Citizen’s rights campaign group, Bremain in Spain and some of its members will be travelling from across Spain, the Balearics, the Canary Islands and the UK to participate in the first National Rejoin March happening on 22 October in London. Our Chair, Sue Wilson, will also be speaking on stage.
Why? British nationals residing in the EU and EU nationals living in the UK were affected most by Brexit, yet our views were ignored and still are. Our democratic voting rights were diminished. Many people have had to make heartbreaking choices. Forced to choose to reside in Europe or return to the UK, separated families, work opportunities and future dreams slashed. It has been illegal for tens of thousands of Brits living in Spain to drive for months as we await an international treaty between the UK and Spain to be completed. The issues we face are complex and far-reaching.
Brexit took away the right to love, live, travel, retire and work
There are 407,000 Brits residing in Spain, and 152,000 are pensioners, the highest of all EU countries. UK nationals can now only spend 90 days out of 180 across the whole Schengen zone. This is already causing extreme stress and a care crisis for many who want to travel freely to care for ageing or sick parents. Brexiters celebrating the ending of freedom of movement is proof of how delusional Brexit was. After all, only British people, including them and their families, lost the right to love, live, travel, retire and work freely across 27 countries.
Some say, “you left; it has nothing to do with you,” or worse, but for those of us in Bremain, we feel despair and a duty to stand against what is going on in our once tolerant, open, sensible home nation, after all, our children and families are there. We see the destruction of rights and intentional division. We believe in European values that once aligned with British values until populist forces hijacked the country. Brexit was a catalyst for what we are starting to see now.
Brexit means a poorer Britain
When discussing the UK financial crisis, it is not Covid and war to blame. It is Covid, war AND Brexit. Brexit means a poorer Britain with less money for services, less growth, and lower international standing. The demolition of laws that protect workers’ rights, the environment, and food standards is downright dangerous and a threat to the nation’s long-term health and wealth. Being part of the EU gave us so much freedom, protection and opportunity and the fight to take our rightful place at the heart of Europe again, starts now.
Lisa Burton – Vice Chair, Bremain in Spain
