“We want to come back” proclaim pro-EU demonstrators in London

Furious or filled with hope, hundreds or even a few thousand Europhiles demonstrated. Saturday à London in favor of the return of the United Kingdom to the European Union.

The demonstrators converged on Parliament Square, where a giant screen proclaimed “we want our star back”. Flags of Europe and member countries arrived on the square, where Beethoven's Ode to Joy played on bagpipes, amid signs reading “The Tories (the conservatives in power, editor's note) out, let's join the EU”, or “Freedom of movement”, and “shit Brexit” stickers.

“Absolutely furious”, Rachel Ashley, head of a local association for the reintegration of the EU, blames the “media controlled by the same interests that brought us Brexit”, which “make money selling” what it calls “outrage pornography”.

Demonstration in favor of the return of the United Kingdom to the European Union, September 23, 2023 in London © AFP – JUSTIN TALLIS

Huge star-shaped glasses on her forehead, she says she knows people who voted for Brexit in 2016 and are now “genuinely mortified”, “they are so ashamed”, “they realize what they did ” and were taken “for fools”.

Currently, no major party is proposing the return of the United Kingdom to the EU. But Rachel Ashley remains hopeful that once one politician starts to “wobble”, everyone will.

– “Terrible for everyone” –

“I'm European, and taking this from me is cruel, just like taking it from my children and my grandchildren”, complains Frances Smith, a 68-year-old retiree, beret in the colors of the EU flag on the head.

Demonstration in favor of the return of the United Kingdom to the European Union, September 23, 2023 in London © AFP – JUSTIN TALLIS

“They might want to fall in love in France or live in Italy”, “I don't understand why we leave the biggest market to join another stupid market miles and miles away, damaging the planet”, “why do that!? Why make Australia send us its beef and destroy our farms ?”

“We want to come back to Europe, we are European,” says Elizabeth Facer, 64-year-old former French teacher. “We are not this little isolated island”, she explains, “it's very, very sad for our young people.”

“Little by little the People realize how terrible “Brexit” is for everyone” in the United Kingdom, and not just among lifelong Europhiles, she argues.

Demonstration in favor of the return of the United Kingdom to the European Union, September 23, 2023 in London © AFP – JUSTIN TALLIS

According to a YouGov poll in August, more than 60% of British people believe that Brexit is a failure, but remain cautious: 59% are against holding a referendum this year, but 46% are in favor to its organization in 10 years.

19-year-old student, Elowenn Tuhill was 12 years old at the time of the referendum. Young people would like to have “their say”, just like many people who think who feel cheated and “would like another vote knowing what they know today”, she says, “optimistic” that a new vote can be organized.

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