St Albans’ passionate Remainers are continuing to make their voice heard and recruiting members as part of a national campaigning day.
St Albans for Europe had a stall in St Albans market on the European Movement UK’s Action Day - they were handing out leaflets, interacting with the public and welcoming new people to the group.
Chair Fiona McAndrew said she knows lots of people disagree with Brexit: “The negative impact of Brexit is already beginning to be felt across the country with 96 per cent fewer EU nurse applicants since the referendum vote; inflation rising as real wages drop; businesses relocating abroad or under threat; and uncertainty over the rights of EU citizens living here and UK citizens living in the EU.
“We fundamentally disagree with the direction government is taking on Brexit. Following the general election, Theresa May lost whatever mandate she thought she had for a hard Brexit and we maintain that leaving the EU is a mistake.
“Now, more than ever, is the time for pro-Europeans to join the grassroots European Movement and make our voice louder.”
Campaigns director for the European Movement UK, James MacCleary, is hopeful: “We are seeing a major shift in the language being used to discuss Brexit. People are starting to talk about not leaving at all.
“Our supporters and members are the backbone of our movement and it is thanks to their positive involvement in this Action Day that we have been able to demonstrate a popular, ground-based expression of, not just opposition to Brexit, but active support for staying in the EU – and to show that the European Movement UK is alive and kicking.”
The majority of voters in St Albans were in favour of remaining in the EU, with 63 per cent opting to stay in the referendum on June 23, 2016. But the UK as a whole voted to leave with a small majority of 52 per cent.
Since then, St Albans for Europe was set up and joined nationwide protests against the implementation of a hard Brexit.
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