Forum Topic

Pro-EU march this Saturday, 20th July

There is a 'No to Boris, Yes to Europe' march this weekend, on Saturday 20th July, midday, from Park Lane to Parliament.  I will be there, helping to receive cash donations for merchandise for the Steve Bray crew.  Come and say hello.Details can be found here: https://www.marchforchange.uk/The next/final 'Let Us Be Heard' march will be on Saturday 12th October.  Put it in your diaries now.Even I'm getting fed up of all of this now.  Stop Brexit.

Clare Noeken ● 2673d48 Comments

why is it called "march for change" when you are trying to keep the status quo?Brexit - bring it on!

Adam Tripp ● 2673d

Yes, remaining in the EU is in the best interests of the country and us as citizens.  This march is being labelled 'no to Boris, yes to Europe' though.  A change from the current situation is however desperately needed, as you'll see if you look at the website.

Clare Noeken ● 2673d

Maybe it’s a nod to our neighbours?  Plus ca change pus ca meme choseOh the irony of “change” ukMeanwhile I see Bercrow is back in his speakers chair overturning convention to try and stop brexit, but no howls of protest here as that is a “good” overturning of parliamentary convention, ie in favour of (no) change! ;-)

Mike Warman ● 2673d

No thanks, Im going train spotting with Richard and David.

Paul Game ● 2673d

Trainspotting? https://lucygoestohollywood.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/trainspotting-toilet.jpg

David Ainsworth ● 2673d

Haha I bet Richard and yourself would like to do that with me lol :-)

Paul Game ● 2673d

Today!

Clare Noeken ● 2671d

Yes, we’re going too. I’m not good at making banners and placards, so thought I could contribute some ideas for a virtual poster:“Bin Boris” on one side, “Jettison Johnson” on the other. With a cartoon of the buffoon inside a dustbin ...Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 2671d

"I could contribute some ideas for a virtual poster"I'm probably going for a virtual presence at the march, myself.

David Ainsworth ● 2671d

Oh dear, another bloody boring March.💤 There's going to be a Boris balloon too. Oh dear another bloody boring blimp.💤Picture a scene. Tarquin and Persephone are bouncing around with excitement because school's out and they are anticipating lots of jolly japes with their parent(s). Unfortunately Mummy & Daddy/Mummy & Mummy/Daddy & Daddy/single Mummy/single Daddy/Transgender parent,(hopefully all bases covered), have another idea.Forget a trip to the seaside or a theme park, or as a last resort a boring afternoon sitting on the Spencer Benches watching Mummy & Daddy (etc etc) getting slightly sozzled.😜 Forget trips to London's fabulous museums/London Eye/London Aquarium/Madam Tussauds or many other amazing venues. Oh dear, it's just not going to happen for lots of unlucky kids. Mummy and Daddy (etc etc) are going to drag them off to 'The Latest Worthy March' to gaze in awe at a stupid balloon that they'll find mildly amusing for about 10 seconds. Then they'll wander around in a noisy crowd getting more bored and irritable until Mummy & Daddy (etc etc) get totally pi$$ed off with their whingeing and take them to the nearest MacDonalds to shut them up. Absolutely nothing achieved so they all go home. The end. Until the next bloody boring march takes place.💤

Sue Hammond ● 2671d

Haha well said Sue, summed it up perfectly :-)

Paul Game ● 2671d

Yes Sue, well said.

Barbara Stevens ● 2671d

Yes  Sue, I have to admit that was quite amusing. Not sure about McDonalds but I suppose that's the concession to shut them up and By Chloe is a bit off the route ...My wife and I were amused that on the last one, as soon as we were shuffling down Piccadilly the two chaps behind us decided to go off to the Roysl Academy for tea ... Anyway Sue, your post made me decide I should go along today ... and we've got our RA membership cards .with us ..

