P&O is one of the finest names in British maritime history, dating back to 1837 when the name was chosen to mean Peninsula & Orient; where Peninsula refers to the Iberian Peninsula, and Orient refers to the Eastern Mediterranean. Not much is written about the early years including its service to supply troop ships during WWII, but its current structure dates back to 2002 when P&O Ferries was formed as a Company in its own right, followed by its purchase by DP World in 2019.
In common with the Maritime Industry in general, it has always faced challenges and opportunities (none more so than at present); as it is forced to adapt to a changing world. Firstly, the very concept of a RORO ferry, was thought up when the cost of capital was high, meaning the turn-around time at port, and travel time was at a premium; and Carbon (and Sulfur) emissions where hardly on the agenda. Now, fuel costs and environmental legislation (e.g. the Sulfur Cap of 2020) are of prime importance, while the cost of capital is rock-bottom. Sea travel can however still be the cheapest and most environmentally friendly, but only if the ships can enjoy economies of scale, are packed to capacity, and can travel at a speed (sometimes as low as 2 knots) to optimize engine efficiency, tide, and berthing time table. This suits the container ship but is an anathema to the sea passenger. The RORO ferry however still has the edge for perishable goods.
Ferry services on the Dover Calais route have faced other competitive challenges, firstly from the over-priced but even speedier Channel Tunnel, secondly from Irish Ferries being allowed to ply the same route from March 2021, using third country contract seafarers. Brexit and Coronavirus must certainly have had their impact on ticket sales, staff shortages, and boarding delays. All together, these have cost the company £100 Million per year. One response has been in restructuring; another could be outsourcing ship’s construction to the Far East.
P&O Ferries is a British Company, owned by Dubai based DP World. The ships are flagged in Malta, and the staff paid out of Jersey. It is important to note that at sea, the Captain is the Sovereign Authority under the jurisdiction of the flag, and nobody pays tax anywhere. This may change once the ship enters territorial waters, and certainly will change once a crew member steps ashore. Tax arrangements are exceedingly complicated, as they depend on how much time one spends in each zone; with each jurisdiction measuring time differently! A seafarer can find that just one short delay, a change in shift patterns, or an extended shore leave can change his tax liability completely. Jersey is outside the UK and outside the EU. It is therefore an ideal jurisdiction for withholding tax till the year’s returns are completed (it’s very easy to forget or miss a rule). – In the light of seafarers working arrangements, I don’t think it was unreasonable for the CEO of P&O Ferries, Peter Hebblethwaite, to announce the mass sacking of staff by recoded video message. It was the only way to reach everyone fairly and simultaneously.
Malta is an EU Member State, well known as an off-shore tax-haven and easy centre for ships registration. As a new Member State, I have found them very lax in converging to EU Legislation. Because of their special sacrifices in supporting the allies during WWII, Britain is disinclined to find fault with them. And because of their smallness within the big EU picture, Brussels is hardly likely to take notice. But they will converge, eventually.
Dubai, as an Arab State probably has access to the best deals in bunker fuel. But more ominously, DP World has been advising the government on free-ports. DP World also has a majority stake in the container port of Yuzhny about 20 miles East of Odessa in Ukraine (acquired in 2020). Ukraine is the prosperous breadbasket of Europe and the World, and this is likely to be a very profitable asset once the war is over.
Now, what about the new outsourced third party crew, and what is life going to be like for them? Most young men take to sea to see the world, with full board and lodgings paid, and a little bit of pocket-money to boot; but when they come to the UK, they’re going to be very sorry indeed. They’ll be forced to stay on-board without a proper Visa, like any other tourist. (Or will they need the very expensive UK working visa, if they’re deemed to be employed in the UK?) – The EU has been working on this problem for years, trying to ensure that any legitimate seafarer can have shore leave based on his ship’s papers. This is now fairly well harmonized, including the right of transit from airport to duty ship, or between duty ships. The latest EU legislation however, restricts the rights of seafarers taking shore leave to cross Sovereign State boundaries. It is not a Schengen Visa. The UK is no longer party to this agreement, and as a result, third party seafarers may suffer. – The UK Government does have the right to detain a ship once it is in port, and prevent it leaving again; for instance, if debts have not been paid, if the ship has been found to be unseaworthy, or if the crew do not live up to the necessary standard of competence. This is very much the limit of the UK’s authority. Even the right to run a service can only be granted in agreement with the EU counter-party. Parochial British Trade Unions have very little purchase on the problem.
