoint! It was wonderful to be joined by Bremain Council Members Susan Scarrott & Elspeth Williams, & we had new Bremain flags & stickers made especially for the occasion, featuring our new slogan “Brexit is Bonkers”.

The turnout for the march was fantastic, with over 150,000 taking part. It was the biggest march that I had ever attended, proving categorically that Remainers have yet to “get over it” & that we are not giving up the fight anytime soon.

There were some excellent, passionate speeches, most especially from Caroline Lucas, Tony Robinson, David Lammy & Anna Soubry. Unfortunately, due to the size of the crowd, we did not make it to the rally venue in time to catch the start, so we missed Gina Miller’s speech.

Gina Miller, Peter Kyle MP, Sir Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP

It was a pleasure to march with so many fellow Bremain in Spain members, who had travelled from all over Spain, but also from Italy, France, Germany & Portugal. It was also clear from the comments & thanks that we received on the day that our reach extends well beyond Spain, even beyond Continental Europe to the UK. It was also a privilege to march with other groups from Europe, such as Brexpats-HOV, RIFT & British in Europe, & with EU citizens groups In Limbo, the 3Million & Españoles en Reino Unido.

Juliet Smith marching for Bremain

Barbara Leonard and her amazing outfit!

Bremainer Duncan Stewart

Sue and Anne Juliff

British in Europe

In Limbo

The 3Million

Españoles en Reino Unido

For further information about the march & to view our photo gallery, here’s the link to our #PeoplesVoteMarch special on our website:

Bremain People’s Vote Pages

To sign the People’s Vote Petition, please click here: People’s Vote Petition

Can’t wait for the next one now! With what is being planned, it’s going to be even bigger than this one. Get the date in your diary now – Saturday October 20th in London is not to be missed!

Monday 25th June

My second trip to London was to attend meetings with Best for Britain’s CEO Eloise Todd & Tom Brufatto, Chair of Britain for Europe.

Eloise & I discussed how we can work more closely together & brought me up to date with their latest campaign plans. They are targeting specific constituencies & I’ll be checking with our own lobby group whether any of our devoted lobbyists happen to hail from those particular constituencies. Eloise is also going to provide me with a copy of their new manifesto. Eloise has kindly agreed to feature in our July newsletter, so I will be asking Bremain members to submit questions shortly.

On my way to my next meeting, I dropped in to SODEM to say hello to Steven Bray. While we were chatting, he spotted a film crew on the green, so we wandered over to see who the interviewer & interviewee were. It turned out to be Faisal Islam of Sky News interviewing MP Greg Hands, who had just resigned over Heathrow’s 3rd runway proposal. I managed to film part of the interview, while Steve flag-bombed them live on Sky News. I hung around in the hope of a selfie (with Faisal, not the Tory MP, I hasten to add!), & was rewarded, not only with a selfie, but with a chat about Brits in EU. He seemed genuinely interested, said this was a subject that was not going away, asked for my card & said he would be in touch. Steve even managed to film most of the conversation. When I later bumped into Faisal again in the café where I had lunch, I was starting to worry that he would think I was a stalker! What an unexpected pleasure & what a nice guy.

My meeting with Tom Brufatto was at the #PeoplesVote Campaign headquarters in Millbank Tower – an office suite shared by all the groups collaborating on the campaign, such as European Movement, Open Britain, Scientist for EU & OFOC! They are currently taking stock after the hugely successful march, & their petition, which was only launched on the day of the march already has over 165,000 signatures. After the success of the march, & the widely reported chants of “where’s Jeremy Corbyn?”, Labour are now under enormous pressure to come out in support of the campaign for a #PeoplesVote. We are all watching closely to see what they will do next. The focus over the next few weeks will be at local level, so taking the fight back to grass-roots. I am going to get more personally involved over coming weeks too – more news on this soon.

Tuesday 26th June

Making the most of the heatwave, I met with Elena Remigi of In Limbo, at a pub on the river in Cookham, in Theresa May’s constituency. The 2nd book in the series, In Limbo Too, was released on Saturday & is the testimonies of Brits living in the EU, many of them from Bremain members. My own testimony is also in the book, in the final chapter entitled “Hope”. Now the book has been published, Elena is busy raising funds to print copies for distribution to politicians. If this 2nd book is anything like as influential as the first, which contained EU citizens testimonials, then our voices may finally be listened to.

