Groups from France join London Brexit protest
Up to 100,000 people, including Britons from France, marched against Brexit in London last month.
Organisers Unite for Europe said the figure of 100,000 came from the police but when Connexion called police would not give an official estimate.
Members of Remain in France Together (RIFT) group met others from the British in Europe coalition outside Buckingham Palace before joining the main march through London to Parliament Square where speakers addressed the crowd.
Sue Wilson of Remain in Spain spoke for British expats stressing worry over residence and working rights, British old age pension uprating and healthcare for pensioners.
Kalba Meadows of RIFT told Connexion at the march: “The turnout from our groups is fantastic. When I arrived I saw loads and loads of flags and more and more people gathered. At least 200 came, which is fantastic because it’s not easy to come from where we live.
“It was brilliant to see so many people to whom this matters so much. It’s touching and very encouraging.
“It will create solidarity and hopefully coalesce the Remain movement – not just among expats, but in the UK, and we’ll all come together.
“The timing couldn’t be better. Here we are saying our thing and Brexit will be triggered next week.”
One marcher, Joy Kelly, from Normandy said: “I’m here as I live in France and, more importantly, as I have friends who are EU citizens in the UK, who didn’t have a vote and whose lives are being impacted.”
Her husband Peter said: “I have always been passionate about staying in the EU and have yet to hear a single coherent reason why it’s a good idea not to be.
“It’s about people being together. And the peace that’s been encouraged and developed over many decades. We need to work together.”
Separtately from the march, British in Europe campaigners Brian Cave of Ecreu and Christopher Chantrey of the British Community Committee of France spoke to Connexion about the triggering of article 50.
Mr Cave said: “The British abroad have feelings of anger that their national government is largely ignoring them. David Davis says they are consulting with Britons in Europe, but the coalition has had no direct approaches from the ministry.
“UK citizens in Europe feel threatened and this affects all age groups in various ways.”
Mr Chantrey said Britain was “heading into very difficult waters”. He added: “The worst case would be a no-deal Brexit, which would mean catastrophic consequences for UK citizens living in other EU states.”
Coalition member Jane Golding of the group British in Germany was set to meet EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier as we went to press, to make sure the EU is aware of the importance of maintaining expats’ rights.
