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BREXIT

Your Views: Brits in France demand second referendum but some remain wary

Brits living in France, who are among those most affected by the UK leaving the EU, believe the best way out of the Brexit debacle is to have a second referendum.

Your Views: Brits in France demand second referendum but some remain wary
Photo: AFP

Calls to have a second a referendum on Britain's exit from the European Union have grown louder in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, the question of whether to have a so-called People's Vote, as it has been dubbed, was the hot issue at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, after party members demanded the question be debated.

The UK Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly refused to even consider the idea of a second referendum, arguing that do so would be to undermine democracy and would result in the public losing faith in their politicians.

But Britons in France, who are among those groups who stand to be most affected by Brexit, especially if the UK crashes out without a deal, are adamant that democracy was already undermined in the first referendum, not least because many were barred from voting due to the 15-year rule and also because of the “lies” told by the Leave camp.

To give an idea of the strength of feeling for a second referendum, some 82 percent of readers polled on our Facebook page are in favour of another vote compared to 18 percent who don't think it's the best way forward. On Twitter 63 percent of respondents backed a People's Vote.

Most of those who favour a second referendum believe the public are now better informed than in the run up to the fist vote. 

“The first referendum did not give voters a chance to vote on their future just an ideal. A second referendum should allow people the opportunity to make an informed choice – if they choose to be informed. Anything less is a dereliction of public duty,” said Rebecca Jackson, who lives in Pyrenees-Atlantique in south western France.

Wayne Salter from the Ain department in eastern France said: “In a democracy it is the right and reasonable thing to do. Give people a chance to vote on the actual deal, which whether it is a real deal or no deal will be something concrete which people can intellectually examine for its merits, and not some unfounded ideal based on lies and misinformation.”

While it is unclear what the options would be any “People's Vote”, many believe it must include an option to end Brexit and remain the EU, rather than just vote on the final terms of any deal. 

Francis White, who lives in the department of Tarn in the south west, said: “Of course it is worth going through it all again. Both Remainers and Brexiteers should embrace the opportunity to vote following a public debate that has helped everyone to be more informed.”

And one British resident of Brittany said: “First one was based on lies the public were fed and fell for. Many many Brits in the EU are not able to vote and even those here that were, never received any papers or until too late.”

Part of the reason behind the growing momentum for a “People's Vote” is the increasing possibility that Britain could crash out of the EU with no deal.

PM Theresa May admitted last week that talks with Brussels were at an “impasse” and repeated her threat to leave without a deal unless the EU accepts her proposals or comes up with a viable alternative.

Her speech prompted anger among campaigners for the rights of Britons living in the EU who were furious that the Prime Minister did not mention them in her speech.

At the same time anxiety levels have risen among Britons in France as the government publishes a series of impact notices aimed at warning the public of the knock-on effects of Britain and the EU not reaching a withdrawal deal.

They have been told that they could lose access to UK bank accounts, see their driving licences become invalid and face disruption on flights between the UK and the EU.

And all this while their future status in France has still not been guaranteed.

But Teresa Sorokin, from Brittany summed up the frustration of many Britons in France who simply wouldn't have a voice in any “People's Vote” despite having been promised one. She is one of thousands who have lived away from Britain for over 15 years, meaning they lose the right to vote.

“I voted remain and would do so again in a heartbeat but from this October I'm disenfranchised,” she said.

“I'm incandescent that despite election promises, the referendum was called without first overturning the 15 year rule. Now I cannot imagine anyone sane still wanting Brexit after learning about the lies that brought about this dismal state of affairs.”

Yet some Britons in France remain wary about the idea of a second referendum, not least because it would allow hardline Brexiteers like Nigel Farage to take to the campaign trail once again. 

“I’m cynical about another vote though I would dearly like one. I suspect more untruths would be paraded by Brexiteers,” said Jo Pocket who lives in Aude.

Many are also concerned that another referendum would sow more division between the two sides.

