BREMAIN IN SPAIN MARCHERS PUT IT TO THE PEOPLE IN LONDON
At the No. 10 Vigil stage, opposite 10 Downing Street, Sue Wilson, chair of Bremain, made a rousing speech. Following a live cabaret performance by prominent activists, Madeleina Kay and Faux Boris Johnson, she pointed out that Theresa May is demonstrably not on the side of UK citizens living in the EU and does not speak for them either.
Wilson comments: “It was a sign of the commitment of Bremain in Spain members that so many of them joined us to March in London, to show that we really do have a voice. It wasn’t the first time we’d voted with our feet, but it was our biggest ever marching contingent. It was also a chance to feel part of something historic and come together with people from all walks of life who are united in their unwavering support of Remain.”
Bremain in Spain member, Frances Gillard, said of her march experience: “It was great to see so many homemade banners – witty, amusing and bizarre! The march also proved that it was not old people who voted for the stupidity of Brexit.”
Sian Shaw said: “The march had a brilliant, inspiring and wonderful atmosphere. The speech by Michael Heseltine reduced me to tears. There were also great speeches from outstanding young people. This was the ‘will of the people’!”
Frances Rushton says: “I was honoured to be part of an event that will go down in history as the will of the people making their voices heard.”
Pat Laing says: “I felt privileged to be there, and I was marching for many of my friends who couldn’t attend. Brexit is based on fear and extreme nationalism. The huge numbers on this peaceful and good-natured march represented hope, friendship and inclusiveness. The best of human nature was on the streets of London on 23rd March 2019.”
Bremain councillor, Zoe Adams Green, concludes: “The highlight of my day was bumping into a Facebook friend who is native German but comes across as more British than I do. This epitomised the fight. Our identity is not just our nationality we were born with. We’ve been able to move, develop and absorb. Each and every one of us deserves to be able to stay exactly where we are. Home. I’m even more determined to fight Brexit to the very last minute now.”
“The June 2016 referendum result started a Brexit nightmare for UK citizens
living in the EU and EU citizens living in the EU. Since then, we’ve been
working together to make our voices heard. We’ve been side-lined and
silenced for too long. On Saturday, we’ll be loud and proud and demanding
another referendum. Although most of us couldn’t vote on our own futures in
June 2016, and it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to vote in the next
referendum, we wholeheartedly support a #PeoplesVote.”
Wilson concludes: “The public must be able to make an informed decision
based on the facts, not the fantasy. We must establish if Brexit really is
the ‘will of the people’ before making this momentous decision. It’s the
only way forward that can start to heal the divisions created by Brexit. If
Theresa May can keep asking parliament the same question, how can she deny
the public a second chance? As our new banner says: we want a voice, a vote
and a final say, because Brexit is bonkers!”
Over 100 Bremain in Spain members are expected to attend the ‘Put it to the
People’ event and will march alongside other citizens’ rights groups
including: In Limbo Project, Brexpats-Hear our voice and Españoles de Reino
Unido, which represents Spanish citizens living in the UK.
BREMAIN IN SPAIN REACTS TO ROYAL DECREE BY SPANISH GOVERNMENTA decree to protect UK citizens’ rights in Spain if no-deal Brexit occurs
On Friday 1st March 2019, the Spanish government announced its plans for the protection of British citizens in Spain, in the event of a no-deal Brexit on March 29. The “Real Decreto” (Royal Decree) aims to protect the rights of all British residents in Spain in this scenario. Decree laws are only used in cases of extraordinary and urgent need, and this law is expected to pass through the Spanish cabinet and be ratified by Spanish parliament with “due haste”. Bremain in Spain ( http://www.bremaininspain.com ), a group working to protect the rights of UK citizens in Spain and the EU, provides its reaction.
Sue Wilson, chair of Bremain in Spain, comments: “This is excellent news, and proves what we have believed all along – that the Spanish authorities have our best interests at heart and value our contribution to Spanish society. The Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, has stated that the objective is to leave no British citizens – or their families – unprotected and for things to ‘remain the same’ as they are now.”
“One concern is that the offer has been made unilaterally, in anticipation of reciprocity by the UK government. The decree states that if there are no reciprocal arrangements within two months, the cabinet can suspend it.”
“This element has raised alarm bells with some Bremain in Spain members. While they have every faith in the Spanish government to treat us fairly and with compassion, they do not extend that faith to the British government’s treatment of EU citizens. Nobody has forgotten about the ‘hostile environment’ or the Windrush scandal.”
Wilson concludes: “The Spanish government’s commitment is only for a no-deal Brexit scenario. It’s a contingency plan. A better option would be for the rights enshrined in the Withdrawal Agreement to be agreed and confirmed. However, even that agreement only goes so far and removes certain rights and freedoms we anticipated having for life when we moved to Spain. The only way to ensure that all our existing rights and freedoms are protected is to keep the deal we have now. It’s time to stop squandering time and resources on preparing for a no-deal contingency, when we could plan for a no-Brexit.”
The British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, said: “I am pleased to see that the Spanish Government has today announced a series of detailed Brexit contingency measures, should the UK leave without a deal. The Royal Decree offers important assurances on issues like residency and access to healthcare for the more than 300,000 British nationals who have chosen to make Spain their home, and for the many millions more British tourists who visit Spain each year.”
Bremain in Spain is a group campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union and to protect the rights of British migrants living and working in Spain. Run by a team of volunteers and chaired by Sue Wilson – a resident of the Valencian Community – the group advocates a tolerant and outward-looking society. It believes this is best achieved by the UK remaining a member of the EU. Bremain in Spain is part of the British in Europe coalition of 10 UK citizens’ groups across the EU. It is also affiliated to Britain for Europe and European Movement.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Sue Wilson, Chair
Bremain in Spain
Email: suewilson@bremaininspain.com
Jo Chipchase
Press Officer
Email: jo@bremaininspain.com
Tel: + 34 696 056 328
Alastair Stewart
Deputy Press Officer
Email: alastair@bremaininspain.com
Tel: + 44 7549 504281
Site: www.bremaininspain.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/group
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BremainInS
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