Welwyn Hatfield for Europe

A very thoughtful post from a local member Michal Siewniak, written as we entered 2021 and full of reflection.

What did the freedom of movement mean to me?
A couple of years ago, my daughter had a non-uniform day at school. She wasn’t sure what to wear, however at the end, she picked a Polish football top, with my nickname on it (ksiadz, which means in English priest), and a Croatian scarf.
My kids were born into a truly European family. I am Polish and my wife comes originally from Croatia. Yes, I know; their European identity and sense of belonging, to different cultures and traditions, won’t be taken away, however it might affect our and their lives in the future. When I asked my daughter about the choice of her non-uniform day clothes, she simply said: “I like to call myself a foreigner”. I was pleasantly surprised.
I remember my life, as a student in Croatia, before Poland joined the EU. I remember that every once a month, I had to visit a local police station to prove that I was a genuine student. When we were living in Italy, my wife had to wait quite a long time for the study and a work permit.
The freedom of movement has been part of our lives for many years now. We have always cherished and appreciated the opportunity to live in different parts of Europe. Each experience opened up our horizons and made us more “rounded individuals” (at least, that’s what we both think!). The freedom of movement has played such a vital part in our lives. In actual fact, it was the WAY OF OUR LIFE. it enabled us to:
• Travel freely without any restrictions
• Work
• Study and participate in a number of scholarship programmes
• Gain additional qualifications
• Enhance our live chances
Britain has now “departed” from the European Union. For me, it is a sad and nostalgic departure. Although UK has left the block at the end of January 2020, the transition period has been officially completed on Thursday, 31st December. I know that this new chapter in the history of the UK is not “the end of the world”. However, I am also sadly certain that we will get used to this ‘new norm’. It is disappointing that, whilst the Portuguese wine, Spanish oranges and French cheese will continue to move freely, people won’t. I wish UK nothing but success. Although this country gave me a lot, I am saddened to see its leave a project, which overall has brought us many advantages, most importantly peace and prosperity.

Urgent - please tweet Boris Johnson to ask him to extend transition. Example tweet here:

Boris Johnson Says Prepare for No EU Trade Deal After Brexit U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Britain should prepare to leave the European Union’s single market without a trade deal as negotiations with the bloc falter.

This link expires on Friday 27 November (hopefully at midnight to allow you time to watch it). It's a recording (c45 minutes) of a Q&A between Anne Applebaum and Peter Geoghegan at the Di**le Literary Festival on Sunday 22 November. It's excellent, do watch if you can.

https://www.crowdcast.io/e/geogheganandapplebaum/register?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=profile_web&utm_campaign=profile

Peter Geoghegan & Anne Applebaum on Democracy for Sale, Dark Money and Dirty Politics - Crowdcast Peter Geoghegan and Anne Applebaum shed light on the dirty politics selling out democracy.

This is worth reading.

Brexit stems from a civil war in capitalism – we are all just collateral damage | George Monbiot To one sort of capitalist, the insecurity and chaos that Brexit will bring is horrifying. To the other, it is highly profitable

Given that we now look to be exiting the transition period, completely unready, lacking a sensible deal and in a time of global and national crisis, this seems really important. To EU supporters and Brexit supporters alike!

Please sign and share if you agree.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554492

Petition: To Seek a 1 year Extension to the Brexit Transition Period & a Second Referendum To seek a 1 year extension to the Brexit Transition Period so that negotiations on the future EU-UK relationship can be concluded and a referendum conducted. The UK public can assent or reject the terms. A rejection would mean that the Government would commit to seeking re-entry to the EU.

Happening today from 11.15am (29 October).

Tractor rally in Melton Mowbray - East Midlands Bylines Melton Mowbray will be full of tractors tomorrow morning (Thursday 29 October) as a ‘socially distanced demonstration’ takes place starting at the cattle market at around 11am. Supporters have been asked to stand outside Ye Olde Pie Shoppe on Nottingham Street from 11:15am for photographs. The ...

If we succeed in winning a vote on standards, a US trade deal is less likely, as is the possibility of the NHS being sold to US interests. The likelihood then is of a better deal with the EU.

Save British Farming.

Today MPs will vote on Amendments to the Agriculture Bill - the last chance MPs will have to protect high food standards and strengthen the new Trade and Agriculture Commission.

