The new book “Rejoin EU: reboot Britain” shines the light on the social impacts of Brexit on the culture of Britain in terms of the marginalisation of citizen’s rights and the rising tide of racism and intolerance in our once green and pleasant land.
Peter Cook*
In 2020, we made a set of social and cultural predictions about Brexit. All have come to pass in one way or another and are referenced in the book. Potential impacts included:
Loss of citizens’ rights, for European Union (EU) and British citizens alike, especially for young people; A return to our status as a 3rd country with impacts on ease of travel to Europe and costs of doing so; Economic and public services impacts, especially in areas such as social care, health, due to losses of freedom of movement; Impacts on groups who earn a living through working in Europe, e.g. musicians, service workers; Increases in hate crime; Immigration and labour market impacts; Potential to lose all our rights through leaving the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). This remains an option for the far-right parties; The potential for further dilution of equalities rights and protections; Reduction in visitors to the UK, e.g. tourists, university students, language students, conference delegates, Erasmus students.
Elena Remigi bears witness to just one of the consequences of Brexit on our lives. The sheer human indignity of being branded a ‘citizen of nowhere’ should have no place in a civilised society. There are parallel experiences in Trump’s America and other theatres of populism. We must take daily actions to explain that human rights are part of humanity.
Undoing socio-cultural illnesses is not as quick as economic ones and, in some cases, these changes are not easily reversible, so we cannot expect quick, easy or complete solutions in this area or an instant panacea via a reversal of these trends. However, by applying to Rejoin the EU as a priority, we would begin the long journey to restore the great in Britain as a standard setter in all things social, cultural and lawful.
A wide-ranging consultation could be held on what kind of country Britain wants to be in the 21st century. This would be a hallmark of our new Government, working across parties and across the country.
Sixty specialists including former MEPs, a KC and key subject experts show why there is an overwhelming case for applying to Rejoin the EU. It is the only way that progressives can restore socio-economic prosperity in Britain and sustainable growth capable of supporting our ageing population whilst renewing hope for our young.
Those who came together from all over UK and Europe to write “Rejoin EU: reboot Britain” believe that the current strategy of death by a thousand ameliorations is not an adequate response to ‘Making Brexit Work’. Britain’s progressive parties need to find courageous leadership prepared to engage our 67 million citizens in real change without concern for politics or parties.
The social and cultural plight of UK and European citizens of nowhere was captured in a piece of music written for them.
The piece involved 30 citizens from across Europe who lent their voices in a project which took three months to produce.
Hear our prayer:
*Peter Cook leads Reboot Britain / Rage against the Brexit Machine. Author of three books on Brexit, six albums of protest songs, inspirational anthems and 400 films. He organises collaborative events online and grassroots activism “to educate people that Brexit has failed and that we can and must rejoin the EU as a priority”.
(Fotos: Pixabay)
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