Britain plans to cut loose and party as Jan 31 heralds new era
THOUSANDS of Britons have decided to celebrate Brexit in two weeks’ time by organising parties across the country.
As Boris Johnson announced a light show at 10 Downing Street and MPS quibbled over the £500,000 cost of a Big Ben bong, Brexiteers from Scotland to London and from Wrexham to Norfolk were working up their own plans.
The biggest event will be in Parliament Square, where 20,000 Leave supporters are planning a knees-up with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage as the minutes count down to 11pm on Jan 31, the moment the UK leaves the EU.
People are urged to attend in fancy dress, perhaps as their favourite Brexit character, or to write a humorous lyric to put to a well-known song so the crowd can engage in a mass singalong. The event, organised by Leave Means Leave, is free, although Mr Farage and Richard Tice, the party’s chairman, are asking for donations to cover the cost.
Mr Tice said he wanted to see “the most outrageous Union Jack outfits – why not? Have some fun, some creativity. It is meant to be a fun celebration.”
In Yorkshire, Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns
has teamed up with Lucy Harris, the former Brexit Party MEP, to organise a “Big Brexit Bash for Yorkshire” in her Morley constituency – “far from the Westminster bubble”.
Guests will be charged £5 each, with children allowed in free. Tickets are on sale at www.andreajenkyns.co.uk. Ms Jenkyns said her party would mark the “momentous occasion” of Britain finally leaving the European Union three and a half years after the referendum. She said: “I believe it’s important to mark the moment and celebrate our exit from the European Union and the democratic result of the referendum. That’s why I and Lucy Harris decided to organise a party in Yorkshire, the cradle of Brexit, far from the Westminster bubble and from Remainer bureaucrats trying to prevent any celebrations.
“We’ll be celebrating our freedom and our future as a united country, looking with optimism at opportunities around the world and celebrating Britain. Brexit has been divisive, with Remain politicians trying to overturn the will of the people.
“It’s time to come together, reunite our communities, heal the division and build a new, better Britain with more freedom and more opportunities.”
Elsewhere, on Jan 31 in Cheshire, a Warrington 4 Brexit celebratory victory party will be held from 7pm at Woolston social club. The £7.50 tickets include a buffet and entertainment.
In Wrexham, the Gwersyllt Sports and Social Club is having a Brexit party with tickets at £3. In Scotland, supporters of the Scottish Libertarian Party and Eurosceptics are being called on to celebrate over drinks until midnight at the Caley Picture House Wetherspoons in Edinburgh. In Cambridge, drinks are being organised at the Cambridge Brew House, on King Street for any “like-minded Leavers” until 11.30pm.
In Kettering, Northants, the Rising Sun pub has planned a “good old Cockney knees-up”. Local Tory MP Philip Hollobone will be pulling pints behind the bar. Dave Cooper, the pub’s manager, told his local newspaper: “Let’s celebrate a bit of democracy for once. For far too long the result wasn’t accepted but now it is finally going to happen. Everyone is welcome – I’ve spoken to a number of people who voted to remain who now accept we are coming out and everyone thinks this celebration is a fantastic idea.”
In Hornchurch, Essex, the local Conservative party is organising a Brexit Day Party “to celebrate our new Conservative Government getting Brexit done”. Tickets at £25 include a buffet, DJ and “a glass of prosecco on arrival”.
On Feb 5 a group called “Leavers of Norwich” are organising a drink before seeing Geoff Norcott, the English comedian and outspoken Brexiteer, at The Madder market Theatre.
Burton Town Brewery said it would brew 5,000 Brexit pints, of which 1,500 would be available in limited edition 500ml £4 bottles, with the rest sold in 9gallon casks. Steve Barclay, the Brexit Secretary, has been pushing for the brewery in North East Cambridgeshire to create a commemorative beer.
Churches are also finding ways to mark Brexit, albeit in an understated fashion. The Rev Martin Batchelor, the vicar of Bistre Emmanuel, Flintshire, said he would open to allow for prayers and reflection upon the next steps for the UK. He said: “We feel it is not appropriate to ring any bells. The reality is that the Brexit vote was very decisive and we should not be seen to be favouring one side over the other.”