Members of campaign group Bremain in Spain had a busy and productive weekend in London, attending, and speaking, at the second National Rejoin March and holding our annual general meeting.

On Thursday 21 September, Sue Wilson, Lisa Burton and other members of the Bremain in Spain Council landed in London for the start of a great weekend. Sue arrived by Eurostar from Brussels after visiting the European Parliament to witness the inauguration of ‘Our Star’, a symbol of friendship, unity and hope. The rest of us travelled from various parts of the Spanish mainland and islands for our first get-together in person for almost a year.

Annual general meeting

For our meeting on Friday we were joined by friends and colleagues from Volt España, the National Rejoin March, Save Freedom of Movement and Grassroots for Europe.

The Bremain Council was delighted to welcome those who took the time to attend in-person and online and took the opportunity to thank all the group’s members for their continued support.

The big day

On Saturday 23 the sun was shining and the skies were blue when we set out to central London to meet up with thousands of Rejoiners from all over the UK and Europe for the second National Rejoin March. We greeted old friends and new as we assembled on Park Lane. The Bremain in Spain Council was joined on the march by loyal members including Keir Duncan, Tracey O’Rourke, and Trevor Perfect, and many others.

The march set off at 1pm, headed by the speakers carrying a banner declaring “We want our Star Back”. They included our vice chair, Lisa Burton, and our friend from Volt España, Rachele Arciulo, who had travelled from Barcelona to give a speech at the rally. They were flanked by familiar faces such as the German Green MEP Terry Reintke, former Belgian PM and EU Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, the great campaigner Gina Miller, and Mr Stop Brexit, Steve Bray.

Behind them, marchers waved all the flags of the European Union. Our chair Sue Wilson proudly carried the Spanish flag, representing all of us British citizens in Spain, and Spanish citizens in the UK.

We wound our way along Piccadilly and Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square. A police source told organisers that the numbers were in excess of 20,000. The atmosphere was, as ever, joyful, with friendly waves from passing tourists and honks of support from taxis, buses and cars. In Whitehall we marched past a small but vocal demonstration by a handful of dog owners protesting the proposed ban on the XL Bully breed, a demonstration that was shown on the BBC News, while its reporters and cameras mysteriously failed to spot tens of thousands of Rejoiners filing past a few metres away!

Halfway down Whitehall we were greeted by ‘Our Star’, brought over just the day before from Brussels for the first leg of its trek around the UK over the next few months.

Inspiring speakers

The highlight of the day was, of course, the speeches in Parliament Square. The crowds cheered as Terry Reintke told us “We are still with you, we love you and we want you back”, and the Green Party’s Zack Polanski declared that “Brexit has failed”.

Lisa Burton represented Bremain in Spain on the stage this year, and she did us more than proud. She spoke of how Brexit has affected the lives of those who took advantage of freedom of movement when we could, and of our pain that future generations have been denied that right:

Her heartfelt speech was roundly applauded as she explained that we campaign precisely because we are patriots, and she called on politicians to acknowledge that rejoining the EU is now inevitable.

Also from Spain, Rachele Arciulo of Volt España, spoke of the need for unity among all Europeans, saying that:

The future in their hands

Young people were well represented among the speakers. 21-year-old Ceira Sergeant expressed the frustration of those who were too young to vote when the referendum happened – those “who never got the chance to have their voices heard”.

Other young campaigners included 2018 Young European of the Year, Madeleina Kay, who talked about the ‘Brexiles’ she met throughout Europe, who are trapped by the borders that prevent them moving on.

Stella Mavropoulou, a Greek student and activist who lives in London, said:

The final speaker of the day was the courageous campaigner, Gina Miller, who said that:

In the final words of the final speech:

The more they refuse to hear, the louder our voices

The star of the day, however, was undoubtedly the indefatigable NRM organiser Peter Corr. For the second year running he and his dedicated team of volunteers have worked tirelessly to make this event happen. He told us:

On Wednesday 20 September, en route to the Bremain in Spain AGM and the National Rejoin March in London, I took a slight diversion via Brussels. I had been invited to speak at the inauguration ceremony of ‘Our Star’ – an event hosted by German MEP and vocal anti-Brexit supporter Terry Reintke – it was an invitation I was delighted to accept.