While others are simply wary that another vote could end in the same result.

Linda Lovelock from Dordogne added: “It's such an important issue with such enormous consequences that I think it needs further consideration. Whether it will result in a different outcome, I'm not so sure, as most people seem to be of the same opinion as before, but I still think it is necessary.”

To avoid entrenching the already bitter divisions some argue that instead of another referendum it should be lawmakers in the UK parliament who bring a halt to Brexit.

“Parliament should just take the decision to remain as they actually know that this is the best thing for the people whose interests they were elected to stand up for and they have the time and resources to make an informed decision,” said Chris Ashton from Lyon.

“Passing it back to the population is a cop out and a failure to do their job.”

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BREXIT

INTERVIEW: ‘A lot of people think Brexit is done, but it’s not for Brits in Europe’

A new project from citizens campaign group British in Europe aims to empower Brits in the EU to advocate for their post-Brexit rights. The Local spoke to BiE chair Jane Golding about the problems British citizens face in Europe and why the project is still needed.

INTERVIEW: 'A lot of people think Brexit is done, but it's not for Brits in Europe'

In the early days of 2021, after the United Kingdom had left the EU and completed the final stage of Brexit, many British citizens returned to their home countries in Europe only to face a grilling at the border. 

Though the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) technically guaranteed their right to live and work in the countries they’d settled in before Brexit, there was widespread confusion about these fundamental rights and many were treated like new arrivals. 

Over time, the chaos at the airports subsided as border officials and airlines were given clearer guidance on the treatment of Brits. But three years later, a number of Brits who live on the continent still face problems when it comes to proving their post-Brexit rights.

This was the reason campaign group British in Europe decided to set up their new EU-funded ICE project. Starting this year in March, it aims to build valuable connections between UK citizens abroad and mentor the next generation of civil rights advocates around the continent. The acronym stands for ‘Inform, Empower, Connect’ and the project’s organisers describe it as “the first project of its kind”. 

READ ALSO: Hundreds of Britons across Europe given orders to leave

“It’s a completely innovative project – especially the fact that it’s across so many countries,” Jane Golding, chair of British in Europe and one of the project’s founders, told The Local.

Bringing together groups from 11 EU member states, the project aims to train up volunteers to understand both the Withdrawal Agreement and EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as learning skills like advocacy and communication, using real-life civil rights cases that are referred to British in Europe.

“The ultimate goal is to amplify the messages across the wider group,” said Golding. “You start with the volunteers, they go back to their groups, then the people that we train, they go back and train people. Then they pass on that knowledge to the wider groups, on their Facebook accounts and through social media, and hopefully it all snowballs, not just in their countries but across the EU.” 

READ ALSO: What Brits in Europe need to know about UK’s new minimum income rules

‘Far-reaching repercussions’

So many years after Brexit, it’s hard to believe that there’s still a need for a project like ICE that empowers Brits to protect their rights. Indeed, the future of groups like British in Europe and regional groups like British in Germany and Spain-based group EuroCitizens felt uncertain just a year or two ago. 

But Golding says there are still serious issues cropping up for Brits in several countries around Europe – they just have a different quality to the problems that arose at the start.

“In some ways it’s needed even more because as we predicted right at the beginning, at the first stage of implementation, you’ve got the more routine cases,” she explained.

“What we’re seeing now is not as many cases, but when the cases come up, they’re complex. They can have such far-reaching repercussions on people’s lives. And of course, memories start to fade. A lot of people think Brexit is already done, but it’s not.”

Volunteers in British in Europe ICE project

The volunteers of the British in Europe ICE project pose for a photo at the kick-off meeting in Brussels on May 21st, 2024. Photo courtesy of British In Europe

Though the rights set out in the Withdrawal Agreement apply across the continent, different countries have taken different approaches to implementing them.

That means that while in Germany, for example, UK citizens simply had to declare that they lived in the country, people in neighbouring Denmark had to apply for their rights. 