Michael Ixer ● 2671d

Enjoy it Michael. Hope it's not all over by the time you get there. However if it is there's bound to be another one soon.😉

Sue Hammond ● 2671d

Well said indeed Sue. Yet more disruption to business, businesses that pay for the state hand-outs for a good majority who attend...most of who probably smell :(

Simon Knight ● 2671d

@Adam and Mike lol to your comments.They call themselves 'change uk' because the name 'status quo' is already taken up and not available :-)

Paul Game ● 2671d

"...most of who probably smell :("Lol.😸 That will get a few on here spluttering with rage Simon.😉

Sue Hammond ● 2671d

Truth often hurts. :)

Simon Knight ● 2671d

Credit to you Sue, this made me spit my coffee out.  Very, very funny

Craig Fordham ● 2671d

No, not spluttering  with rage, but shrugging at the inevitable, tedious  sneers.

Richard Carter ● 2671d

I am puzzled. Who said you smell Richard?

Sue Hammond ● 2671d

I obviously hit a raw nerve there Sue.

Simon Knight ● 2671d

He's probably in a bad mood as he is making a fool of himself on the other thread!

Paul Game ● 2671d

Control yourself Simon!😸 I can sense an impending flounce ...

Sue Hammond ● 2671d

"a troll is a person who starts quarrels or upsets people on the Internet to distract and sow discord by posting inflammatory and digressive, extraneous, or off-topic message."Yup, Game is a troll all right

Richard Carter ● 2671d

But Simon Knight suggests that Tarquin and Persephone smell. It's all most confusing.

David Ainsworth ● 2671d

You should know all about that then Richard.

Barbara Stevens ● 2671d

I see we're all off topic again 🙂 Anyway,  the march was well attended, still going down Park Lane even though over an hour late! Well behaved.@Simon. Everyone I know who went on this march was in gainful employment (IT, education, health/NHS, ...) or drawing a well earned pension after a lifetime of contributing to the UK and EU economies. Good exercise, apart from the numbers meaning it was a shuffle rather than a brisk walk; actually,  that could have been the numbers from the average age 😶 But you might be getting close with the smelly part - as a friend of mine responded to  a FB saying he'd dressed for rain and when the sun came out he got wet from sweating in his rain gear. I'll insist he changes if he suggests a drink later, unless we go to a a Wetherspoons pub where no one will notice 🙂

Michael Ixer ● 2671d

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFis76c

Michael Ixer ● 2671d

@MichaelHaha fantastic re: Wetherspons. Great choice of Ale but a few of the customers need to wash a bit more often 😂🤣😂The Rocket in Putney will need a freshen up soon. Not as clean as when it was a wine bar.

Paul Game ● 2671d

@Paul. I was really taking a pop at Tim Martin because of his Brexit stance. I used to frequent the Railway and sometimes go to the Oyster Rooms in Fulham Broadway to meet friends. They have a range of customers - business people, students, tourists, pensioners  etc but occasionally their are a few who seem to be one step up from meths drinkers - hope that isn't an elitist comment? Prices are good as well as drink selection, they vary with region. I was in one in Macclesfield after a BAA conference with an attendee from the north east. We had some time before our trains, I bought the first round; when the barmaid quoted the price I said "no, I wanted two pints", my friend Ken said "Mike, that is for two pints, you're not in London now". I find it interesting that Richard Branson, who runs global, high tech business is anti Brexit and vehemently anti no deal Brexit, whereas Tim Martin, who runs a UK (and Ireland) business where he probably can source locally doesn't care. I accept Tim knows his own business inside out but does he really understand the needs and operations of global high tech - or for that matter finance -businesses?

Michael Ixer ● 2671d

Joking aside Michael yes agree, the prices are very good for pensioners especially for London.No, not an elitist comment at all. None of us want sticky tables and stained furniture when we go to a bar. Hygiene is important when it comes to pubs and cleanliness.My favourite ale on tap in there at the moment is called Shipyard if u get a opportunity to sample it. It has a creamy texture, more than a regular ale. Very tasty.

