NEWS · 24 September 2023
Tens of thousands of us marched through London yesterday with a simple demand: rejoin the EU!
The second annual National Rejoin March at least matched and probably exceeded the numbers of the first – and the enthusiasm was certainly undimmed.
Stay European is proud to be part of the organising committee for the march, which was backed by a wide range of pro-EU campaigns and dozens of local groups.
At the rally, Guy Verhofstadt MEP pledged to keep supporting us until rejoin is done: "I promise you that I will come back every year – but don't make it too long!
"We are waiting for you because we feel like we have lost a leg or an arm with Brexit. Brexit can't be made better, it's impossible. But you can do something: British democracy can reverse Brexit!"
Photos: Angeles Rodenas
Gina Miller told the crowd: "We need to start the road to Rejoin now... This is not about tinkering. Brexit has broken Britain. Putting a plaster on is not going to fix it."
Marchers came from across the country on trains and on 18 coaches, some making long journeys. We were joined by supporters from Scotland and Wales, and some British people who have made their homes all over the EU.
This was another big step on the road to rejoin – in building up our rejoin movement and in keeping rejoin firmly on the agenda.
As AC Grayling told the march: "Given that 62% of people polled just last week said they want to be back in the EU, and given that more than 80% of people under the age of 25 want to be back in the EU, it is inevitable that we will rejoin. It's a certainty.
"Therefore the question is: why delay?"
Photos: Angeles Rodenas
The march heard round the world... but not on the BBC
It is a strange situation when you can read this detailed report (in Spanish) of the Rejoin March on El Mundo but nothing on the BBC. When France 24 reported it live (in English) but not Sky! The march was covered in Italy, Greece and even Australia.
The comparative lack of attention from the British media is incredible when you consider that this was surely one of the largest UK protest marches of the year – and on an issue that the majority support.
Some UK media did cover it though:
Guardian
Independent
The National
The Brexit-supporting media also paid more attention to this year's march, with "not-news" channel GB News trying to belittle it live, and the Express even attempting to refute our arguments – but in doing so they gave the game away! They can feel Brexit slipping through their fingers.