How could this sorry state of affairs have been avoided? In the USA, they have something called the Jones Act, which says that any service run between USA ports must be on ships that have been constructed, owned, and crewed by Americans. A federal Europe could do something similar; sure it is protectionism, but I think we need a bit of protectionism. And if we consider: wages, shipbuilding, and financing skills across Europe, I think there is plenty of scope for reasonable competition. In reviewing the above, it strikes me that we spend too much time and effort on: gaming the system, the tax system, and the shipping regulations. – It would surely be far better if those in the business where given a level playing field so that they could concentrate on what they know best: running a ferry service, or a shipping line. There are plenty of changes that are still needed in the industry.
We want to explain a long term project to send a potent message to Brexit supporting MPs that Brexit Doesn’t Pay. We will do this by damaging the majorities held by Brexit supporting MPs in Parliament by systematically engaging their constituents in conversation about their record nationally and locally, through information leaflets and on social media. We plan to do this as ‘non party campaigners’ and will offer no guidance as to how people vote. We will just ask them not to vote Tory. By doing this we will leaven their majorities and allow other political parties to do their best.
We have a database that identifies a number of MPs who have:
Slim majorities.
An association with the far right side of the Conservative party and, of course, Brexit.
Some “Trophy Tories” who we would like to send a message of shock and awe to, per Dominic Cummings’ strategy for Brexit.
Find the database at Google Drive. Add your name and mail your details to peter@academy-of-rock.co.uk to help lead the project in your local area.
COUNTY
Constituency
MP first name
MP surname
SOUTH
Hertfordshire
Hitchin and Harpenden
Bim
Afolami
Welwyn Hatfield
Grant
Shapps
Stevenage
Stephen
McPartland
East Sussex
Lewes
Maria
Caulfield
Hampshire
Aldershot
Leo
Docherty
Fareham
Suella
Braverman
New Forest West
Desmond
Swayne
North East Hampshire
Ranil
Jayawardena
North West Hampshire
Kit
Malthouse
Portsmouth North
Penny
Mordaunt
Southampton, Itchen
Royston
Smith
Kent
Dartford
Gareth
Johnson
Dover
Natalie
Elphicke
Gravesham
Adam
Holloway
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Gordon
Henderson
South Thanet
Craig
Mackinlay
Gillingham and Rainham
Rehman
Chishti
Oxfordshire
Witney
Robert
Courts
Surrey
Carshalton and Wallington
Elliot
Colburn
Epsom and Ewell
Chris
Grayling
Reigate
Crispin
Blunt
Esher and Walton
Dominic
Raab
Surrey Heath
Michael
Gove
Berkshire
Wokingham
John
Redwood
Buckinghamshire
Wycombe
Steve
Baker
Isle of Wight
Isle Of Wight
Bob
Seely
West Sussex
Crawley
Henry
Smith
East Worthing and Shoreham
Tim
Loughton
Horsham
Jeremy
Quin
Bedfordshire
Mid Bedfordshire
Nadine
Dorries
WEST
Avon
North East Somerset
Jacob
Rees-Mogg
North Somerset
Liam
Fox
Weston-Super-Mare
John
Penrose
Cornwall
North Cornwall
Scott
Mann
South East Cornwall
Sheryll
Murray
St Austell and Newquay
Steve
Double
Devon
Newton Abbot
Anne Marie
Morris
Dorset
Christchurch
Christopher
Chope
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Michael
Tomlinson
Somerset
Somerton and Frome
David
Warburton
Yeovil
Marcus
Fysh
NORTH
Northumberland
Blyth Valley
Ian
Levy
Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Anne-Marie
