Sutton for Europe (S4E) (formerly known as Open Britain Sutton, Epsom & Ewell) evolved out of the EU Referendum "Stronger In" local network and has been campaigning and lobbying locally since late 2016 as part of the national campaign against a "no deal" hard destructive Brexit. The national Open Britain campaign was also part of the wider People's Vote campaign. We are proud to have helped organise local people to take part in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th largest demonstrations in UK history as well as encouraging local people to sign the two largest UK parliamentary petitions.

We now act as a local group promoting a better and stronger relationship with the EU and connecting with the activities of the wide range of the ongoing pro-EU National Campaigns. It is also clear that the EU is inevitably distrustful of UK Government's intentions after it makes deals and then reneges on them, so we also support broader democracy and rule of law campaigns that seek to create honesty, accountability and stability in UK politics that would build trust so the EU would actually feel confident negotiating a better relationship with the UK in future.

Whilst historically focused on Sutton, we do have Epsom & Ewell Supporters but recognise they are also catered for by North East Surrey for Europe who we are very happy to collaborate on campaigning with in that area.

Over the last 8 years we have run street stalls, held leafleting events, attended marches and lobbied local politicians. You can read about some of this on our events page.

Even though Britain's relationship with the EU has changed we continue as a broad non-partisan group covering those who want to see closer relations with the EU in the short-term to those who wish to see us re-join in the long-term. 

Below is information is on the next "Day for Rejoin" in March 2024. More information on Sutton 4 Europe involvement is on our Events page.

These are in May 2024 and whilst not directly part of the Europe debate do provide the early opportunity in a likely General Election year for pro-EU supporters to grill the many candidates over their views on the EU relationship. 

• Full list of candidates will be published here: https://www.londonelects.org.uk/ 

• Mayoral candidates here: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/mayor.london.2024-05-02/mayor-of-london/

• London Assembly Constituency candidates here: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/gla.c.2024-05-02/london-assembly-elections-constituencies/ 

• London Assembly List candidates here: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/gla.a.2024-05-02/london-assembly-elections-additional/

At the same time the election provides an opportunity to encourage EU citizens over here to exercise their local democratic rights where eligible. 

• More details here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/running-electoral-registration-wales/eligibility-register-vote/what-are-nationality-requirements-register-vote/can-a-citizen-european-union-register-vote

• People can be registered to vote until 16 April here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

• They can obtain a postal vote until 17 April here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

• And they can apply for a Voter ID form if they do not already have one until 24 April here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

This year is likely to be all about the General Election. Below is a video of a speech from Mike Galsworthy setting out some of the issues currently facing politicians in the election, but also the challenges that will face any Government from 2025.

We know that many people on our 200+ mailing list are already working out their own ways of maximising their involvement or impact on the General Election, either locally or in a wider context, in order to increase the chances that the country can move in a more pro-Europe direction. 

Whatever you choose to do, the one thing all of us can easily do together is use our conversations with others we meet and our activity on social media to keep asking "where are the Brexit Benefits?". One of the biggest changes in the last few years is the number of Leave voters, perhaps suffering "buyer's remorse" who are directly changing their minds and becoming less supportive of Brexit. As John Curtice says:

However, whereas a year ago Remain and Leave voters were more or less equally likely to stick with the choice they made in 2016, now Remain voters are thirteen points more likely to say they would vote to re-join the EU than Leave voters are to indicate that they would vote to stay out. The level of loyalty among Remain voters to the EU has increased, whereas the commitment of Leave voters to being outside the EU has faded. Source: https://www.whatukthinks.org/eu/2023/06/23/seven-years-on-why-has-brexit-become-less-popular/ 

Therefore your efforts taking those people on a journey away from Leave does help change the political dynamic. 

Over the coming year our social media below, our emails and this website will aim to give you ammunition to help make your points to encourage that "direct switch of support" to continue further. As a result an early action you might want to do is to let us know anyone else who would like to be added to our mailing list

Further down this page is a video from the second "National Rejoin March" in September 2023 as an example of what to expect of the third march which is likely to be held in September 2024. More information on Sutton 4 Europe involvement in the march will be on our Events page.