Rejoiners told to keep up pressure on Government to undo Brexit ‘mistake’

Pro-EU groups from throughout the UK - including several Yorkshire branches - took part in the demo. March organisers estimate the total number of protestors exceeded 15,000.

The protest started in Pall Mall and concluded with a rally in Parliament Square. A dozen-or-so speakers included Richard Corbett, former Yorkshire & Humber MEP and leader of the Labour Party in the European Parliament up until Britain left the European Union in January 2020.

Richard is Honorary President of Leeds for Europe.

The annual National Rejoin March (NRM) is in its third year, establishing itself as an important part of pro-European’s campaign calendar. The organisation behind it was founded by Derby lorry driver Peter Corr. In addition to the autumn national get-together, it’s been extended to include spring-time “Day for Rejoin” local events by groups throughout the UK.

In 2023, Leeds for Europe supported it with a march and rally in Leeds city centre. This year it held a screening of a documentary - “Betrayed: The Truth About Brexit” - at the Hyde Park Picture House.

NRM now also includes a regular podcast - “Rejoin Rants”. I was a guest on its second show.

Richard Corbett told his Parliament Square audience: “Now it’s time to get rid of Tory Euro scepticsm. In the House of Commons, 80 per cent of members in there voted in the referendum against Brexit.

“We have a Government that’s cautious. Our job is to make it somewhat less cautious. Over 60 per cent say Brexit was a mistake …it is coming up to 60 per cent now who say they would vote to Rejoin.

“There is no point trying to appease a small and diminishing number of people who still think Brexit was a good idea if you are alienating a growing number of people who think it was a mistake.”

He urged campaigners to write to their local MP, the Prime Minister and both the local and national press. It’s important we keep up the pressure on politicians, Richard concluded.

I’d add that we’ve a new Government - one that doesn’t instinctively lie about or seek out animosity and disagreements with our European allies. Unlike its predecessor.

But Keir Starmer’s Government doesn’t appear to be giving better, more fruitful relations with our European allies the priority it should. Ministers’ objections to an EU-proposed youth mobility scheme is a baffling example of this; it would benefit many too young to vote in the 2016 referendum …but now old enough to potentially advance their education or careers with up to four years of work or learning abroad. Do Labour MPs really want to be the ones to deny them that?

There seemed to be a near-conspiracy among major party leaders to not mention Brexit during the General Election campaign. It was ‘the elephant in the room’. Quite a few marchers reminded us of this by donning elephant costumes.

The National Rejoin March isn’t just a one-day thing. It helps inspire campaigners for the year ahead. Expect to see pictures reused from the day accompanying Brexit articles in the press and online over the next few months. Hopefully those articles won’t forget to mention that 78 per cent who voted Labour in July this year back ‘Rejoin’. I imagine the party will be asking for their support again in 2029. Will it deserve it?

Jas Olak is Vice Chair of Leeds for Europe and member of the National Council of European Movement UK. Further details about Leeds for Europe can be found at leedsforeurope.org.