On Thursday I'm going to be voting for a candidate who I don't like, who is running for a leader I really don't like.
But I'm a remainer first and this is just the next step towards our goal.
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But I'm a remainer first and this is just the next step towards our goal.
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Like all remainers, I'm worried about this election and what it will means for our fight.
Please remember that 18 months ago the idea of a second referendum was laughable.
But after a long hard journey it is now the policy of most political parties.
We made that happen.
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Please remember that 18 months ago the idea of a second referendum was laughable.
But after a long hard journey it is now the policy of most political parties.
We made that happen.
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A second referendum is within our grasp.
All those early starts, all those cold, wet hours standing on the street, all the abuse we have received has worked.
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All those early starts, all those cold, wet hours standing on the street, all the abuse we have received has worked.
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Most of my campaigning has been with @NottPeoplesVote and @Notts4Europe
We were a bunch of strangers from all across the political spectrum but we came together with a common goal.
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We were a bunch of strangers from all across the political spectrum but we came together with a common goal.
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Everyone came to the group with their own stories, their own skills and own abilities but every group needs someone like @Ballstobrexit . Absolutely dependable, hardworking, practical and great at chatting with people.
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Or someone like @PeterJLyth . He hates this photo but I love it because it captures his indefatigable spirit and determination to stop this madness. Not for himself but for his children and grand-children.
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We were often joined by politicans of all stripes. Including @Anna_Soubry and @ChrisLeslieMP, seen here while still in the Conservatives & Labour respectively.
(We were also joined by other Labour MPs like Lillian Greenwood and Vernon Coaker plus and Green party candiates)
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(We were also joined by other Labour MPs like Lillian Greenwood and Vernon Coaker plus and Green party candiates)
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The tools of our stalls was the good old "Brexi" brexitomer and collecting postcards to MPs. Both stimulated interest and gave angry and fustrated people a way to act.
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As a city centre stall we collected postcards from a wide range of constituencies from all across the country. After the stall we would get a coffee and set to work sorting the 300 or more cards into piles for each MP.
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Week in, week out, we campaigned against the ever changing backdrop of Nottingham's Market Square and the changing political landscape.
The day after leaving the Tories, @Anna_Soubry presence at the stall attracted a lot of good, national publicity for a second referendum.
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The day after leaving the Tories, @Anna_Soubry presence at the stall attracted a lot of good, national publicity for a second referendum.
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One of the best bits about the stall is the delight in people's faces when they realised they weren't alone in thinking Brexit was madness. Some even wanted selfies with us to mark the occasion.
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Sometimes we weren't the only campaigners in Nottingham. The ugly, hate-filled side occasionaly exercised their right to be bigots in public.
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Our work took us out of the city centre and into the north of the shire, some of the strongest leave areas in the country. Places like Ashfield where old coalaries have been turned into wildlife parks.
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Campaigning in these areas was hard and one of the mistakes made by the People's Vote is its failure to establish a strong presence in the forgotten towns of the Midlands.
There are good reasons why these areas voted leave. Find out more here -
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There are good reasons why these areas voted leave. Find out more here -
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More succesful were the People's Votes marches. Walking with 100s of thousands of like-minded people from across the country was both politcally effective and motivating.
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We all have personal reasons to fight this madness.
In my case it is my nieces in Spain. English born with Engligh parents but they have lived their entire life in Spain thanks to freedom of movement.
What will be their status if Boris gets his way?
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In my case it is my nieces in Spain. English born with Engligh parents but they have lived their entire life in Spain thanks to freedom of movement.
What will be their status if Boris gets his way?
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The stark reality is that tomorrow we could lose our place in Europe.
Lose access to the people and culture and trade of 27 countries, 27 allies, 27 nations working towards peace.
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Lose access to the people and culture and trade of 27 countries, 27 allies, 27 nations working towards peace.
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But we are legion.
Individually we are just one vote, just a face in the crowd, yet together we can make a difference.
If we hold our noses and vote not for the person we want but whoever has the best chance of stopping Boris where we live ...
Then we can win.
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Individually we are just one vote, just a face in the crowd, yet together we can make a difference.
If we hold our noses and vote not for the person we want but whoever has the best chance of stopping Boris where we live ...
Then we can win.
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Epilogue:
Whatever happens in the next 48 hours, remember that the people in your life who love you, will still love you.
Whatever happens in the next 48 hours, remember that the people in your life who love you, will still love you.
Post-script:
I live in Broxtowe where Anna Soubry is standing.
Unfortunately she has no chance of winning (she's a good 15 points behind in the polls).
So I will be voting for the least worst option with a chance of winning, which is Labour.
#Tacticallyvote #Broxtowe
I live in Broxtowe where Anna Soubry is standing.
Unfortunately she has no chance of winning (she's a good 15 points behind in the polls).
So I will be voting for the least worst option with a chance of winning, which is Labour.
#Tacticallyvote #Broxtowe
