Article 50: The fight against Brexit starts now, say Brits in France
With the UK government triggering Article 50 on Wednesday to begin its divorce from the EU, many say it’s time for the anti-Brexit brigade to give up the fight. But many pro-EU Brits in France say their battle is only just beginning.
After the referendum vote, the shock, the recriminations, the bitter arguments and accusations, the high court rulings and the failed amendments in parliament, the UK finally began its divorce proceedings from the EU on Wednesday.
The British Prime Minister Theresa May sent Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council official notice of the UK’s desire to take a step into the unknown by leaving the European Union, which it joined back in 1973.
For many, including Theresa May herself the momentous triggering of Article 50 should act as a signal for all those others who railed against the referendum result to lay down their arms and "unite" on the arduous journey that lies ahead.
But many Brits in France, who along with EU citizens living in the UK, stand the most to lose if Brexit negotiations turn sour, rejected her plea saying the fight is only just beginning.
Their message on Wednesday was "It's not over yet".
“Today marks the end of the ‘phoney war’ and the beginning of a whole new Battle of Britain,” said Toulouse-based Ian Hayes-Fry from the Remain in France Together online community, that was set up after Brexit to fight for the rights of Brits in France.
Kalba Meadows, who runs the group and lives in the Ariege department of south west France added: “Today is the beginning and not the end. This is where the real fight starts. And now we have something to concrete to fight against.”
Remain in France Together is just one of several pressure groups that represents the hundreds of thousands of Britain living across the EU that have united to fight their corner since last June's referendum.
The group counts some 5,500 members and its chief aim, whatever Theresa May might say, is to prevent Brexit from happening.
Many believe now that Article 50 has been triggered and the fraught negotiations begin it will become clear that the UK is best served by remaining in the EU.
"I will never give up the fight," said Sandra Jones. "This catastrophic decision by the governing party to go ahead with leaving the EU when there are no known benefits to the UK makes me very angry and anxious for the future."
Groups representing British citizens living in Europe are not ready to rely on Theresa May and the UK government to deliver the best deal to protect their rights and have vowed to step up their campaigning.
"This is not the time to give up the fight against Brexit," Christopher Chantrey, chairman of the British Community Committee of France told The Local.
"All we are hearing is the same old promises and pipe dreams. It is becoming clearer and clearer that no deal would be far worse than a bad deal - but nobody in government will say so. The struggle continues.
"British in Europe www.britishineurope.org, the coalition of a dozen or so UK citizens' groups in Europe is stepping up its lobbying efforts in London, Brussels and key member state capital cities."
This week representatives of British in Europe met with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to press their case that the UK and Brussels must resolve the rights of Brits living in the EU and European citizens living in Britain.
So far the UK has withstood pressure to show the lead by guaranteeing the rights of those EU nationals living in Britain before negotiations began. Barnier suggested the limbo may go on until late 2018, by which time a deal will hopefully have been struck.
Other acts of resistance by Bremainers living in France and throughout the EU include signing numerous petitions including a vote of no confidence in Theresa May because of her handling of Brexit and one on the site Change.org titled Article 50 not in my name.
Letters have been written to Theresa May demanding that she guarantee health rights for British citizens abroad as well as pension uprating, which would prevent them from being frozens as they are in some for British nationals living in some countries.
“We can't stop voicing our opinions,” said Susan King-Bradshaw. “So much depends on what deals are going to be made such as our rights to stay in a country which we legally moved to. How can we become illegals when we have done nothing wrong. I will be fighting for the rights of my family, my children, two of whom were born in France.”
Brits in the EU are also being asked to write personally to Donald Tusk to give him notice of their dissent against Article 50.
The standard letter reads: “As a British national and citizen of the EU, I hereby notify the Council of my dissent from and objections to this act of the British government. For the avoidance of doubt, I do not consent to being deprived of my European Citizenship.”
“Contrary to its claim, the British government does not have a democratic mandate from the people of the UK to leave the EU,” the letter to Tusk reads.
One of the many bones of contention opponents of Brexit have with Britain leaving the EU is that they believe the referendum was not democratic, because many long term expats were denied the vote and they also claim voters were misinformed and lied to, pointing to the famous claim by Brexiteers that the UK would save £350 million by leaving the EU could then be given to the NHS.