Take action NOW by clicking the image below
https://cards.twitter.com/cards/18ce53wstlg/ai1sj

Write to your MP – Save British Farming Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Yesterday evening a virtual rally was held by the European Movement UK. If you missed the opportunity to take part you can view it here, see below for the link.

Over 10,000 watched the big virtual rally live last night!

There was huge support from politicians too. So much, in fact, that we couldn't fit in everybody who wanted to speak!

So, check out this great video from Nichola Mallon, Deputy Leader of the SDLP and Northern Irish Minister for Infrastructure.

Missed the event? Watch it again at www.actionday.uk/watch

OUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP A NO DEAL BREXIT. The combination of a No Deal Brexit and Covid-19 will have a devastating impact on our NHS and our economy. Chip in to stop a No Deal Brexit

🚨 Just announced.

Gavin Esler - Author, broadcaster, and Chancellor of the University of Kent is joining the virtual rally at 7pm on Thursday.

Hear him alongside:
🌟 Caroline Lucas MP
🌟 Stephen Farry MP
🌟 Polly Toynbee
🌟 Lord Michael Heseltine
..and many more, including politicians from across the political spectrum.

RSVP: http://rally.actionday.uk

This is what we've always been up against... a serial liar without an ounce of intergrity.

Johnson never intended to stick to the withdrawal agreement – Yorkshire Bylines In what may be regarded as the ultimate in bad faith, last October – as the UK and EU teams were engaged in intensive final negotiations in Brussels – Johnson is alleged to have taken legal advice about repudiating the withdrawal agreement even before the text was completed. He was never committ...

https://twitter.com/MrJonNewton/status/1306346346430050304

What a great graphic to explain the Irish border problem. If only someone had thought to show this to the general public whenever the Single Market was mentioned. (Johnson, Raab and co could have done with it, too).

Jon Newton on Twitter “ The hard brexit paradox”

Anyone else want to help refugees and humiliate Farage? Share love not hate.

#LetsRaiseMore for Refugees than Farage Gets Likes Britain is better than Nigel Farage. Let's turn his hateful propaganda against him by raising more money for refugees than likes on his post

When do we hit the streets?

If you don't listen to James O'Brien on LBC, I recommend you do - 10am - 1pm weekdays. Well worth a listen.

James O'Brien examines Iain Duncan Smith's "idiotic" admission on Brexit James O'Brien labelled Iain Duncan Smith's comments on the EU Withdrawal Agreement "one of the most idiotic" yet.

😔

Fears of dead chicks in lorries and 10 months of ports chaos after Brexit set out in new government document Emergency traffic measures to last until ‘end of October 2021’ – with a giant lorry park to hold 2,000 goods vehicles

Just one of many of the 'Project Fear' warnings that are coming true... 😕

Pro-EU campaigners warned Brexit would remain in the news every day for the next decade, such is the far-reaching/destructive nature.

What I found interesting about this was that originally, it actually WAS meant to be a *research* group. No longer...

Hardline European Research Group branded ‘a corruption of Conservatism’ by senior Tory MP Organisation which drove UK to a hard Brexit made up of ‘climate change deniers’ and ‘Trump sympathisers’, new book is told

And there's more bad news today:

Vast Brexit customs clearance centre to be built in Kent.

Vast Brexit customs clearance centre to be built in Kent Exclusive: council given only hours’ notice of emergency purchase of 1.2m sq ft ‘Mojo’ site

Bad news this werkend. Watch out for Gove press interviews this weekend - particularly on BBC's Marr and Sky's Ridge on Sunday as the government launches new 'Get Ready for Brexit' campaign.

Government launches new 'Get Ready for Brexit' campaign Businesses will discover details of customs regime after Brexit on Monday

https://www.facebook.com/108849000479169/posts/270092754354792/

Get your free ticket for Pause the Transition Virtual Rally at Link will be sent by email, Mon 15 June 2020 Buy tickets for Pause the Transition Virtual Rally at Link will be sent by email, Mon 15 June 2020 - This is an online / virtual rally in order to respect social distancing. Please RSVP on this page, and details of how to view the virtual rally livestream will be sent to you 24 hours before the even...

Today's news and it's not good.

Brexit: UK 'formally confirms' to EU that it won't extend transition period Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove says he has told Brussels that "the moment for an extension has now passed".

Join the virtual rally on Monday (15 June) evening to call on the Government to pause the Brexit transition.

Speakers will come from all nations in the UK and from across the political spectrum.