Trevelyan
Humberside
Cleethorpes
Martin
Vickers
Haltemprice and Howden
David
Davis
North Yorkshire
Thirsk and Malton
Kevin
Hollinrake
West Yorkshire
Morley and Outwood
Andrea
Jenkyns
Shipley
Philip
Davies
South Yorkshire
Penistone and Stocksbridge
Miriam
Cates
SCOTLAND
Scotland
Moray
Douglas
Ross
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Andrew
Bowie
LONDON
Greater London
Chipping Barnet
Theresa
Villiers
Kensington
Felicity
Buchan
Islington North
Jeremy
Corbyn
Hornchurch and Upminster
Julia
Lopez
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Boris
Johnson
Sutton and Cheam
Paul
Scully
EAST
Norfolk
Great Yarmouth
Brandon
Lewis
South Norfolk
Richard
Bacon
Suffolk
Suffolk Coastal
Thérèse
Coffey
Cambridgeshire
Huntingdon
Jonathan
Djanogly
Essex
Braintree
James
Cleverly
Epping Forest
Eleanor
Laing
Harwich and North Essex
Bernard
Jenkin
Maldon
John
Whittingdale
Rayleigh and Wickford
Mark
Francois
Rochford and Southend East
James
Duddridge
Saffron Walden
Kemi
Badenoch
Thurrock
Jacqueline
Doyle-Price
Chingford and Woodford Green
Iain
Duncan Smith
Witham
Priti
Patel
WALES / NORTH WEST
Clwyd
Clwyd West
David
Jones
South Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
Alun
Cairns
Mid Glamorgan
Bridgend
Jamie
Wallis
Lancashire
Fylde
Mark
Menzies
Merseyside
Southport
Damien
Moore
Cheshire
Macclesfield
David
Rutley
Greater Manchester
Bolton West
Chris
Green
Bury North
James
Daly
Bury South
Christian
Wakeford
Bolton North East
Mark
Logan
Heywood and Middleton
Chris
Clarkson
Blackley and Broughton
Graham
Stringer
Hazel Grove
William
Wragg
MIDLANDS
Northamptonshire
Corby
Tom
Pursglove
Daventry
Chris
Heaton-Harris
Northampton South
Andrew
Lewer
South Northamptonshire
Andrea
Leadsom
Wellingborough
Peter
Bone
Mansfield
Ben
Bradley
Nottinghamshire
Gedling
Tom
Randall
Staffordshire
Lichfield
Michael
Fabricant
South Staffordshire
Gavin
Williamson
Stone
William
Cash
Tamworth
Christopher
Pincher
Stoke-On-Trent North
Jonathan
Gullis
Warwickshire
North Warwickshire
Craig
Tracey
West Midlands
Dudley South
Mike
Wood
Halesowen and Rowley Regis
James
Morris
Solihull
Julian
Knight
Hereford and Worcester
Bromsgrove
Sajid
Javid
North Herefordshire
Bill
Wiggin
Redditch
Rachel
Maclean
Shropshire
Shrewsbury and Atcham
Daniel
Kawczynski
NORTHERN IRELAND – DUP
County Antrim
Lagan Valley
Jeffrey
Donaldson(Sir)
South Antrim
Paul
Girvan
North Antrim
Ian
Paisley(Jr)
East Antrim
Sammy
Wilson
County Down
Upper Bann
Carla
Lockhart
Belfast East
Gavin
Robinson
Strangford
Jim
Shannon
County Londonderry
East Londonderry
Gregory
Campbell
In turn, we will supply support through bringing the team leaders together, supplying leaflets at various points and providing training in the gentle art of Brexorcism. We have just completed our our second book on the subject:
Click to order on Amazon or direct with a discount via e-mail reboot@academy-of-rock.co.uk
Essential reading to change minds about Brexit
What needs to be done?
Study the list of locations and find people who will be willing and support to lead the campaign in the different areas. Both in terms of your real life contacts and via social media. When you get someone who is interested, pl send their details over to me via e-mail reboot@academy-of-rock.co.uk
One of the key Brexit texts is “Change, or Go: How Britain would gain influence and prosper outside an unreformed EU.” written in 2015. Highlights summarised below by Jennifer Rankin (Guardian):
UK/Irish relations scarcely get a mention.