Our Star

‘Our Star’ is the creation of German sculptor Jacques Tilly, whose earlier anti-Brexit works have included politically satirical floats such as the infamous ‘Gun’ sculpture, featuring Theresa May holding a gun in her mouth. Tilly’s floats have appeared at carnivals in Dusseldorf, as well as making regular appearances at anti-Brexit marches in London.

The ‘UK’s Star of European Peace’, a two-metre-tall talisman representing peace and unity was being exhibited and inaugurated in the European parliament, ahead of its appearance in London at the National Rejoin March II on Saturday 23 September. Following its appearance at the march, Our Star will then be making its way around the UK, including making appearances at party political conferences.

Reintke, who hosted the inauguration ceremony and exhibition, promised yet again to look after ‘our star’ on the flag of nations until we are ready to claim it back. In her usual passionate, anti-Brexit voice, she spoke of changing public opinion in the UK, and how our MEPs (not all of them, obviously) are missed in Europe. She reassured us, yet again, that the door is still open and that the EU are keeping the lights on for our return

At the heart of Europe

Other speakers included Richard Corbett (former leader of Labour in the EP), Sandra Khadhouri (director of Keeping Channels Open) and yours truly, speaking on behalf of UK nationals in the EU. Corbett will be appearing with Reintke again on Saturday, as both will be making their cases for the UK to rejoin the EU at the National Rejoin March.

This was my first trip to Brussels since before the pandemic, and it was a great pleasure to be back at the heart of Europe. Not only did it bring home to me the inclusive, collaborative nature of the EU community, but it highlighted the isolation and loneliness of go-it-alone Britain.

As I walked the corridors of the European parliament, listening to a multitude of European languages being spoken, I keenly felt the loss of my EU citizenship, and all the rights, benefits and opportunities that go along with it. Being back in the parliament building really brought it home to me how much we have lost and how much I had missed the warmth and the welcome.

The theme of the exhibition, organised by Peter French and Phil Jeanes, was one of hope. As I left the building, having listened to the speeches, and having met many fellow campaigners both from the UK and Europe, there was plenty of hope to go around. I came away with a strong feeling of belonging, gratitude and optimism.

The lights are on and the door is still open

Whether British politicians accept it or not, we are on a journey back to the EU, and it’s a journey that is increasingly gaining public support. With the rejoining of Horizon, we have taken a first step, and prime minister in waiting, Keir Starmer, has spoken of closer ties with Europe.

While there are significant limits on what can be achieved without rejoining the single market or the customs union – and a certain degree of cakeism and delusion from both main parties – we are on our way back to Europe. It’s the only course of action that makes any sense, and both the UK and the EU, understand that. Even if they won’t admit to it.

When Our Star leaves the European parliament building, it will be replaced by a smaller version, which will be on display until we can reclaim our rightful place at Europe’s side. As I said in my speech, “Our star is in very good hands. But hopefully not for too long. We really would rather like it back!”

And the sooner the better! Enough damage has been done already. Let’s not add to it by delaying our return any longer than is necessary. As Reintke and fellow MEP Guy Verhofstadt never hesitate to remind us, and will do so again on Saturday, the lights are on and the door is open. We just have to walk through it.

Watching the furore over the people waving flags at the Last Night of the Proms has been something indeed. The hypocrisy has been particularly stunning since it has come from those who label themselves patriots and free speech warriors and have a pattern of alleging that ‘the left’ is trying to cancel what they label, often somewhat imprecisely, as British culture.

Patriotism vs nationalism

Nationalism believes in a homogeneous society with strong leaders, authority, and a particular slant on history and ideology. It demands loyalty and devotion to a nation. It boosts the identity and superiority of one group in direct opposition to other individuals or group interests.

Patriotism requires love of the country as a whole, which includes ALL the people who live within it.

Charles de Gaulle, who led Free France against Nazi Germany during World War II and later became president of France, said, “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first”.

Albert Einstein said, “Nationalism is an infantile disease; it is the measles of mankind”. The people who are upset about EU flags at the Proms tend to have nationalistic traits as opposed to patriotic values.

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Shutting down political opposition smacks of extremism

It is noted that some of the more extreme commentators vociferously attack anyone who speaks out about Brexit, and we can expect this to worsen. They seem to be in a state of increasing panic, with daily news now seeping out of every sector telling the public just how bad it has been. Environmental standards are being slashed so big businesses can make more profit, and they know they are approaching the Brexit-shattering realities of a demographic time bomb. Research shows that for every day that has passed since the EU Referendum, 1,356 votes have been added to the pro-European side with older voters naturally passing away and younger voters coming of age.

