CAMPAIGNERS pushing for a new referendum on whether the UK should remain in the European Union or leave took to the streets of Wokingham on Saturday as a warm-up for a protest march this weekend.
Members of Wokingham For Europe set up stall in the town centre to canvas views from shoppers.
Wet weather meant that there were fewer respondents than usual but, as with previous ‘Brexitometres’ the results were overwhelmingly in favour of the UK staying in the EU.
The group’s chair, Vanessa Rogers, said: “It was a very wet and chilly Saturday in a half-empty town centre.
“This Brexitometer and as each Brexitometer has clearly shown – and we have done several of them since the 2016 Referendum – Wokingham definitively supports staying in the European Union and holding a second referendum despite what our MP and his council may say.”
Mrs Rogers said that the event was open to everyone who was shopping in the town.
“We do not only solicit opinion only from people who wish to Remain within the EU,” she explained.
“When we do these Brexitometer events, we approach people and merely ask them to play the Brexitometer game and answer some simple questions about the current Brexit situation (which changes rapidly these days), reiterating that we are non-political.
“We never try and influence people’s answers until after they have completed the Brexitometer questions when we may engage with discussion with them if they so wish.
“We also do not force people, obviously, to do these Brexitometers but many times people approach us of their own free will without our approaching them first. These people are usually those who are frustrated by what is going on in government – people from both sides of the argument.
“Healthy debate often ensues.”
And Mrs Rogers said that the event reflects the experience of similar groups across the UK.
“These Brexitometers up and down the country reveal the same reply – after three years of debate, many many people are now much more informed about the European Union and its fundamental policy of protecting its members in their common goal to promote peace and prosperity within Europe,” she said.
“Despite its need for reform, which the Brexit debate has clearly highlighted, it is a force for the common good and we are better off inside the union that out in the cold with maybe only the US as an ally, which is debatable with its current incumbent as President.”
Now the group is preparing for a national march in London on Saturday.
The People’s Vote campaign wants a second referendum on Brexit, to ensure that the country has its say on whether we should leave the EU with a deal, no deal or remain in the UK.
A similar event earlier in the year had an estimated one million people present – although the actual number is disputed.
Groups from Wokingham and Bracknell will meet at 9am at their respective railway stations and a group will leave from Reading station at 10am.
Mrs Rogers said: “We hope that the march on this coming Saturday, October 19, will be the largest-ever in living history on the streets of London and with that in mind, we hope that this current government and Parliament might take account of the overwhelming support that there is to remain within the European Union within the United Kingdom.”
