Thread by @ManduReid

LONG THREAD

Full text of my speech from today's Reject Brexit, Restore Democracy rally:

Together we have rallied, marched, demonstrated, and protested against Brexit for 3 years while parliament hit deadlock again and again. 1/

#StopBrexitSaveDemocracy

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit Like Jacob Rees Mogg, the govt continues to sink lower & lower.

Boris & his bully boys have shown us their true colours. Just today we have seen reports of a potential Tory & Brexit Party alliance. That’s how desperate the PM is to shore up his own power. 2/

#StopBrexit

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit Every move this govt makes further exposes their sinister motives.

We the people have had enough.

In the last few weeks we have seen record numbers of people (particularly young people) registering to vote. 3/

#StopBrexitSaveDemocracy

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit And during the week of Boris’s ascension to Number 10 The Women’s Equality Party saw the biggest spike in our membership all year.

These things tell us that we the people recognise that our democracy is precious, that we must protect and preserve it, that we must nurture it. 4/

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit Restoring democracy means fighting for what really matters, not just what’s convenient or politically expedient for any individual politician or political party.

It means being clear and consistent about what counts as acceptable behaviour from politicians and what doesn’t. 5/

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit This week Boris and his bully boys threw out 21 MPs who voted to put the national interest first and oppose a no deal Brexit.

Showing that dramatic things can happen when it suits those in power. 6/

#StopBrexitSaveDemocracy

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit In the last few years though… we have seen the benchmark of acceptable behaviour amongst politicians plummet to murky depths.

In that time, not one single MP from across the parties has lost their job for abusing or harassing women - despite, in many cases, ample evidence. 7/

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit Restoring democracy means demanding that politicians set a positive example & that our system holds them to account. While harassers & abusers are allowed to represent us in Parliament & vote on legislation that will impact us for years to come @WEP_UK will stand against them. 8/

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit In the last 3 years while Brexit has taken up all the airspace, over 400 women in the UK have been killed by men, most by men they knew and 250,000 women have been raped.

Since 2010 one in six refuges for women fleeing domestic violence have closed. 9/

#StopBrexit

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit Since 2010, 1 in 6 domestic violence refuges have closed & over 90 women & children are turned away from refuges every day.

Waiting lists at rape crisis centres mean that victims have to wait over a year for counselling. Rape conviction rates are at their lowest in 10 yrs. 11/

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit It is with this backdrop that the Prime Minister wants to prorogue Parliament and halt the progress of the Domestic Violence Bill. From where I am sitting that does not constitute acceptable behaviour. It infuriates me and it should infuriate you too. 12/

#RestoreDemocracy

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit Progressive parties must work together not just to stop Brexit. But also to address the many challenges our country & our world are facing. We have to work together to stop the climate emergency. To invest in our crumbling social infrastructure & services. 13/

#RestoreDemocracy

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit We must hold people (including politicians) accountable for violence and abuse of power.

Violence is not inevitable, nor is Brexit, or the degradation of our democracy. But ending violence, stopping Brexit, and restoring democracy requires political will and collaboration. 14/

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit Brexit is not the will of the people. Every poll this year has shown a clear and growing majority for our EU membership.
Seeing the opposition parties work collaboratively this week was a long overdue breath of fresh air amidst the turbulence and chaos. Long may it continue. 15/

@WEP_UK @SholaMos1 @Hugodixon @PeterTatchell @mikegalsworthy @sianberry @JennSelby @BestForBritain @women4PV @OFOCBrexit We are here today to Reject Brexit and Restore Democracy.

END OF THREAD/