LETTER : Pro-Europeans are organising to fight back
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Stephen Woodard
Sir: Polly Toynbee is absolutely right when she writes that the pro-Europeans have let down the case for full British participation in Europe ("Who will come out fighting for Europe?", 10 May). It is true that most pro- Europeans, including the European Movement, had thought the basic argument for British membership of the European Union had been won.
We have learnt that lesson and are organising the fight back. In particular, the European Movement plans to relaunch shortly the "Britain in Europe" campaign that served so brilliantly as the rallying point for pro-Europeans in the 1975 referendum, at a time, too when, let it never be forgotten, public opinion was supposed to be anti-European, before voting for British membership by a two-to-one majority.
Where Polly Toynbee is seriously wrong is her suggestion that the European Movement suffers from "cross-party tensions" and that Labour, in the form of one of its MPs, has "taken over" the European Movement. Giles Radice MP was unanimously elected chairman with all-party support. He succeeds a Conservative who also had all party backing. A new team of vice-chairs is being established that will reflect the all-party nature of the European Movement. Our cross-party support is a source of strength, not weakness, and it will help us to lead the campaign for Britain to be a leading member of the European Union.
Yours faithfully,
STEPHEN WOODARD
Director
European Movement, UK
London, SW1
10 May
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments