The members of the European Movement Wandsworth & Merton have an overall impression that leaving the EU has not brought any great improvements to the local businesses. In an attempt to get hard facts rather than feelings on the subject, they decided to conduct a survey,
In 2018, they reached out to local businesses and organisations operating in Wandsworth. Owners and managers were invited to take a short survey online and answer questions relating to how their businesses were faring in the run up to Brexit.
The results were published in a report called “No Magic Wand for Wandsworth”, which created a blueprint for other local EM groups to follow.
In the summer of 2021 the European Movement UK launched a project called ‘Building Bridges’, which supports community-based campaigning by local EM branches. We invited applications for funding and the Wandsworth & Merton branch was one of the successful applicants.
The branch set up a survey to find out how local businesses are managing after Brexit, as a follow up study to their successful 2018 Brexit audit of businesses. Organisations were surveyed across a broad range of sectors.
On 3 December they launched the results in a report they call ‘The Business of Brexit’. The voices of Wandsworth and Merton confirm the fears of many and give an overwhelming verdict on Brexit.
The report makes clear the hard facts to support the argument when our groups continue our campaigns to rebuild and strengthen Britain’s relations with the EU.
Following the publication of the report, the group have continued to forge links in the local community - with business, residents, and politicians. In 2023, they were invited to host a roundtable in Parliament with their local MP focusing on the impact of Brexit on local business.
