Campaigners take to Romsey’s Streets for largest ever People’s Vote National Day of Action
Rich House - 15 Jan 2019
As part of Saturday’s People’s Vote National Day of Action local campaigners ran street events around Romsey.
Campaigners from local community group Romsey Better in Europe and the Hampshire European Movement which are both campaigning for a People’s Vote on Brexit now that the real options are known, fanned out around the town to invite residents to add their names to an open letter to the town’s MP, Caroline Nokes. The letter calls on the MP to support a People’s Vote should the Withdrawal Bill be voted against in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Adding to signatures to the letter already available online, 96 passers-by joined the call for a properly informed democratic vote. Romsey Better in Europe organiser Rich House says “This was by far our biggest event in the town, and I was amazed to see people adding their names to the letter at one a minute during the time we there. The People’s Vote now has real wind in its sails. People are seeing it as the only way out of the impasse the country has reached”. In all, the open letter has been signed by 155 people, 142 of which were Romsey & Southampton North constituents.
Campaigners from local community group Romsey Better in Europe and the Hampshire European Movement which are both campaigning for a People’s Vote on Brexit now that the real options are known, fanned out around the town to invite residents to add their names to an open letter to the town’s MP, Caroline Nokes. The letter calls on the MP to support a People’s Vote should the Withdrawal Bill be voted against in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Adding to signatures to the letter already available online, 96 passers-by joined the call for a properly informed democratic vote. Romsey Better in Europe organiser Rich House says “This was by far our biggest event in the town, and I was amazed to see people adding their names to the letter at one a minute during the time we there. The People’s Vote now has real wind in its sails. People are seeing it as the only way out of the impasse the country has reached”. In all, the open letter has been signed by 155 people, 142 of which were Romsey & Southampton North constituents.
Visitors to the main stall in Latimer Walk were also given the opportunity to express their opinions with a “Brexitometer”, a survey completed with the use of coloured stickers. This showed overwhelming support for a People’s Vote and staying in the EU.
Ian Callaghan, Green Party candidate at the last two General Elections, was amongst the campaigners and local Liberal Democrats also joined in the National Day of Action, hosting a stall of their own at the Corn Market. This collected 40 names to add to their own open letter to Ms Nokes, 28 from her constituents. Both the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats support a People’s Vote. Labour’s position is that they will support the People’s Vote if their confidence vote in the government fails and no General Election is forthcoming. Many backbench Conservative MPs also support it.
Commenting on the good natured discussions held with people of all views Rich House said “I have seen a return to open friendly discussion about this important issue for the town, with mutual respect for each other’s views. This is the way we can best heal the town and the country again. Let’s hope this spirit of goodwill continues to grow”.
Caroline Nokes came out in support of Remain shortly before the EU Referendum in 2016. She is now the Immigration Minister, responsible for formulating our post Brexit immigration policy, should it go ahead.
The open letter was sent to the MP on Monday along with the names of the 142 constituents who agreed to have their names published. The MP’s father Roy Perry, previously a Member of the European Parliament and now Leader of Hampshire County Council visited the Latimer Walk stall. He picked up a copy of the letter and passed it on to his daughter.
If you or friends or family would like to add names to he open letter they still can. Simply follow the link and fill out the form. We have sent the current list of people to Caroline Nokes already, but we will forward on additional people to her.
Ian Callaghan, Green Party candidate at the last two General Elections, was amongst the campaigners and local Liberal Democrats also joined in the National Day of Action, hosting a stall of their own at the Corn Market. This collected 40 names to add to their own open letter to Ms Nokes, 28 from her constituents. Both the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats support a People’s Vote. Labour’s position is that they will support the People’s Vote if their confidence vote in the government fails and no General Election is forthcoming. Many backbench Conservative MPs also support it.
Commenting on the good natured discussions held with people of all views Rich House said “I have seen a return to open friendly discussion about this important issue for the town, with mutual respect for each other’s views. This is the way we can best heal the town and the country again. Let’s hope this spirit of goodwill continues to grow”.
Caroline Nokes came out in support of Remain shortly before the EU Referendum in 2016. She is now the Immigration Minister, responsible for formulating our post Brexit immigration policy, should it go ahead.
The open letter was sent to the MP on Monday along with the names of the 142 constituents who agreed to have their names published. The MP’s father Roy Perry, previously a Member of the European Parliament and now Leader of Hampshire County Council visited the Latimer Walk stall. He picked up a copy of the letter and passed it on to his daughter.
If you or friends or family would like to add names to he open letter they still can. Simply follow the link and fill out the form. We have sent the current list of people to Caroline Nokes already, but we will forward on additional people to her.