This led to a notorious situation in Denmark in which as many as 2,000 Brits were threatened with deportation after not applying in time or completing the right application process. According to Golding, this had a lot to do with the fact that people who arrived in 2020 weren’t given the same information as other UK migrants who arrived before. 

In Sweden, meanwhile, the situation is still difficult for many Brits who lived there prior to Brexit.

“There have been issues with an anomalously high numbers of refusals compared to other countries, and they seem to be taking a very strict approach on late applications,” Golding explained. 

READ ALSO: Brits in Sweden still in limbo years after Brexit deadline

Portugal has been another difficult case. Although the country opted for a declaratory system where Brits could simply exchange old residence documents for a new ID card after Brexit, reports suggest that the authorities have taken years to issue these cards, leaving many of the some 34,000 Brits in the country in limbo.

“While people are still waiting to have their status confirmed and have their card in their hand, it’s difficult to access a whole range of services, like health services, or applying for jobs or dealing with the authorities, or even going to the bank,” Golding said. “All of these problems just affect people’s lives.”

A French border guard checks a passport at the border

A French border guard checks a passport at the border. Photo by DENIS CHARLET / AFP

There are also concerns about the EU’s new exit and entry system (EES), due to come into force in October, which is based on biometric documentation.

“We still do not have clear data on how many people in declaratory countries like Germany, where it wasn’t compulsory to apply for the card, don’t actually have a card,” Golding said. “How is that going to play out if it’s a document-based digitalised system?”

READ ALSO: How Europe’s new EES border checks will impact flight passengers

A lack of support

In the immediate aftermath of Brexit, funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was still available to support NGOs in Europe helping Brits with their migration and civil rights issues. But that temporary funding soon expired, leaving groups like British in Europe largely on their own.

“The whole point is people’s lives change at very different paces,” Golding said. “And now this project is really going to start to pick up some of those cases and report on those issues, which is really crucial and exciting for the precedent that it sets, and it’s very clearly necessary still, because people don’t just sort their lives in the 18 months that the FCDO chose to supply that funding.”

This feeling of being left alone and increasingly isolated from the UK is one that many Brits in Europe have felt in the aftermath of Brexit. But the upcoming UK election on July 4th could be a game-changer.

This time, following a change in the law, Brits who have lived abroad for more than 15 years will be able to vote for the first time.

Polling station in the UK

A polling station in the UK. Photo by Elliott Stallion on Unsplash

When it comes to the election, the message from British in Europe is clear: “Make your voice count now, make your vote count, make sure you use it,” Golding said. 

With the June 18th registration deadline fast approaching, BiE is advising UK citizens abroad to apply for a proxy vote as soon as possible, rather than relying on a postal vote from abroad. Since the 15-year rule was abolished on January 16th, more than 100,000 British citizens have registered to vote, according to official statistics. It is unclear how many were registered before the change in the law. 

READ ALSO: How Brits living in Europe can register to vote for UK election

With an estimated 4.7 million Brits currently living abroad – 1.3 million of whom are in the EU – this could have a significant impact on the electoral landscape, Golding says. But most significantly, the change is creating a feeling of connection and belonging that wasn’t there before.

Nurturing this sense of belonging is one of the main goals of ICE.

With these bridges being built, British in Europe hopes to create a network of support that spans across borders.

“Now we’ve met. We’re going to meet,” said Golding. “We know we’re going to meet again in Berlin in October and then we’ll meet again in the new year in 2025 as well. It means a huge amount because even British in Europe, our steering team, we’ve only met physically three times.”

This opens up the possibility of people sharing their knowledge from country to country, Golding explained.

“There is crossover and the reassurance of having that EU wide view and knowing that you’re not alone and knowing that in this country, we managed to get this solution,” she said. “And then you can go back and say to the authorities in your country, well, in that country they did that – all of that helps. It’s really good.”

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