Thread by @Helenreflects

While the people's vote campaign @peoplesvote_uk is commendable for bringing together a fractured Remain collective, I have some serious remaining concerns (no pun intended). I hope people consider it as we're getting closer to Brexit and a potential Art 50 pause. 1/

* Like the Remain campaign, they still play a lot the economic calamity card. Problem is this is giving the opponent the initiative. You now hear things like "the UK may avoid recession, a prediction that will embolden no-deal ERG members and MPs". 1/

Yes, it's got to that point where avoiding recession = former sunny uplands. And we get into endless discussions about why Honda is closing.
While economic calamity is to be avoided, this tactic did not work the first time around, likely won't work now 2/

* Not enough attention for ethnic minorities. The previous marches were very white. The UK's about 80% white. But whenever I go to events organized by People's vote, the percentage is much, much higher. 3/

* Last time Leave got more ethnic minority votes than people expected (especially since the campaign was so racist), and in part it is because Remain did not care, and still does not care sufficiently, for British and non-British ethnic minorities. 4/

Curry chefs are now angry and disappointed with Leave. Yet except for scoffing and I told you so I don't hear much from Remainers. They should say something like "Here's how I see your concerns addressed if we stay in the EU", but nothing... 5/

* Not enough attention/not giving a voice to EU citizens in UK and UK citizens in EU. We're still talked about as passive objects to be pitied etc not as active stakeholders. There is no push to enfranchise us in a second referendum. This is a mistake. 6/

If you believe in the European project, you should give @BritishInEurope and @the3million vote and not pander to those who say it can't be done, we're not British etc. Here's a piece I wrote to respond to these objections: medium.com/@helenldecruz/… 7/

@BritishInEurope @the3million * Not enough attention for left behind communities who voted in droves for Leave. Lots of schadenfreude at the prospect of devastated Cornish farmers, Sunderland factory workers etc. All I hear is some "we can't go back to what it was", but there's not enough detail 8/

@BritishInEurope @the3million I have to admit, I've been really angry at all Leave voters, including those who voted in their own interest. But this is getting to the point of petty resentment. We need to make some really detailed plans of what a UK in the EU looks like that is acceptable for them. Now. 9/

@BritishInEurope @the3million * Still not enough positives on immigration. Sure, free movement is framed now as reciprocal right, which is good but my sense is PV still shirks that debate, and if they shirk, they give away initiative. 10/

@BritishInEurope @the3million We need to make the case that people coming in this country constitute a good for that country, rather than "If only we applied EU directives strictly we could kick them out/send them home after 3 months unemployment" - which is what I so often hear. /ends