User:Jonpatterns/Britain for Europe

Britain for Europe formed in 2016 shortly after the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. It is an umbrella organisation for anti-Brexit grassroots groups.{{cite web|url=http://www.britainforeurope.org/our_groups |title=Our groups - Britain for Europe |publisher=Britain for Europe |date= |accessdate=26 February 2018}} It aims to secure a vote on the terms of the Brexit deal that would include an option to remain. In December, the Financial Times described the groups as 'diehards' that splintered off from the Open Britain group; saying they seek to reverse Brexit rather look for favourable terms of exit.{{cite news | last = Chaffin | first = Joshua | title = Britain's Europhiles splinter into dozens of grassroots movements | url = https://www.ft.com/content/b196cec0-bc6f-11e6-8b45-b8b81dd5d080 | work = Financial Times | subscription = yes | quote = ...the official campaign has split in two: a pragmatic Open Britain that is resigned to Brexit but hoping to soften its terms, and a more radical Britain for Europe, which is still determined to overturn it. List of pro-Europe groups at the end of the article - Britain for Europe: Open Britain splinter group still fighting Brexit. The diehards. | date = 9 December 2016 | access-date = 29 June 2018}}

Britain for Europe has campaigned against Brexit, and in favour of pro-European causes. In September 2017 it supported Amendment 7, which called for Parliament to have a meaningful vote. It supports 1 Day Without Us, an annual event that demonstrates solidarity with migrants in the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.open-britain.co.uk/open_britain_at_the_rally_for_europe_at_the_labour_party_conference |title=Rally for Europe at the Labour Party Conference |publisher=Open Britain |date= |accessdate=26 February 2018}} and a national march to Parliament {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180629023554/https://hertfordandstortfordlibdems.org.uk/en/event/detail/2018-06-23/people-s-vote-march-for-europe-london | archive-date = 29 June 2018 |url= https://hertfordandstortfordlibdems.org.uk/en/event/detail/2018-06-23/people-s-vote-march-for-europe-london |title= Britain for Europe, march to Parliament Square |publisher=Hertford Liberal Democrats |date= |accessdate=26 February 2018}}

It worked with European Movement UK and Scientists for EU to organise a pro-EU Conference and a lobby of Parliament on 24 October 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanmovement.co.uk/pro_eu_conference |title=European Movement Supporters Participate in Pro-EU Conference and Mass Lobby of Parliament |publisher=European Movement UK |date= |accessdate=26 February 2018}}

In June and October 2017, Britain for Europe groups march to College Green, Bristol.{{cite news |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/remain-group-hold-pro-europe-133613|title=Pro-Europe rally on College Green, a year after Brexit referendum|first=Esme |last=Ashcroft | work = Bristol Post |date=23 June 2017 | access-date = 30 June 2018}}{{cite news | last = Fackrell | first = Matthew | title = Bristol for Europe: Indispensable or irresponsible? |url= https://www.berkeleysquares.co.uk/2017/10/bristol-for-europe-indispensable-or-irresponsible/ | work = Berkeley Squares |date=15 October 2017 | access-date = 30 June 2018}}

In 2018, the organisation aims to lobby for a Parliamentary and public vote on the deal, a national celebration of Europe Day{{cite web|url=http://www.europeday.org.uk |title=Europe Day in The UK |publisher=Greenwich for Europe |date= |accessdate=1 March 2018}}, to work with other national pro-European organisations, and to organise a large national march to Parliament. In January, the Bath affiliated group challenged Jacob Rees-Mogg.{{cite news | last = Ferguson | first = Sam | title = Jacob Rees-Mogg heckled by anti-Brexit protesters from Bath for Europe | url = https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/jacob-rees-mogg-heckled-anti-1128363 | work = Bath Chronicle | date = 27 January 2018 | access-date = 24 June 2018}} In February, Channel 4 questioned the affiliate group's, Camden for Europe's, bus campaign claiming Brexit to cost £2,000 million per week.{{r|bus}} In March, the Leeds for Europe affiliate group organised a march attended by about two thousand people.{{cite news|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/great-northern-march-closes-leeds-14448320|title=Great Northern March sees thousands take to the streets of Leeds|first=Martin|last=Shaw|work=Leeds Live|date=24 March 2018|access-date=5 July 2018}}{{cite news| last = Oscroft | first = Katie |url= http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2018-03-24/thousands-join-one-of-biggest-anti-brexit-rallies-in-north/ |title=Thousands join one of biggest anti-Brexit rallies in north|work=ITV News|access-date=5 July 2018}}{{cite news| last = Staff writer|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-43527517|title=Thousands march in anti-Brexit protest|work=BBC News|date=24 March 2018|access-date=5 July 2018}} There was a march in Exeter attended by about 2,500 people, organised by affilitate group Devon for Europe.{{r|devon}} In April , Dorian Lynskey of the Guardian noted that several local anti-Brexit groups had joined Britain for Europe, however some groups had disagreements with each other.{{r|deal}} In April, the group organised a march in Edinburgh with Open Britain and the European Movement.{{cite news | last = Staff writer | title = Edinburgh march for vote on final Brexit deal | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-43756531 | work = BBC News | date = 14 April 2018 | access-date = 24 June 2018}} On Sunday 24 June, roughly two hundred people joined a Perth for Europe march.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/hundreds-turn-out-anti-brexit-12793058|title=Hundreds turn out for anti-Brexit march|first=Rachel|last=Clark|date=26 June 2018|work= Daily Record | location = Glasgow | access-date = 30 June 2018}}