A special thank you to Elena who presented me with copies of both books, including a lovely dedication to Bremain members – I will cherish it.

The Lords were almost a leaping! Sue Wilson returns to the UK

May 13, 2018 | Articles, News

Day 1

My first event on Saturday 5th May was a regional launch event in London for the #PeoplesVote campaign. Launched by the Grassroots Coordinating Group (GCG), the meeting was hosted by Britain for Europe, European Movement & Open Britain, who are all partners in the GCG along with other groups such as Our Future, Our Choice, Scientists for EU & InFacts.

The surprise guest was Seb Dance MEP, who I had met previously in London & Brussels. As always, he gave a passionate speech about why Brexit must be stopped, & how giving the public a say on the final deal is the best way to achieve our goal.

I was chuffed to bits that he gave me a wave & invited me, by name, to ask a question. I asked, “What are the chances of Labour supporting a #PeoplesVote before the Tories do?” Seb replied that Labour were moving in the right direction, with the front bench being very aware of the issue. He & others within the Labour party are constantly applying pressure, especially on the Shadow Cabinet, & are focusing a lot of attention on new, younger members, who are very pro-European. They are also constantly pointing out that the majority of Labour supporters are Remainers.

During the launch we talked about the strategy & the timescales for the campaign, & of course about the forthcoming march in London on the 2nd anniversary of the referendum. I shall be attending in person along with many Bremain in Spain members. We hope that many of you will join us.

Seb Dance at People's Vote Regional Launch

For more information about the campaign & the march, check out the #PeoplesVote website: www.peoples-vote.uk

Sue at Pulse of Europe event High Wycombe

Day 2

My next event was the Pulse of Europe event in High Wycombe, where I assisted on a street stall & gave a short impromptu speech. The High Wycombe branch meet in the town centre every 2 weeks to engage with the public & talk about Brexit. Surrounded by lots of EU flags plus the flags of all 28 EU countries, it was a colourful affair, & the stall was manned by several campaigners from Germany, Italy, France, Scotland & England – a truly European event. We spoke to many Remainers who were happy to receive free flags, badges, leaflets & advice. We didn’t see any Leavers, but maybe they were just avoiding us. Everyone we spoke to was very reassured to know that Brexit is not a done deal, & all were in favour of a #PeoplesVote on the final deal.

You can read more about Pulse of Europe at their website here: pulseofeurope.eu

Day 3

It is always a pleasure to meet up with Elena Remigi of In Limbo – this time it was at her home in Theresa May’s constituency. The preparations for the launch of her second book – In Limbo Too – are going well & it’s only a matter of weeks now before it will be published. This time the stories are all from British citizens living in the EU, & Elena was very grateful to all Bremain in Spain contributors for their moving testimonials.

She will shortly be writing to all contributors to say thank you in person & to update them on progress. I look forward to reading the book very soon – I suspect a box of tissues will be required! Here’s a link to their Facebook Page: Our Brexit Testimonies

Day 4

A trip to London is always very busy as so many of the campaigners that I wish to meet are based there & then, of course, there’s the Palace of Westminster.

Sue and Eloise Todd, CEO Best for Britain

My first visit was to the office of Best for Britain, where I met with the CEO Eloise Todd. I expressed out sincere gratitude for the £500 grant we received from them recently, which will be ring-fenced for the Best for Britain/Bremain in Spain Barnstorm training sessions. Eloise & her team are busy working on their campaign, & will be making a strong case for staying in the EU, not just getting the best Brexit possible. We will be looking to collaborate again further – always a pleasure to work with such a dedicated team.

My second visit was to the new shared offices of the GCG, where I got to meet colleagues from a variety of groups, most especially those we have a direct connection with. As members of Britain for Europe & partners of European Movement, there is always a lot of ground to cover, most of which I did with Tom Bruffato, Chair of Britain for Europe. We talked about the campaign, the march & new data requirements & I collected a supply of #PeoplesVote campaign leaflets.

Sue and Tom Bruffato, Chair Best for Britain

I also met James MacCleary, Campaigns Manager of European Movement & members of Open Britain & Our Future, Our Choice. It is wonderful to see the groups working so closely together for our common goal, & I’m proud of our connection.

