User:Jonpatterns/Britain for Europe

Britain for Europe is a pressure group and umbrella organisation for pro-Europeanism grassroots campaign groups based in the United Kingdom, with branches around the country, which lobbies in favour of the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union.

History
Britain for Europe formed in 2016 shortly after the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. It is an umbrella organisation for anti-Brexit grassroots groups. It aims to secure a vote on the terms of the Brexit deal that would include an option to remain. In December, the Financial Times described the groups as 'diehards' that splintered off from the Open Britain group; saying they seek to reverse Brexit rather look for favourable terms of exit.

Britain for Europe has campaigned against Brexit, and in favour of pro-European causes. In September 2017 it supported Amendment 7, which called for Parliament to have a meaningful vote. It supports 1 Day Without Us, an annual event that demonstrates solidarity with migrants in the UK. and a national march to Parliament

It worked with European Movement UK and Scientists for EU to organise a pro-EU Conference and a lobby of Parliament on 24 October 2017.

In June and October 2017, Britain for Europe groups march to College Green, Bristol.

In 2018, the organisation aims to lobby for a Parliamentary and public vote on the deal, a national celebration of Europe Day, to work with other national pro-European organisations, and to organise a large national march to Parliament. In January, the Bath affiliated group challenged Jacob Rees-Mogg. In February, Channel 4 questioned the affiliate group's, Camden for Europe's, bus campaign claiming Brexit to cost £2,000 million per week. In March, the Leeds for Europe affiliate group organised a march attended by about two thousand people. There was a march in Exeter attended by about 2,500 people, organised by affilitate group Devon for Europe. In April, Dorian Lynskey of the Guardian noted that several local anti-Brexit groups had joined Britain for Europe, however some groups had disagreements with each other. In April, the group organised a march in Edinburgh with Open Britain and the European Movement. On Sunday 24 June, roughly two hundred people joined a Perth for Europe march.

People's Vote
On 15 April 2018, Britain for Europe and eight other pro-European groups launched a joint initiative called called People's Vote. It will campaign for a second referendum based on the details of the exit arrangement, including an option to remain in the European Union.

Organisation
The organisation uses a shared People's Vote campaign office based in Millbank Tower, Millbank, central London. The tower also houses offices for the Labour Party, Conservative Party, and United Nations. The organisation has roughly fifty local campaign groups.

The Chair of Britain for Europe is Tom Brufatto. Britain for Europe is organised from the grassroots membership. It is steered by an elected council not a national executive.

Affiliated groups:
 * Camden for Europe
 * Devon for Europe
 * Bath for Europe
 * Bristol for Europe
 * Brum in EU
 * Leeds for Europe
 * Perth for Europe

Reception
Chuka Umunna and Mike Galsworthy support the organisation.