Best for Britain

Best for Britain
Formation 26 April 2017
Founders Eloise Todd, Stephen Peel, Clive Cowdery
Focus Continuing UK relationship with the EU
Chair
 Mark Malloch Brown[1]
Key people
 Eloise Todd (CEO), Board members
Website www.bestforbritain.org

Best for Britain is a civil society campaign to fight Brexit, launched on 26 April 2017,[2] "fighting to keep the door open to EU membership."[3]

Aims

Best for Britain aims to stop Brexit and have a people's vote on whether to accept the government's Brexit deal or whether to keep Britain's membership of the European Union.[1]

Organisation

At the end of 2017, the ex-diplomat Lord Malloch-Brown became chair of Best for Britain.[4]

History

Tactical voting campaign

In 2017, Best for Britain launched what it claimed was the UK's largest ever tactical voting campaign.[5] The Best for Britain team launched a crowdfunding appeal for the tactical vote initiative on 19 April 2017 in an immediate response to Theresa May's announcement of a snap election to be held on 8 June.[6] The stated aim of this appeal was to support candidates who were opposed to an extreme Brexit, were committed to a meaningful vote on the eventual Brexit deal, and would be prepared to defend the interests of the British people and reject a deal that leaves Britain worse off compared to our current EU terms. The crowdfunding campaign received donations from more than 10,000 people, raising more than £413,000 in total over the election period.[7] and raised over £350,000.[8]

Best for Britain launched the full tactical vote campaign on 26 April 2017 at a press conference at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Gina Miller was a spokesperson for Best for Britain during the tactical vote campaign. At the launch, statements were given by Gina Miller and Best for Britain's CEO, Eloise Todd.[9] Miller stated: "We need to prevent MPs and the people being forced into an extreme Brexit that is not in Britain's best interests. ... We will support candidates who campaign for a real final vote on Brexit, including rejecting any deal that leaves Britain worse off."[10] The campaign is providing support for approved candidates, donating money directly to local candidates, issuing tactical voting recommendations to the public, and using technology and social media to spread its message.[2]

People's Vote

On 23 June 2018 Best for Britain joined the People's Vote march in London to mark the second anniversary of the referendum to leave the European Union.[11][12]

Support

In February 2018, it was reported in The Daily Telegraph, and confirmed by the campaign group, that George Soros, through his foundations, had contributed £400,000 to the campaign.[1][13]

Further reading

  • Lynskey, Dorian (28 April 2018). "'It's not a done deal': inside the battle to stop Brexit". The Guardian. - Interview with Lord Malloch-Brown.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "George Soros donated money to campaign for a rerun of Britain's EU referendum". Reuters. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 Sands, Mark (26 April 2017). "Brexit campaigner Gina Miller launches "Best for Britain" tactical voting campaign". City AM. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Todd, Eloise. "The News That Is Making Theresa May Panic About Brexit". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Wintour, Patrick (17 December 2017). "Former diplomat to lead remainers' bid to shift public opinion on Brexit". Reuters. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Dan (19 April 2017). "Gina Miller to launch tactical voting initiative against hard Brexit". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Denham, Katherine (19 April 2017). "Gina Miller launches snap election campaign". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  7. ↑ O'Carroll, Lisa (26 April 2017). "Gina Miller raises £300,000 for candidates to oppose hard Brexit". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "Best for Britain GoFundMe". Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  9. ↑ Holden, Michael (26 April 2017). "Brexit challenger begins tactical vote campaign, cautions markets over optimism". Reuters. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Sommers, Jack (19 April 2017). "Gina Miller launches crowd funding campaign to tour Britain opposing 'Extreme Brexit'". HuffPost. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  11. ↑ Staff writer (23 June 2018). "Best for Britain at the March for a People's Vote". bestforbritain.org. Best for Britain. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  12. ↑ Staff writer (23 June 2018). "'At least 100,000' march for vote on final Brexit deal". Sky News. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Pro-EU campaign secures £400,000 from George Soros". BBC News. February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
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