The EU would agree to negotiate a new trading relationship before the triggering of Article 50. The UK would have a new deal in its back pocket before the formal process of leaving the EU even began.
The UK could enjoy “a common market relationship with EU even if it did not sign a special deal after exit”.
The authors were relaxed about the UK losing the benefits of EU trade deals, because “the EU underperforms at managing trade policy”. It doesn’t have a trade deal with the US and China. Anyway, it is “highly likely” EU FTAs “could be photocopied”. The UK could quickly do its own deals.
It obsesses on tariffs, but pays scant attention to non-tariff barriers. In revealing language, it saw limits to the EU’s ability “to penalise Britain” and inflict “malicious harm”.
Easy transport links for firms and citizens: “there would be no significant disruption or inconvenience for UK firms or passengers”. UK travellers can keep the EHIC insurance card when visiting the EU. The Change or Go report provided the underpinning for Michael Gove’s “We hold all the cards” 2016 speech.
Taken together, Gove’s speech and the Change or Go report make it clear that Brexiteers believed:
The EU was about to implode sometime soon or, at the very least, be severely weakened.
Brexit would trigger a domino effect and other countries would follow the UK out.
After the Brexit vote, the UK would hold all the cards and be the centre of a new, anti-EU European alliance.
The UK could dictate terms because the EU would desperately need UK trade.
The UK could have customs union and single market benefits without the commitments and obligations of membership.
Travel to the EU from the UK would continue without interruption and with no new requirements.
It was all about the trade in goods, tariffs and borders.
The UK would quickly be able to negotiate trade deals with all the major powers to compensate for any loss in EU trade.
Incredibly, Leave Voters still seem to believe much of this nonsense in the face of all the evidence and the passage of time. In particular they cling to the to the idea that Merkel will come to the rescue of the negotiations at the last moment and that the obstructive Barnier will be sacked (editor’s note, we have seen the Cummings and goings of many UK trade negotiators and whipping boys whereas Barnier has remained in place all through this process). Our Government believe that all that we have to do is to continue to allow David Frost, our negotiator, to continue repeating idiotically “we are now an independent country”, and the EU will finally concede.
Write to your MP using this material to set out the case as to why the unicorns of Brexit MP’s have been shown to be fatally flawed. Call for a suspension of Brexit pending a full public enquiry and consultation.
Michael Gove’s lies and various other lies are captured in this piece of music which is prophetic in terms of our sleepwalk into a banana republic and a fascist state.
If you like this article, please support us with a regular donation via GoFundMe or Patreon. Give us a tip viaPaypal.We need support to continue doing this. It takes considerable time. Thank you in advance.
If you like this article, please support us with a regular donation via GoFundMe or Patreon. Give us a tip viaPaypal.We need support to continue doing this. It takes considerable time. Thank you in advance.
Jacob Rees-Moog has given up on his new job on day one. Instead of coming up with Brexit Freedoms, he chose to ask Sun readers what they might be. This is both a complete abdication of duty and a clever trick so that he can blame the people for the fact that there are no Brexit freedoms further down the road. Not wishing to be outdone, we decided to write to Jacob to offer some assistance. Please write your own Moggmentum letter to Jake at jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk or Jacob Rees-Mogg, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Here is our list of suggestions to help you on your way with thanks to Helga Perry, Martin Fletcher, Jo Carr, Greg Newman, Phil Turbefield, Ken Hughes, Stanley Aylott and Julian Spencer Cakebread for the assistance with Moggmentum. Whilst you are here, please sign our project to prosecute Boris Johnson. Please suggest additions as there must be thousands. All credit given. You may also like to hunt through this article by EU Law Analysis.