Paul Game ● 2671d

Thank you for the photographs Michael!Nobody was reporting on the march today.  The BBC posted an article only an hour ago!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2671d

So much for BBC remain bias then!

Lucille Grant ● 2671d

Bit surprised at you saying that Lucille, as you are a journalist.  Surely there is a lot of news today: the hijacking of the tanker and the 50th anniversary of the moon landing are rightly taking up more airtime than another Losers March.  I looked at SkyNews and there was no news on the March either.

Martine Guy ● 2671d

Plus these marches are old hat now. One caller on LBC said in his estimation there were only a few hundred people there.

Sue Hammond ● 2671d

Ha ha ha ha!!!  I am sure there were!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2671d

@Sue, Yes time to move on. I was reading an article and it said if Boris can't get Brexit through parliament one option could be to call a snap election which would probably de-seat Remain MP's in Brexit voting constituencies.This way he could then get enough MP's to vote for Brexit after a GE because of the change of MP's.Obviously it could backfire, but I dont think it would given the state of the current Labour party and taking into consideration he won the London Mayoral vote twice in Labour dominated territory.

Paul Game ● 2671d

@Michael, If the above scenario happened and Boris called an early GE, how do you think MP numbers would turn out after the GE?I think it would probably result in a hung parliament with the Tories and Brexit party sharing a coalition, a little like the Tories and Lib Dems did a few years ago.I appreciate this isn't what you would like to see, but could you see this happening given the current state of the Labour party? Also worth bearing in mind 406 constituencies voted to leave as opposed to 242 remaining, so if this followed suit I think the Tories/Brexit party could win alot of seats and form the coalition.Interested to hear your honest view if an early election was called?Sorry to ruin your evening lol🤣

Paul Game ● 2671d

I would welcome a GE. If the LibDem surge continues Justine could well lose her seat. Labour might as well give up lol.

Sue Hammond ● 2671d

Yes Sue, I agree the Lib Dems would pick up much of the Remain vote in terms of MP's. I think Labour would get wiped out at a GE unless they change their Leader first.

Paul Game ● 2671d

Also the BBC need to be careful, with Boris presumably, being in control of BBC future

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2671d

What about the Tories and Labour becoming the 3rd and 4th parties?Have you considered that?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2671d

@Paul. Lucky I'm not incommunicado at the theatre, Proms or another concert hall as it's a Saturday 😶 If you want an honest answer I haven't a clue! A FB friend (who is a Brexit voter) reckons the best guide is the bookies odds but as gambling isn't one of my vices I'm not well up on where they sit at the moment. Another hung parliament wouldn't surprised me. Some thought's:If Johnson wins as PM a lot of Tory voters might ditch Farage now they have a Brexit PM?The Tories have a small membership selecting the PM, some of their voters who aren't members and want to remain or are averse to a no deal may detest Johnson and desert to the LibDems?Corbyn has been see to "dither" on Brexit and mishandle the anti semitic problem's.I wonder if - given the split Labour also have between Remainers and Leavers - has he been quite canny in gradually evolving a position towards a second referendum with a bias towards remain? The Tories record on Windrush and universal credit hasn't been good and I'm just wondering if he could use the "trust card" in the Labour pro Brexit heartlands. Basically, the Tories stitched up the Windrush immigrants and those of you on benefits, why would you trust what they say about Brexit?I hate to say it but I wonder how many labour voters would be lost by the anti semitic mishandling when they consider it alongside all other issues? It is making people question what's going on but I'm not sure how many have been affected by it directly? It may be the trigger for some to migrate to LibDem or Green - I would give it serious thought but then will my vote really count? Will the LjbDems and Greens form some sort of coalition?Will the Tories get wiped out in Scotland or Wales, could the Alliance party grab more votes in Northern Ire!and?A final unknown factor is the younger vote, particularly first time voters? Will they actually go and vote? If they do I suspect.Add to that the unpredictability of the first past the post voting system, and ASD j said, I don't haves a clue!

