Bremain in Spain members head to London for the third National Rejoin March, bringing the sunshine with us, writes Bremain Treasurer Helen Johnston for Yorkshire Bylines.
After endless days of rain in the UK, on Saturday 28 September the sun shone in London for the third National Rejoin March (NRM), and Bremain in Spain members were there to help remind the new Labour government that Brexit is still a disaster for the UK, and we haven’t gone away.
We joined our fellow marchers in Hyde Park, where crowds of people in blue carrying flags and banners were beginning to assemble. With an estimated 15,000 other marchers (unofficial Met Police liaison team figures) we made our way down Park Lane and Pall Mall, past Tommy Robinson supporters protesting in Trafalgar Square. They were outnumbered by anti-fascist protestors, and many, many times by us – although of course they received more press coverage, as ever!
Our march was peaceful and joyful, as always. Bremain in Spain chair Sue Wilson was among the familiar faces carrying the banner at the front, alongside other speakers including EMUK’s Mike Galsworthy, former Young European of the Year Madeleina Kay and Liz Webster of Save British Farming.
The march paused outside Downing Street for a rousing rendition of Ode to Joy, the EU anthem, and finished in Parliament Square for a rally with music, videos and inspiring speeches.
Inspiring speeches
Green MEP Terry Reintke spoke of the dangers of the rise of the far right and the threat of war from dictators like Putin. “As democracies, we have to work together to defend democracy, to defend a rules-based world. We don’t know what is going to happen in the US in November and that makes it even more important that the European Union and we as European citizens stay a strong voice globally for freedom, for democracy and for human rights.”
Sue Wilson’s speech was warmly received, too. To cheers she announced: “When I first stood on this stage to protest against Brexit in 2017, I said I was a proud European citizen who hoped one day to feel proud to be British once more. I’m not there yet, but I’m closer now than I have been in years, now we’re finally rid of the tainted, toxic Tories.”
Sue spoke about the importance of immigration for the UK, making it the diverse, tolerant country it is today, and providing the backbone to many industries and services. “And it works both ways, or rather it used to… It is thanks to Freedom of Movement that I am a proud immigrant living the dream in Spain, a dream now denied to so many. Brexit didn’t just steal our dreams, it stole our rights, our economic stability and our global standing.”
Sue concluded by calling on the government to go much further than just improving relationships with our European neighbours, if it really wants growth: “We were promised a reset. We were promised change. Well, we’re ready, we’re waiting, and we’re not going anywhere!”
Other speakers included Graham Hughes, host of the popular Politics Social podcast. He was the first person ever to travel to all 193 UN member states without flying. He spoke emotionally about how back then, his red EU British passport was the most powerful in the world, and how it would have allowed him to live, work, love, marry or retire in 27 EU countries. Thanks to Brexit it is worth much less now.
Many of the speakers called on the Labour government to acknowledge the harm done by Brexit and rethink its stance on Europe. Former Labour MEP, Richard Corbett, reminded us that “over 80% of the people in the House of Commons now, voted against Brexit: we’ve got to give them the courage of their own convictions”.
The cost of Brexit
Cecilia Jastrzembska, the president of Young European Movement, said she would like to ask those who still believe Brexit was the right thing for Britain, “If we rejoin today, what Brexit benefit would you miss the most?” Would they miss the benefit of Brexit red tape blocking our artists going on tour? Of trade restrictions suffocating our businesses? Of rising unemployment? The annual £40bn hole in our economy? Or the cost of living/energy/housing/prison crisis seeping into our lives?
Steve Bray also asked: “When Labour talk about this £20 billion black hole that the Tories left us, what about that £40 billion lost every single year, lost tax revenue from leaving the EU?” And Femi Oluwole pointed out that “we know that Brexit is a major drag on our quality of life. All the experts have made that very, very clear to us. And this Government knows that as well. They kind of wrote it into law.
“About a month ago they passed a Fiscal Responsibility Bill which basically means that everything they do has to be judged by the Office of Budgetary Responsibility. So, they can only do things that the [Office for Budgetary Responsibility] says we can afford. Well, the OBR also says that Brexit is costing the economy 4%, an equivalent of £100 billion a year, and £40 billion in tax revenue. So, according to their own laws they have to do everything in their power to essentially undo Brexit.
Media presence
The day was a great opportunity for Bremain in Spain to engage with the Spanish media and raise awareness of how Brexit has affected British citizens with homes in Spain. Sue was quoted in this article in El Mundo, which also features an interview with Bremain in Spain member Trevor Perfect, who flew over from Benidorm to march with us. We were also mentioned in articles in El Correo and by Spanish news agency EFE and I was interviewed by Spanish radio stations RNE and Onda Cero.
After the speeches, we headed to the pub to relax and network with friends and colleagues from the National Rejoin March team, European Movement UK, Grassroots for Europe and the many regional groups who had travelled from all around the UK to be at the march. We all agreed it had been a great success once again, all thanks to Peter Corr and his amazing NRM team, and yes, we will be back!
