On Saturday 14 October at 2 pm hundreds campaigners from across the East of England came together outside the Guildhall in Market Square, Cambridge to say NO to Brexit!
As chaos reigned at the heart of government, with ministers at odds over which version of Brexit they should pursue, and some threatening a “No Deal” Brexit that would be disastrous for the economy and society of the UK, we called on our political leaders to act in the interests of this country and stop a dangerous Brexit that most people in the UK now recognise is a mistake.
The rally in Cambridge was one of several regional anti-Brexit protests on October 14th, one for each of the UK’s European Parliament constituencies. This day of action was coordinated by ‘the 48%’ and supported by Britain for Europe, Scientists for EU, European Movement and Healthier in the EU.
Members of Pro-EU groups from across the region joined the rally, including Ely for Europe, East Hertfordshire for Europe, Norwich and Norfolk Stays, St Albans for Europe, Suffolk EU Alliance, and The 48% Peterborough., which was hosted by Cambridge Stays.
Image: Cambridge Rise
The rally began with a short speech from Cllr Anna Smith, who welcomed everyone to Cambridge on behalf of City Council leader Lewis Herbert, and spoke of the immense contribution that citizens of other EU member states make to life in Cambridge, and her determination to help protect their rights.
Next up was our band for the event, Major Rat Run entertained our crowd, which had by now grown to about 500 people, with a series of catchy and witty songs inspired by the Girton Parish Newsletter (all politics is local indeed!). In “Theresa” they took a wry look at the baleful effect of the Brexit on individuals and the country, concluding:
“You can’t predict the side effects of rubber-stamping hate, but I’d rather feel like 2012 than 1938”
Image: Cambridge Rise
Image: Cambridge Rise
Paul Browne, Chair of Cambridge Stays, next read out a message of support from Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, before introducing the afternoon’s speakers. Then it was the turn of our speakers. Daniel Zeichner MP spoke about the fact that opinion polls show that the majority now see that Brexit was a mistake, and about how the government is sleepwalking towards a disastrous “no deal” Brexit stating “I tell you it’s not Brexit, it’s wrexit!”.
Image: Cambridge Rise
Andrew Atter, a technology entrepreneur who founded his first company in Cambridge is now a member of Liverpool for Europe spoke of how the UK technology industry needs the skills that EU nationals bring to this country, noting that rather than take jobs from UK citizens they enable firms to grow and create more jobs for UK citizens.
Cambridge Rise
Richard Balfe (Lord Balfe of Dulwich) speaking on behalf of pro-EU Conservatives, asked “Where does our moral duty lie?“, reminding us of how the EU has supported the development of democratic government and economic growth in the former communist states of Europe, and how while working together with our neighbours is often frustrating, it is far better than the alternative pursued in the first half of the 20th century.
Image: Cambridge Rise
Laure Ollivier-Minns, a campaigner for EU citizen’s rights and contributor to the book “In Limbo: Brexit testimonies from EU citizens in the UK” spoke movingly of the uncertainty and sense of dislocation that EU nationals living in the UK, often for decades, have felt since the referendum. Rising racism, a hostile tabloid press and a Home Office as incompetent as it is callous all contribute to a climate of fear, but ending on a rousing note stating “Let’s show that what is tolerated by some bigots and the poorly informed is not to be tolerated by us!”
Image: Cambridge Rise
Professor Catherine Rowett of the University of East Anglia, speaking on behalf of the Norwich Green Party, pointed out that lack of stable employment and the dreadful state of services in many parts of the UK was not the fault of the EU, or of EU nationals who come here, but is the result of policies pursued by UK governments.
Image: Cambridge Rise
Dr Victoria Bateman, lecturer in Economics at Gonville and Caius College, spoke of the role of the EU in meeting global political, environmental and economic challenges, and that “Brexit leaves Britain naked…exposed at a time when we face inescapable international challenges“. Brexit was not the cause of the problems the UK faces, and Brexit is not the solution!
Image: Cambridge Rise
Cllr Rod Cantrill, Cambridge Liberal Democrats, opened by leading the crowd in a chorus of “Stop Brexit!“, with the voices of hundreds of people echoing around Market Square in a very satisfying way. Speaking on the need to “exit from Brexit” he said “I don’t believe it’s too late, but I do believe it’s critical that individual voices come together as we have today to form a strong unified message.”
Image: Cambridge Rise
Marcus Johnson, a local business leader, spoke about the importance of membership of the single market to industries in the East of England and the UK as a whole, and why “No deal” would leave everyone poorer.
Image: Cambridge Rise
Our final speaker, Sophie Ellis, urged those attending the rally to get out into their communities and tell their friends and neighbours about the benefits of EU membership and why it is so important for us to be part of it.
Paul Browne ended the rally by reminding us all that amendments on the EU Withdrawal Bill will soon be debated in parliament, providing a critical opportunity for MPs to prevent a “no deal” Brexit , guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK, and give Parliament the opportunity to stop Brexit itself in the future once the details of the deal (or no deal) the government negotiates are known.
Now is the time to contact your MP and tell them that they must stand up for our rights and the future of this country. We will be publishing more information about which specific amendments you should ask your MP to support, but we’re starting by recommending people support the Represent Us campaign, which is asking people to write to MPs to ask them to support amendments Amendment 7 and NC4. These are the amendments that restore Parliamentary control by requiring a separate Act of Parliament before the we can leave the EU.
You can watch several of the speeches from the rally on youtube. The rally was also covered by Cambridge News and the Cambridge Independent, and was the top item on the 5.50pm BBC Look East News on 14 October!
Thanks to everyone in Cambridge and across the East of England whose hard work made this rally possible, to our inspirational speakers, and especially to everyone who joined us in Market Square. We will carry on the campaign against Brexit, and we will win!
Image: Black Fen
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