Date: Saturday 24th Jun 2023

Time: 12:45 to 17:00

Location: London River Thames (Westminster Pier)

The boat on the Thames (Photo Credit: Bruce Tanner)

Photos On The Boat (Photo Credit: Bruce Tanner)

British support for EU membership was evident on Saturday afternoon, when a Pro-EU boat party took place in London, to mark 7 years since the Brexit referendum took place: an important milestone in the United Kingdom’s history.

Over 100 pro-EU supporters from across the country, including Mr Stop Brexit himself: Steve Bray, attended the event, where they raised their voices, and waved EU flags as they passed London landmarks, to spread the clear message throughout the capital that the pro-EU movement remains very much alive.

Guests on the boat were entertained by pro-EU performers, including EU Elvis, Jo and Granny Remain, and Faux Bojo, with Beatrice Ponsonby-Smythe compering, all offering a humorous musical take on the serious issues surrounding of Brexit.

Addressing the guests at the event, Peter French said: “In the media this week there’s been much talk about how we’re a very changed country. We are very different from 2016. We’re poorer, we’re angrier, less friendly, we’re hostile. Unfortunately they’re mostly negatives, except for one thing. Suddenly the tide has turned. We are a changed country. We are now an anti-Brexit country.”

French talked about the need to bring people together to talk about what they want for our country’s future, and how this is already being facilitated in EU. He said: “For the last two and a half years, Guy Verhofstadt has embarked on an experiment. He created People’s Assemblies throughout Europe, to find out what Europe wanted for the EU nations for the next 10, 20, 30 years and they were so astounded by the results that they are now trying to implement 47 of those recommendations into the EU constitution. It’s quite groundbreaking: healthcare for everyone at source: the same healthcare. Pensions way above ours. Climate change is extraordinary: reliance on cars, so it’s going to be a very different EU in the next 10, 20, 30 years, because the people desire it to be. It got me thinking that we have never been asked what we want for our country. We’re told often enough what we’re going to have, how it’s going to be, but we’ve never been asked how do we want this country to be? how do we want it to develop? How do we want it to grow? How do we want to be seen by the rest of the world?”

French added: “We need to make this country a fair place where everyone has the same chance and the same opportunities, because it is not working the way we’re living now and hopefully we can change that.”

The boat party, which was funded through ticket sales and crowdfunding, was organised by ThankEUForTheMusic: the group behind the distribution of over 55,000 flags at Eurovision in Liverpool and every year at the Last Night of the Proms. The group seeks to highlight the damaging effect of Brexit, especially on musicians here in the UK.

“As was illustrated by the flags flying so strongly on the Thames on Saturday, the tide has turned so strongly in the direction of Rejoin,” said Peter Benson, the event organiser. “It’s only a matter of time of time before our delusional politicians realise that growth and prosperity for all will only return when we rejoin.”

The campaign for the UK to rejoin the EU continues. A National Rejoin March is scheduled to take place on September 23rd in Westminster, meeting at midday in Hyde Park. See marchforrejoin.co.uk for more details.

“ThankEuForTheMusic” aims to remind the world that despite the challenges resulting from Brexit, the pro-EU movement remains steadfast, vibrant, and unwavering in its support for a united and inclusive Europe. It will serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of those who believe in the benefits of cooperation, cultural exchange, and shared prosperity for the entire UK population.

Jo Bell