Free registration at:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/europeanmovement/374175/r/rt

Get your free ticket for Pause the Transition Virtual Rally at Link will be sent by email, Mon 15 June 2020 Buy tickets for Pause the Transition Virtual Rally at Link will be sent by email, Mon 15 June 2020 - This is an online / virtual rally in order to respect social distancing. Please RSVP on this page, and details of how to view the virtual rally livestream will be sent to you 24 hours before the even...

Know a farmer? Know anyone with a tractor? This is a campaign.

Don’t let the Govt sell 🇬🇧 farming down the river.

Join us in your tractors/trucks/cars at our socially-distanced demo on June 20th.

Meet at 1pm at Milbank Tower, London to drive to Parliament Square. Sign up at https://t.co/BxMbgLJfe5

Drive Tractors, Trucks, Cars to Parliament Square -Drive Slow Demo Your Chance to Save British Farming! Calling all farmers to drive tractors, trucks or cars to Parliament Square on Sat 20th June, from 1pm

So why not ask for an extension to the transition period?

UK economy likely to suffer worst Covid-19 damage, says OECD Forecast slump in GDP of 11.5% will exceed falls by France, Italy, Spain and Germany

Please read this open letter to Boris Johnson:

https://www.europeanmovement.co.uk/open_scientist_letter

Open Letter to Boris Johnson from Leading Scientists Leading scientists have written an open letter to Boris Johnson outlining the detrimental impact that a short Brexit transition would have on scientific research. They call for the Government to “take whatever time is needed to negotiate a productive future relationship with the EU, including UK r...

We need to fight a no deal brexit. Nobody voted for that.

Government Has Started Planning For No Trade Deal Brexit, Penny Mordaunt Confirms "Our approach is going to be achingly pragmatic," the Cabinet Office minister said.

John Crace of The Guardian on Twitter just now reporting on a debate in Parliament today.

Penny Mordaunt (standing in for the ever-shy Michael Gove) has just said 'we should trust then consumer, rather than the government' on diminished food standards. Chlorinated chicken here we come.

We must all do all we can to stop a No Deal. Nobody voted for a No Deal.

Brexit: UK heading for food shortages worse than coronavirus if no deal The UK could face food shortages worse than the impact of the coronavirus if there is no Brexit deal, Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned.

Cabinet unrest?

Cabinet unrest over U-turn on animal welfare in US trade talks Leaked letter instructs ministers to have ‘no specific policy’ on the issue

This is not good for Northern Ireland AND they did not vote for Brexit.

Brexit is forcing major retailers to consider pulling out of Northern Ireland Retailers are considering leaving Northern Ireland amid fears that trading barriers will make it too expensive to stay in the province.

Have you signed and shared this petition with your friends and family? More than 200k people signed yesterday and over 400k have signed so far. PLEASE sign and share.

https://www.campaigns.nfuonline.com/page/56262/petition/1?locale=en-GB

Please sign the food standards petition Do you want climate-friendly food that is produced by people you can trust in a way that cares for animals? Sign the petition now to stop food imports produced to illegal standards.

This is a good explanation of the current position for the Brexit negotiations.

Government planning to run down clock in Brexit talks beyond extension deadline Ministers are adamant the transition period must end on 31 December come what may

We need to and extend the transition period so that we do not end up with a catastrophic No Deal Brexit. As a country, and as agreed with the EU, we need to make this request by 30 June 2020. In the post below you'll find a link to help you to write to your MP about this. Please click the link and share this post too.

Tell your MP: Extend the Transition Period This would severely impact our NHS and our economy, which are already struggling to cope with the effects of COVID-19. Time is of the essence. This isn’t about whether you voted leave or remain. This is about doing what is in the national interest. We simply cannot afford to deal with two crises a...

Please SIGN and SHARE this petition today. We all need to protect British food standards.

Please sign the food standards petition Do you want climate-friendly food that is produced by people you can trust in a way that cares for animals? Sign the petition now to stop food imports produced to illegal standards.

We need to stop this.

BoE governor Bailey tells bank chiefs to step up plans for WTO Brexit The Bank of England governor told bank chiefs they should intensify their readiness for a no-deal Brexit, Sky News learns.

Nissan's investment plans for Sunderland will evaporate if there's a No Deal and yet that seems to be what Johnson and his team wants.

Nissan says UK factory under no-deal Brexit threat Britain's largest car plant is "unsustainable" without a trade deal, the Japanese company says.