Open Britain

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Open Britain
Predecessor Britain Stronger in Europe
HeadquartersMillbank Tower, 21–24 Millbank, London, England, SW1P 4QP
Owner PV Campaign Ltd (75%) [1] (until 2022)
Mark Kieran (since 2022) [2]
Affiliations People's Vote (historically)
Website www.open-britain.co.uk

Open Britain is a British political campaign group that was set up in the aftermath of the 2016 European Union referendum to advocate for pro-European politics. [3]

Background

Following the 2016 EU referendum in the United Kingdom, the official remain campaign group, Britain Stronger in Europe, changed its name on 25 August 2016 to Open Britain. [4] In October 2016, Open Britain called for the UK to remain in the European single market as part of the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, [5] and also launched a 'Write to Remain' letter-writing campaign directed at Theresa May asking her to guarantee the right of EU nationals to stay in the UK. [6]

The individuals involved with the campaign group have included former government ministers such as Pat McFadden (Labour) and Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat). [7] Conservatives Anna Soubry, Nicky Morgan, and Dominic Grieve cut their ties with Open Britain in April 2017 after it began to campaign against the re-election of anti-EU members of parliament, mostly Conservatives. [8]

In April 2018, Open Britain was involved with the launch and promotion of the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum. [9] [10]

In October 2019, executive director James McGrory [11] and director Tom Baldwin were forced out of the organisation by Chairperson Roland Rudd. [12] [13] Following this, most directors resigned, and as the lead organisation behind the People's Vote campaign, this led to a major staff walkout in protest. [12]

Leadership

The organisation's past leadership has included Trevor Phillips, Richard Reed, Lord Peter Mandelson, Roland Rudd, June Sarpong, William Straw, and Sir Michael Rake as directors of the company. [13]

Mark Kieran currently leads the organisation. [2]

Stop the Rot

In 2022 Open Britain began a campaign called 'Stop The Rot' promising "Enough is Enough - Johnson Must Go Join the #StopTheRot Summer of Action". [14] [ better source needed ]. The campaign to remove Boris Johnson was backed by 'Fairvote UK' and 'Let's Take Back Control Ltd' run by campaigner Kyle Gregory Taylor, a former candidate for the Advance Together party in the 2019 general election. [15]

References

  1. ↑ "Open Britain: Persons with significant control". Companies House. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 "OPEN BRITAIN LIMITED people". Find and update company information - GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Dallison, Paul (2 September 2016). "Remain MPs launch pro-Europe campaign group". Politico . Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Straw, Will. "Special Resolution - Change of company name on 25 August 2016". Companies House.
  5. ↑ Asthana, Anushka; Mason, Rowena; Syal, Rajeev (11 October 2016). "Brexit adviser: leaving EU customs union will cost UK £25bn a year". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ↑ Mason, Rowena (13 October 2016). "Letter-writing campaign urges Theresa May to let EU nationals stay in UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Open Britain. "New campaign group, Open Britain, launches to fight for best possible EU deal for Britain". open-britain.co.uk. Open Britain. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Walker, Peter (25 April 2017). "Pro-EU Tories quit Open Britain over plans to oust Brexit-backing MPs". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  9. ↑ Porritt, Richard (15 April 2018). "Campaign launched to push for People's Vote". The New European . Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. ↑ Staff writer (15 April 2018). "Launch of the new national People's Vote campaign". open-britain.co.uk. Open Britain. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  11. ↑ Prynn, Jonathan (26 October 2017). "Outer London families hit by Brexit squeeze as pay rises just 1.2 per cent". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  12. 1 2 Rowena Mason; Peter Walker (28 October 2019). "People's Vote staff walk out over sacking of senior figures". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Open Britain Limited: People". Companies House. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  14. ↑ Stoptherot. "About". stoptherot.uk. Open Britain. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  15. ↑ democracyclub. "About". democracyclub.org.uk. Democracyclub. Retrieved 30 May 2022.

Further reading

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