"Now the Brexiteers will start to find out that this is not going to be easy and the impact of any type of Brexit will negatively affect them. That the lies told to win their votes will be exposed," said Emily Trefier from RIFT.
So while the Daily Mail and Brexiteers may have been celebrating "Freedom" on Wednesday as though the battle had been won, peace is unlikely to be declared anytime soon.
Comments
See Also
After the referendum vote, the shock, the recriminations, the bitter arguments and accusations, the high court rulings and the failed amendments in parliament, the UK finally began its divorce proceedings from the EU on Wednesday.
The British Prime Minister Theresa May sent Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council official notice of the UK’s desire to take a step into the unknown by leaving the European Union, which it joined back in 1973.
For many, including Theresa May herself the momentous triggering of Article 50 should act as a signal for all those others who railed against the referendum result to lay down their arms and "unite" on the arduous journey that lies ahead.
But many Brits in France, who along with EU citizens living in the UK, stand the most to lose if Brexit negotiations turn sour, rejected her plea saying the fight is only just beginning.
Their message on Wednesday was "It's not over yet".
“Today marks the end of the ‘phoney war’ and the beginning of a whole new Battle of Britain,” said Toulouse-based Ian Hayes-Fry from the Remain in France Together online community, that was set up after Brexit to fight for the rights of Brits in France.
Kalba Meadows, who runs the group and lives in the Ariege department of south west France added: “Today is the beginning and not the end. This is where the real fight starts. And now we have something to concrete to fight against.”
Remain in France Together is just one of several pressure groups that represents the hundreds of thousands of Britain living across the EU that have united to fight their corner since last June's referendum.
The group counts some 5,500 members and its chief aim, whatever Theresa May might say, is to prevent Brexit from happening.
Many believe now that Article 50 has been triggered and the fraught negotiations begin it will become clear that the UK is best served by remaining in the EU.
"I will never give up the fight," said Sandra Jones. "This catastrophic decision by the governing party to go ahead with leaving the EU when there are no known benefits to the UK makes me very angry and anxious for the future."
Groups representing British citizens living in Europe are not ready to rely on Theresa May and the UK government to deliver the best deal to protect their rights and have vowed to step up their campaigning.
This week representatives of British in Europe met with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to press their case that the UK and Brussels must resolve the rights of Brits living in the EU and European citizens living in Britain.
So far the UK has withstood pressure to show the lead by guaranteeing the rights of those EU nationals living in Britain before negotiations began. Barnier suggested the limbo may go on until late 2018, by which time a deal will hopefully have been struck.
Other acts of resistance by Bremainers living in France and throughout the EU include signing numerous petitions including a vote of no confidence in Theresa May because of her handling of Brexit and one on the site Change.org titled Article 50 not in my name.
Letters have been written to Theresa May demanding that she guarantee health rights for British citizens abroad as well as pension uprating, which would prevent them from being frozens as they are in some for British nationals living in some countries.
“We can't stop voicing our opinions,” said Susan King-Bradshaw. “So much depends on what deals are going to be made such as our rights to stay in a country which we legally moved to. How can we become illegals when we have done nothing wrong. I will be fighting for the rights of my family, my children, two of whom were born in France.”
Brits in the EU are also being asked to write personally to Donald Tusk to give him notice of their dissent against Article 50.
The standard letter reads: “As a British national and citizen of the EU, I hereby notify the Council of my dissent from and objections to this act of the British government. For the avoidance of doubt, I do not consent to being deprived of my European Citizenship.”
“Contrary to its claim, the British government does not have a democratic mandate from the people of the UK to leave the EU,” the letter to Tusk reads.
One of the many bones of contention opponents of Brexit have with Britain leaving the EU is that they believe the referendum was not democratic, because many long term expats were denied the vote and they also claim voters were misinformed and lied to, pointing to the famous claim by Brexiteers that the UK would save £350 million by leaving the EU could then be given to the NHS.
"Now the Brexiteers will start to find out that this is not going to be easy and the impact of any type of Brexit will negatively affect them. That the lies told to win their votes will be exposed," said Emily Trefier from RIFT.
So while the Daily Mail and Brexiteers may have been celebrating "Freedom" on Wednesday as though the battle had been won, peace is unlikely to be declared anytime soon.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.