Kingsbridge residents joined thousands of campaigners in Bristol for a Stop Brexit rally alongside fellow members of the Devon for Europe group on Saturday, October 14.

Devon for Europe is a cross party group committed to keeping the UK in the European Union. As part of Britain for Europe they are a powerful voice for people from all walks of life who want to spread this message and appeal to higher authority through purely democratic means.

The group has around 800 members throughout Devon with about 10 from Kingsbridge and 50 from around Totnes. Peter Sturdgess from Kingsbridge is the leading figure, as Secretary of Devon for Europe.

“I attended the rally because I want my daughter to have the same opportunities and wealth that membership of the EU granted to me”, said Peter.

The gathering hosted by Bristol for Europe, attracted groups from all over the South West, from Dorset, Bath, Somerset, Cornwall and others even came from as far as Gibraltar. Parallel rallies were held across other regions around the UK such as in Cambridge, Cardiff and Birmingham.

Numerous people who were previously not involved in politics but have been motivated by the current threat of Brexit negotiations have joined Devon for Europe to prevent what they predict as a tragic act of national self harm.

At the rally, speakers including representatives from all major political parties highlighted the dangers to jobs, the NHS, scientific research and political isolation and weakness.

Many expressed an overwhelming sadness concerning the growth of intolerance towards migrants and the loss of a community that brought peace and cultural richness.

Non-UK citizens said that they no longer felt welcome in the country and feared family division after having moved to the UK and establishing a family here.

Views from the younger generation were expressed by a 17 year old who was angry that having been born in the UK as a citizen of Europe he had had no say in his change of citizenship. This would make it difficult for him to live elsewhere within the EU and mix with other Europeans.

Julie Girling, one of our MEP’s for South West England and Gibraltar stated that it had become clear that the promises of the Leave campaign in the Referendum could not be met, which reflected the mood of the rally.

Consequently for Julie, the mantra that, ‘The people have spoken’ no longer had any relevance and needed to be replaced with ‘The people want to speak on the deal’.Photographs from this link are available here