Sue and Peter French, Director Reuniting Britain

I had the pleasure of meeting Peter French of Reuniting Britain for lunch. Peter is working on his own big march, scheduled for October 20th, just before parliament are due to vote on the Brexit deal. Peter has invited me to speak at what he hopes will be the biggest march the UK has ever seen – you can expect to hear a lot more about it once the June 23rd march has taken place. Many Bremainers have already booked their flights for this one, including a few Bremain council members.

With only 15 minutes to spare before I was due at the House of Lords, I paid a brief visit to SODEM to see Steve Bray & his wonderful new banner, which features our logo amongst many others. It may not have been a long visit, but boy did I time it well! Madeleina Kay (EU Supergirl), Femi (Our Future, Our Choice) & Mike Galsworthy (Scientists for EU) all turned up just after me. I’ve met them all several times before, but it’s always a pleasure, & they always draw a crowd.

My final & most important visit of the day was another visit to the House of Lords, to witness further EU (Withdrawal) amendment debates. Thanks to Baroness Sally Hamwee, I had a ticket for the good seats, & my visit kicked off with me bumping into Lord Heseltine in reception. I asked to shake his hand & thanked him for all he has been doing for the cause.

I stayed for 5 hours, & saw 3 debates & 3 defeats for the Government – 1 minor amendment, then an expected win over whether or not the exit date should be included in the Withdrawal Agreement (no it shouldn’t as it removes any flexibility), then finally, the amendment about EEA/Single Market membership.

Between debates, I spoke to Lord Wallace of Saltaire who I had previously met when we both made speeches in Leeds.

The EEA amendment debate was the longest, the most interesting & certainly the most significant. There were some amazing speeches, especially from Lords Mandelson, Kinnock, Wallace of Saltaire & many others. Labour Lords were expected to obey the whip & abstain, & the amendment was expected to be narrowly defeated. The debate attracted quite a crowd, including from the House of Commons – it was standing room only where I was sat, & close to my seat MPs were watching attentively, including Chuka Umunna, Owen Smith & Chris Leslie. Clearly Labour MPs were very keen to see what Labour peers might do.

When the results were announced, & the government were defeated, it was clear that many Labour Lords had defied the whip (83 in fact), & 17 Conservative Peers had followed suit. The surprise & delight on the faces of the Remain peers was clear to see – a fantastic atmosphere! I took the opportunity to leave at this point (now 8 pm) so was leaving the chamber at the same time as the Lords. I managed to introduce myself to Lord Newby, who recognised the Bremain in Spain name straight away & was happy to stand & chat – he could barely stop smiling. I also spoke to Baroness Ludford, who then continued the conversation on Twitter later saying that it was nice to meet me & that I had just witnessed history in the making – it really felt like it.

I also spoke to Chuka Umunna afterwards who told me he was delighted & was busy tweeting the result.

Day 5

My last day was spent at 2 events in Milton Keynes, organised by the local branch of European Movement. The first was at Milton Keynes College, & was a presentation & series of workshops for a group of teenage students.

There was a panel made up of Lord Adonis, Will Day of Our Future, Our Choice & Madeleina Kay & I helped out with the workshops. The audience of c 50 students was split 70% Remain to 30% Leave (although none had voted in the referendum).

I think we managed to open a few eyes & ears & gave them all some food for thought. Topics covered were tailored to be relevant to the young audience & included education, jobs & travel.

Lord Adonis at European Movement event Milton Keynes College

Will Day OFOC, Lord Adonis, Madeleina Kay

Afterwards the hosts plus Lord Adonis, Will & myself all attended a street stall outside the station to promote the #PeoplesVote campaign & to survey the public on their attitudes to Brexit. Happy to say we reassured a few worried Remainers, & it was agreed by most, regardless of how they voted, that Brexit was not going well. I did survey a couple of Leavers, but they were of the extreme variety, so I didn’t manage to convert anyone. Note to self – must try harder!

Juliet Smith and Lord Adonis at European Movement street event Milton Keynes

Brexitometer at European Movement street event Milton Keynes

Next trip already booked – roll on the #PeoplesVote March on 23rd June.
Please come & join me!

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Bremainers Ask…. Steven Bray from SODEM

Bremainers Ask………Femi from OFOC