Michael Ixer ● 2671d

I'm no longer a journalist Martine. One of my daughters is.

Lucille Grant ● 2671d

@Michael,At least you have several more weeks to get your Proms in :-) Funnily enough we have just booked tickets for Skyfall in October, and Christmas Carols in December at the Albert Hall. Always a great night out.Back to politics, I've just checked the odds for Hunt to become PM and he is now 25-1 so we have to assume Boris will probably win.As you mentioned there are so many permutations, so it's all guesswork and pretty hard to call. Lib Dems could certainly be in the mix with the core Remain vote.If it were a hung parliament I'd assume the Tories or Brexit party would pick each other to get into bed with to get over the line, assuming one of them came first?Other than that it's all up in the air.If nothing else, hopefully more people are showing an interest in politics than ever before.The next election could hopefully be a high turnout at the ballot box irrespective of the result.So my guess if there was a GE soon would be Labour to come 4th, but 1, 2 and 3 I'm not too sure! Lol

Paul Game ● 2671d

Janet and Johns parents were marching yesterday as they’re terrified at what the removal of their children’s EU citizenship would mean for their futures. Or maybe their mother is Spanish, and after spending a while in Spain a few years ago to care for her sick mother, does not qualify for settled status. They listened to the lady from question time who runs a chemicals company, talking about how she’s diverting business away from the UK as leaving the EU would mean duplication of paperwork and more ‘red tape’ for the UK to trade with the largest trade bloc on the planet, the loss of taxes going to the treasury to support our public services that that means, and jobs being created outside of the UK. They listened to Sue Wilson from Bremain in Spain, campaigning to ensure that UK citizens who have already exercised their right to freedom of movement can continue to enjoy their lives elsewhere in the EU. They listened to Mike Galsworthy from Scientists for EU say how the UK science community is heavily dependent on the mass collaboration opportunities available within the EU, as well as the funding it receives. They listened to the Italian guy from InLimbo. ‘Nothing will change’ turned out to be an empty promise, and one which is inflicting misery on very many people who chose to make the UK their home and have brought up families and paid their taxes here for very many years. They would have heard a guy from RemainerNow talk about his daughter being diagnosed with epilepsy last year, whose doctor says they cannot guarantee the drugs she needs will be available. They would have heard a lady talking about how the Erasmus scheme is being extended to apprenticeships throughout the EU, and how our young people will be shut out of all the opportunities this would have given them. The EU isn’t all about trade, it’s about people. It’s not democratic to take rights away from others. Stop Brexit.

Clare Noeken ● 2670d

@Clare. Agreed, the UK's links with the EU go way beyond trade. I know my science contacts via IC and the BAA have very serous concerns about the effects of even a soft Brexit and I know that a sudden hard Brexit will be seen as a disaster for their collaboration. My colleagues from the EU in IT and Finance aren't too concerned about own their status if they have a continuous work record but when they see the callous, authoritarian and inhumane way the Windrush people were dealt with (and technically they were British citizens!) they feel the process defined to remain is unfriendly and unnecessary in many respects, and have concerns with any anomalies, and the impact on any extended family members not currently in the UK. Finally, Johnson or Hunt do not have a solution to resolve the conflict between Brexit and the Good Friday Agreement. It could be a technical solution might work but remember that's not available immediately. It will have to be defined and agreed between the UK and EU, designed, built, installed, tested and rolled out. Given EU and UK bureaucracy, if you think that'll be finished in less than two years please can you tell me what you're smoking? So that probably wrecks the NI economy for a couple of years in the event of a hard Brexit; poverty would be a nice breading ground for recruits to the new IRA? I'd also be interested to see how long any infrastructure needed for it (scanners, cameras, etc) lasts, but they'll probably be growth in one industry: a return of the smuggling activities. Not entirely my opinion, based also on those of a friend with relatives in NI but it makes sense to me. Anyway, reasons why my wife and I marched yesterday.

Michael Ixer ● 2670d