On 15 April 2018, Britain for Europe and eight other pro-European groups launched a joint initiative called called People's Vote.{{cite news | last = Fletcher | first = Martin | title = Inside the headquarters of Britain’s anti-Brexit brigade | url = https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/05/inside-headquarters-britain-s-anti-brexit-brigade | work = New Statesman | date = 30 May 2018 | access-date = 21 June 2018}}{{cite news | last = Porritt | first = Richard | title = Campaign launched to push for People’s Vote | url = http://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/second-brexit-vote-campaign-launch-1-5476745 | work = The New European | date = 15 April 2018 | access-date = 17 April 2018}}{{cite web | last = Staff writer | title = Launch of the new national People’s Vote campaign | url = https://www.open-britain.co.uk/launch_of_the_new_national_people_s_vote_campaign | website = open-britain.co.uk | publisher = Open Britain | date = 15 April 2018 | access-date = 17 April 2018}} It will campaign for a second referendum based on the details of the exit arrangement, including an option to remain in the European Union.{{cite web|url=https://www.altitudelondon.com/about-us/all-about-millbank-tower/|title=About Millbank Tower |publisher=Altitude London |date= |accessdate=13 March 2018}}

The organisation uses a shared People's Vote campaign office based in Millbank Tower, Millbank, central London. The tower also houses offices for the Labour Party, Conservative Party, and United Nations. The organisation has roughly fifty local campaign groups.

The Chair of Britain for Europe is Tom Brufatto.{{cite web | last = Hobhouse | first = Wera | author-link = Wera Hobhouse | title = Catherine Bearder MEP hosts lecture on Brexit strategy in Bath | url = https://www.werahobhouse.co.uk/catherine_bearder | publisher = Office of Wera Hobhouse | date = 29 January 2018 | access-date = 29 June 2018}} Britain for Europe is organised from the grassroots membership.{{cite news |url= http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/23/britain-for-europe-remainers-hard-brexit|title=How I went from soggy Tory to leader of the hard Brexit resistance|first=Tim|last=Skeet |nopp=yes |page=Comment is Free|date=23 January 2017|work=The Guardian | access-date = 30 June 2018}} It is steered by an elected council not a national executive.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

Affiliated groups:

• Camden for Europe{{cite news | last = Staff writer | title = Is Brexit really going to cost £2 billion a week? | url = https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/is-brexit-really-going-to-cost-2-billion-a-week | work = Channel 4 News | nopp=yes | page=FactCheck | date = 21 February 2018 | access-date = 5 July 2018}}
• Devon for Europe{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Charley | title = Pro EU march attracts over 2,500 campaigners | url = http://www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=111496 | work = Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette | date = 4 April 2018 | access-date = 5 July 2018}}
• Bath for Europe{{r|bath}}
• Bristol for Europe{{r|bfegroups|bristol}}
• Brum in EU{{r|Guardian_Harris}}
• Leeds for Europe{{cite news | last = Staff writer |title = Hundreds in Leeds join ‘Brexit Resistance’ movement | url = https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/hundreds-in-leeds-join-brexit-resistance-movement-1-8915440 |work = Yorkshire Evening Post | date = 18 December 2017 | access-date = 5 July 2018}}
• Perth for Europe{{r|bfegroups}}

Chuka Umunna and Mike Galsworthy support the organisation.{{cite news| last = Grice | first = Andrew|title=Pro-EU campaign groups join forces to fight against hard Brexit|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/pro-eu-campaign-groups-join-forces-chuka-umunna-fight-hard-brexit-theresa-may-grassroots-a8190136.html|work=The Independent|date=1 February 2018 | access-date = 26 February 2018}}

• Best for Britain
• European Movement UK
• Opposition to Brexit in the United Kingdom

{{reflist|30em}}