Dear Jake you ask me for laws we can get bak now Brexit is done cos that eu cant stop us well I think there are loads
Return football to 4 4 2 format we won the cup
Sack P&O staff with immunity
Get rid of sweepers
Reinstate Bobbi charlton as England captin
Freedom to use asbestos in school an hospitals
Alf ramsey back in goalfor England
War with Russia
Ban transfers from forin clubs
Install bollards in town tostop those yobs on lectric bikes
Valerie Anne Brown writes in to say stop the channel crossings Jacob! Take us out of the ECHR or whatever it’s called !!
Jacob to avoid that nasty tax by the EU
Dogs off the leash in parks ban cats
More K-TEL albums. Ban byonce adele sheeran and all those woke claptrap poncy screechers an crooners bing crosby and perry homo
Reform The Slade cockney rejects and Sham 69 hurry up harry
short bak & sides 4 evry1
Bare bating as olympik sport
Bring bak dog license
Woolworths to return and k-tel records on the shelfs
The catholic church is the only true faith lets burn any heretics to be decided by the local planning committee this will make things very simple in Englund
Freedom to construct buildings of whatever materials we want to use
No right of entry to England for France Holland Germany Italy that will keep them out
Public floggings to be reinstated on sunday afternoons
Call it the tory brexit berlin wall across the channel are boys are cuntry
I can work in kent essex but not normandy dont care whatever
Ramsgate to build new martello towers
capitol punishment brought back for women who lead men into crime
Cheryl Lewin writes in from British Life on Facebook saying “Yes he’s better than the nobs that r in votes would b better if they got ride of all labour the r scum bags trying t destroy our country”
Prince Andrew to come bak
Are queen to recover from Euro Covid
Bonsai plants to be banned too small oaks better
Ian duncan smith can pick his nose in public he used to have to do it in the toilets before brexit
You are the man you can get it done Jake !! take us bak ome tell that Euro lot they can go fuckthemselves
You have six kids as well a man aftermy own hart keep spreading the British seed
Kep the Moggmentum up !!
Pete
In 2019 @Jacob_Rees_Mogg told voters we'll enjoy cheaper footwear after Brexit.
Today we heard from Tanya Marriott, owner of @SoleLution, that post-Brexit cost pressures will cause shoe prices to rise by £10-£20 this autumn, making school shoes in September unaffordable for many https://t.co/hZgXqa6oaK
— UK Trade & Business Commission (@UKTradeBusiness) March 31, 2022
Finally it’s out !! The new book on Changing minds on Europe and Brexit is here. Click to buy on Amazon or contact me by e-mail via peter@academy-of-rock.co.uk for your personal copy. If you are a sponsor of Re-Boot Britain, you can get a heavily discounted copy to just cover costs.
To find out what it’s all about, join me on Thursday 7 April at 7.00 pm GMT via ZOOM. Here’s the book blurb to give you an insight as to why you will want to buy a copy.
Brexit has broken Britain, economically, socially, culturally, politically and environmentally. Quite simply, Brexit has not delivered what was promised on the tin in 2016, for anyone in our DisUnited Kingdom. This book explains how we may join anew for a better Britain in a better Europe for a better world.
Strategies and scenarios to join anew 2021 – 2031.
Brexit freedoms, unicorns, ghosts and fantasy stories laid to rest.
The influence of Russia and Vladimir Putin on Brexit and the Johnson Junta.
The psychology of ‘Brexorcism’ and the anatomy of the Brexit psyche.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) applied to the task of softening hardened minds on Brexit.
How to hold difficult conversations with Leavers in regret and Remainers in remission.
How does Brexorcism differ in real life from online conversations and what can you do about it?
Strategies to put forward a positive vision of a united Europe and heal rifts from the ‘dialogue of the deaf’ over 6 years.
Stories to motivate you and show how these strategies work in practice. Alongside this we explore a number of ‘glorious failures’ as they offer even better insights to success.
A resource section on how to break ‘parliamentary paralysis’, how to make progress in advocacy to MPs and how to engage mainstream media (MSM).
How to multiply your impact and pro-Europe / anti-Brexit influence in real life conversations, lobbying and in mainstream and / or social media.
A ‘Brexorcism’ requires time, patience, unconditional positive regard and skill. This book provides these elements, drawing on a range of approaches to change management from psychology, sociology and therapeutic approaches.
