Our Final Say campaign has come a long way, inspired by the enthusiasm of our readers

Back in July, it all seemed so unlikely. Could a newspaper really call so openly (brazenly, some would say) for another referendum on Brexit? Surely not when the other parts of the media were lambasting “saboteurs”, and MPs were terrified of the accusation that they might be “frustrating the will of the people”. What an absurd idea. An unwinnable campaign. We’d be vilified.

But The Independent has spoken out before – over the Iraq War when the rest of Fleet Street was so supportive, over climate change when the sceptics were the loudest voice in the debate, over Syrian refugees when misplaced fear rather than logic or compassion was the order of the day. So I’m pleased, looking back, that as more and more of our journalists were concluding that a referendum was the right way to rescue the Brexit process, we didn’t pause for too long to consider how popular our petition might be.

Even if we had considered it at length, we couldn’t have predicted the results. Within hours, it was clear that an overwhelming number of you, our readers, were thinking as we were. And it was clear that many beyond our readership were also waiting for someone to come forward and campaign hard for a referendum. People needed something, or someone, to say out loud what they were thinking, to provide a focus to their frustrations.

Now, more than a million signatures later, and following a march to Westminster estimated to have drawn around 700,000, the mood of the nation, and of Westminster, has changed beyond recognition. The pros and cons of a Final Say referendum are discussed on the TV and radio call-in shows. More Labour MPs are trying to persuade Jeremy Corbyn to endorse their demands. And soon, who knows, it might just happen.

I can’t help mentioning that, had the referendum preparations begun when we first launched the campaign, we could have already had the vote by now and settled the matter. But changes in the national mood take time. It is astonishing that people – and politicians at that – have moved so far in six months.

We fully intend to keep the campaign prominent for as long as it takes for the British people to take back control (excuse the phrase) of Brexit. But you can still trust our news. We can make our case perfectly well – better – without distorting facts. After all, the deficit in reliable news was one of the major problems with the 2016 referendum. We ask you to keep calling for a Final Say too, provided you agree, and regardless of how you would vote in a referendum. You’ll find some practical thoughts on how you can continue to help here.

We remain committed to the Final Say campaign in no small part because you have asked us to. Please continue to email editor@independent.co.uk. It gives us enormous encouragement to read your messages of support.

Yours,

Christian Broughton

Editor