If someone speaks out against Brexit, or the ideologically constricted government, daring to state the obvious, i.e., it has been bad for the nation’s wealth, is damaging to business, has hurt British farming, or daring to suggest that Britain needs to be part of the EU, they will receive a torrent of abuse, or be told to stay in their box. Notable lightning rods for this invective include Carol Vorderman, Gary Lineker, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and, lately, Stephen Fry.

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The people who have been the most vocal about EU flags at the Proms take great pains to insist they are proponents of free speech and freedom of expression. It’s clearly arrant nonsense as their latest tirades demonstrate. What they mean is they want the freedom to use bigoted language against migrants, to deny well-established science and spread Covid misinformation, to indulge in unevidenced conspiracy theories, to attack net zero, and blame everything on some enigmatically unidentifiable force, like ‘the blob’ or the ‘wokerati’. Those who challenge them are labelled the enemies of free speech and part of an amorphous ‘metropolitan elite’ that they’ve never been able to quite define.

Brexit has been deeply damaging to British music industry

The Proms itself represents musicians and music from all corners of Europe, indeed, from all over the world. Members of the EU Flags Team have run this campaign and their slogan is #ThankEUForTheMusic. They are trying to highlight the issues facing the music industry and the effects that leaving the EU has brought.

“Music has no borders and we should want our music industry to succeed.”

The loss of freedom of movement has been devastating to musicians and orchestras. Visas and paperwork for every country. The 90 in 180-day rule, and particularly ‘carnet’ paperwork, which allows an individual traveller/business to temporarily export or import goods for commercial purposes to and from a country without having to pay duty or value-added taxes (on their equipment) being hugely impactful.

Arron Banks’ meltdown in response to Blur’s Damien Albarn daring to explain the issues aspiring musicians face due to Brexit, renders a near-perfect example of both the ignorance and arrogant nonchalance espoused by some.

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Yet, almost half of UK musicians and workers in the music industry have had less work in the EU since Brexit than before, and more than a quarter have had no EU work at all. Musicians who participated in the survey said:

And another:

The UK’s music and arts industry is huge

The UK’s music industry – contributing some £4.4bn a year to the UK economy – is a dominant global force and a central part of the UK’s creative industries, which, valued at £92bn a year to the UK economy, are worth more than the automotive, aerospace, life sciences, oil and gas industries combined.

Patriots would understand that the British music industry is one of our best exports and a huge source of soft power to the United Kingdom. They should be appalled at how Brexit has affected it. The extremists don’t seem to care about the damage to individuals’ lives or UK industries, yet waving a flag they don’t like is enough for some of them to deem you a ‘hater’ of your own country. They would certainly identify themselves as ‘patriots’, yet how patriotic is it to appear so relaxed about the destruction of one of the UK’s most successful industries and the disenfranchisement of so many of their fellow citizens?

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Thank EU so much!

The Proms is screened on national television in Germany and France and around the world. Those EU flags were also seen by the three and a half million people who tuned in to watch in the UK, which would be a success in itself. However, the pro-European rejoin movement, including the amazing EU Flags Team, owes a big thank you to those who commented with such passion. They showed the world how intolerant they really are while bringing much-needed national and international attention to the damage Brexit has done to the UK music industry.

You couldn’t pay for this type of coverage. Their reactions have also brought a considerable amount of much-needed light entertainment.

The likes of Richard Tice, Nigel Farage, Isabel Oakeshott, Nile Gardiner, former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, and even PM Rishi Sunak are amongst those who seem to have had kittens in their commentary. Days on, the fallout and commentary is still going. What a great job! Thank you, guys.

Thank EU for the music

In an open letter to Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, from the campaign organisers, EU Flags Team (read here in full), they said:

No one forced members of the audience to take or wave the EU flags; they took them voluntarily. Those individuals may feel they are British and European. They may come from an EU country or understand the issues that leaving the EU has brought to the music industry and want to show solidarity. They may be musicians themselves. So, forgive us, please, if we call you hypocrites when you say these people ‘hate’ their country if at every turn you are unwilling to admit how much car manufacturing, farming, fishing, the arts and culture, your fellow compatriots, and so much more are suffering because of Brexit.