This is an extract from our forthcoming book on Brexit, making the links between Brexit and P&O Ferries crisis. Pre-order our book by mailing us at peter@academy-of-rock.co.uk
P&O Ferries’ employees have just had their first taste of Brexit freedoms as I write this book. 800 P&O Ferries’ staff have just been fired without notice via Zoom, with their jobs going to overseas workers, in a race to the bottom on wages and employment rights. Natalie Elphicke, MP for Dover, was on the front line with the RMT union, crying crocodile tears for the workers, presumably en-route to visit her husband in prison … Natalie forgot to mention that she helped to block a potential new law in October 2021, which would have curbed employers’ ability fire UK employees without notice or rights, informed by our Brexit bonfire on standards. In case of doubt, P&O Ferries have not been able to adopt the same policies in France and The Netherlands, due to better employment standards in their own countries and, of course, EU directives. Damn that EU – protecting workers rights! So much for Brexit providing British jobs for British workers and so on. MP Chris Grayling recently changed the law which allowed P&O to do this.
Alongside our Natalie, the RMT union are also united in grief about the move when, in fact, they advised their workers to vote for Brexit in 2016. For the avoidance of doubt, here is the statement the RMT put to their membership, to help swing the Brexit vote. The RMT are far from being the only union to have been succoured in by the Brexit illusions, mainly due to a dislike of free market economics, faux sovereignty and nationalism. Here is the RMT’s statement in full, from 2016:
Footnote from George Smit : The quote of RMT “advice” is full of lies: ie maternity leave in any of EU country is longer, better remunerated and with more social & workers protection than any UK company offers.
The RMT find themselves in the rather awkward position of being complicit. So, frankly, are the employees who voted for Brexit and still believe in the sunlit uplands. Still, quite literally, this group now have their freedom … from jobs and a livelihood. People are calling for the law on fire and rehire to be amended and, of course, it is hard to argue against this as being a good thing. But the root cause of the mess is Brexit and a ‘patch up job’ misses the underlying malaise. It is always a mistake to treat symptoms and not deal with the causes of problems. We will see many more examples of the ‘unintended consequences of Brexit’ in the coming months and years.
I do feel sorry for the employees, especially those who voted Remain, next, those who were taken in by the slick Brexit lies and now regret their decision and are prepared to say it out loud. I’m finding it difficult to be concerned about the small hardcore Brexiteer group of P&O employees and trade union ideologues who remain (sic) resolute that Brexit is a good idea, despite losing their jobs. This is an act of self-harm.
We can envisage a new Maslow styled hierarchy of Brexit blame. Of course our Government are trying to blame the P&O boss. Although guilty, he is simply exploiting Brexit freedoms. Brexit and P&O Ferries are intimately linked.
Man who breaks the law on a daily basis complains about another man who broke the law once
I’ve put this in the order of urgency and importance as the situation requires. This update contains several items to help everyone stand with Ukraine. Firstly an urgent practical call for supplies of clothing, medical equipment etc. Secondly a meeting on Monday 28 Feb at 8 pm GMT to come up with more practical actions on an individual and collective basis. Thirdly, a revelation about our own Government’s involvement via the unredacted Russia report and finally things you can do to face down the scandal of Priti Patel’s refusal to accept refugees due to her need to play to the racist gallery. Read on and act
1. URGENT and VERY IMPORTANT: Please contribute to these initiatives to supply vital supplies to Ukranians in Kent. Find out where your own schemes are in UK and help support them:
Click image to go to Ela’s Cakes fb page
Canterbury and East Kent – Riverside Vineyard Church Thanet Way Whitstable CT5 3JQ from 9.5 pm
2. URGENT and IMPORTANT: Join us on Monday 28 Feb at 8 pm GMT via ZOOM to consider what each of us can do individually and collectively to support Ukraine.
3. IMPORTANT: Please write to your MP, asking for the removal of MPs who were / are involved in supporting Putin’s regime.
Find the UNREDACTED Russia report at Google Drive. A summary of the salient points can be found in this tweet below:
This is the full text of The Russia Report.
This thread contains extracts. It is truly shocking and very scary. Our government and security services have been 'asleep at the wheel'.
— Shouting into the void 🇬🇧 🇱🇰 ⚒ (@VoxLibero) August 28, 2020
Here’s a letter you may use or adapt:
Dear [MP’s Name]
As a constituent of [YOUR CONSTITUENCY], I am writing to you to express my deep concerns with regard to the disarray and incompetence displayed by our current government.
Having read the Russia Report it is clear that the lives of millions of UK citizens are at grave risk not just from Covid-19 but from the infiltration of British politics and business by actors for the Russian state.
I’m sure you will agree with me that this is an extremely serious national issue and need addressing quickly and permanently. The Prime Minister has publicly stated that the ‘first duty of government is to protect British citizens’. He and his government are clearly not up to the job. I ask you to introduce a vote of ‘no confidence’ in this government and reforms to our political system.
The gravity of this situation is clear. Please take immediate action to ensure the views and concerns of the citizens that elected you are reflected in Parliament and in government policy.
I appreciate your understanding of my concerns as your constituent, and look forward to seeing my concerns represented.
Thank you in anticipation,
[YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS]
4. IMPORTANT: Please write to Priti Patel at withammp@parliament.uk Ask her to reform the arrangements for asylum seekers. Her policies are quite simply killing children and families. She has lied about accepting Ukrainian refugees in order to play to the galley of knuckle-dragging racists in England, simply due to the need to pray on the altar of Brexit xenophobia. Stand with Ukraine.
Your own link proves you wrong.
Ukrainians without family ties to the UK have to get to a nearby country and go through a normal route. And even people applying under the close family route still have to meet conditions including on salaries and language. pic.twitter.com/dBeeT3PV8z
Alice Boulliez decided that she would not be orphaned by Brexit after Boris Johnson made her and millions of others “Citizens of Nowhere”. A 62 year old British housewife and farmer, living in France with two children has turned into a Brexit Avenger alongside Claire Godfrey Le Monnier, Grazia Valentino Boschi and a group of other citizens who call themselves EuBritizens. Unable to vote in the Brexit referendum and are now united in outrage by the careless approach of the Brexit Government in looking after their rights. If they succeed in their legal actions, they may help millions of others to gain their voting rights back, freedom of movement and other civil liberties that people enjoyed before Brexit.
“To be disenfranchised is a horrible feeling, like a motherless child. Your orphan voice does not matter. The suffragettes were not fighting for something they had lost, nor something that they had had previously; they were fighting for new rights. I am fighting to regain my right to be counted as a sentient human being.”
Alice wrote to Lord Heseltine, The Queen and lobbied people in Brussels. Eventually, she found Julien Fouchet, who was looking to take a case to the French courts. The case was heard in the Court of Justice before Judge Romanello. He, in turn, sent it through to the ECJ in November 2020, having collected over 500 replies from people in similar situations. The case has since reached the UK Select Committee on the effects of Brexit.
If our actions succeed, we hope to confirm our status as European citizens with full rights. We also hope for both freedom of movement and municipal and European electoral rights as a corresponding status to Settled Status in the UK.
“European citizenship was given to me when the UK joined the European Union. From that moment on, I have been a fully-fledged and exemplary European citizen. I own that citizenship. It is my inalienable right. Since Brexit, my only privilege now is to pay my taxes, with what in return?”
Alice Boulliez
Many other lives and livelihoods rest on the success of this case. What are we to say to Mrs Page who had planned to live out her retirement in a lovely house in the French countryside surrounded by her animals, whose income was severely affected by Brexit and who is now in a sad retirement home near London? To Mr Duke whose Carte Vitale is still not available to him and has to pay out of his pocket for health care? To Mike Johnson whose girls who have always lived in France and who now has difficulty getting them a Carte de Sejour? Or to the twins who went for French nationality, one got it, one didn’t?
We refuse to be orphaned by Brexit and Boris Johnson.
Alice Boulliez, EuBritizens
Download European versions of “In Limbo” by clicking the image
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