Rejoiners are now in the majority

Currently, over 60% of the UK wants to rejoin the EU, with that rising to 86% of those under 25, without any significant political party or politicians calling for it. Joining the EU again is looking like an inevitability. The most extreme contingent of Brexiters know this, so expect more hysteria from them in the coming months.

The second National Rejoin March is happening on 23 September in London, with speakers that include myself, Gina Miller, Guy Verhofstadt, A C Grayling, Mike Galsworthy, Terry Reintke and many more. You can find all the details on their website, MarchforRejoin.co.uk – Join us on the road to rejoin. The will of the people has changed: those who disagree can either get on board or get out of the way – increasing numbers of us are done with being shut down and we are making our voices heard.

At PMQs this week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated he was “committed” to the triple lock on pensions. That is until he was challenged, when he declined to commit to the lock’s inclusion in the next Conservative manifesto. As SNP leader Stephen Flynn pointed out, “as someone who spends more heating their swimming pool than the entire state pension, it’s safe to say he’s not as invested as others”.

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The triple lock was first introduced by the Conservative/LibDem coalition in 2010 to ensure pensions would increase annually by either inflation, average earnings or 2.5% – whichever is the highest. Inflation this year is currently expected to be around 7%, based on the annual rate in September, to be released next month. However, earnings could be even higher thanks to one-off bonus payments to public sector staff, taking the forthcoming annual pension increase to over 8%.

Earlier threats and precedent

Treasury officials are currently said to be discussing a one-off break from the triple lock that could save £1bn. Except it wouldn’t be a one-off. The precedent for downgrading the triple lock to a double lock – at least on a temporary basis – has already been set.

The lock was suspended for the year 2022-2023 following a rise in wage inflation due to the pandemic. The lock also came under threat when Liz Truss was temporarily prime minister, as both Truss and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt threatened to abandon the triple lock.

What’s different now is that the policy has never been challenged so close to an election. It is likely to prove a hot topic at the forthcoming Conservative Party conference, and is already causing division within the party

Conservative division

Sunak is coming under increasing pressure from some in his party to protect the triple lock. The policy has been described by some party members as “sacrosanct”, especially as older voters are more likely to vote Conservative, and to turn up at the ballot box on election day. Others, however, either claim the policy is unfair to younger people and/or are concerned at the potential cost.

An unnamed former treasury minister told the Guardian, “Everyone agrees it’s massively unaffordable now. But the timing of this is questionable”. Former work and pensions secretary, David Gauke, said “tough choices” would have to be made, while the current work and pensions secretary, Mel Stride, suggested the policy was not sustainable in the long term. Former Conservative Party leader, William Hague, described the policy as a “runaway train” that was putting “insurmountable pressure” on the government to increase the minimum age of retirement.

In favour of the policy, the chair of the cross-party parliamentary group on pensions, Nigel Mills, said, “No one ever wants to talk about what will be in the future manifesto, but we should be clear that the state pension should keep pace with inflation and earnings”. He said it would be “politically impossible” to remove the triple lock.

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8% of not very much

Regardless of the perceived or otherwise fairness of the triple lock for pensioners, even a rise of 8% is very little when the UK pension is so pitifully small to begin with. British pensioners, on one of the lowest pensions in the industrialised world, are in desperate need of a reasonable increase, especially when the cost of living is rising so sharply.

Of course, pensioners are not alone in receiving low incomes, as increasing poverty levels in Britain clearly demonstrate. Meanwhile, and especially under this government, the rich get richer, the extremely rich get extremely richer.

Of course, it makes good sense to have meaningful political debates, both within the government and with opposition parties, on how our taxes are spent. But removing the triple lock – as with other policies that affect those on lower incomes – is not the answer. The wealthy need to be paying more, and most especially, those that avoid paying tax in the UK altogether need to contribute.

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The proposed saving is but a drop in the ocean when compared with the cost of this government’s policies and the obscene waste of taxpayer money, not least during the pandemic. Whether it’s the exorbitant and unnecessary cost of Conservative policies – not least on failed immigration policies – or the writing off of monies lost through faulty PPE and dodgy VIP contracts during Covid, this government have proven categorically that our money is not safe in their hands.

The Tories like to regard themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility. The last 13 years have proven categorically that the government cannot be trusted to spend our money wisely, or in the interests of all of society. Not only that, they appear to have learned nothing about what the country, and especially their own core supporters, want and need.

So, go ahead, Sunak and co., threaten the triple lock all you want. This close to a general election, it’s just another nail in your coffin.

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