Full Breakdown
National Rejoin March Marks 10th Anniversary of Brexit Amid Low Turnout and Renewed Calls for EU Membership
6/21/2026, 8:37:16 PM
Core Event: National Rejoin March in London
On Saturday, the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Brexit referendum, approximately 1,500 demonstrators gathered at Temple station and marched to Parliament Square. Participants carried EU flags, wore blue-and-yellow apparel, and displayed banners such as “We Want Our Star Back” and “Re:Union.” The march was organized under the banner of the National Rejoin March (NRM) and aimed to pressure Sir Keir Starmer’s government to reverse the 2016 vote.
Background & Context: A Decade Since the 2016 Referendum
In June 2016, 17.4 million voters chose to leave the European Union while 16.1 million voted to remain. Over the ensuing decade, public sentiment has shifted, with recent polls indicating a majority of Britons now regret the decision. The Labour Party, now led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, faces internal pressure to articulate a clear stance on re-joining the bloc ahead of upcoming elections.
Data & Statistics: Attendance and Comparative Turnout
- Metropolitan Police estimate: ? 1,500 participants.
- Live-stream commentary suggested “as many as a few thousand,” while some observers counted “five to 800.”
- 2019 anti-Brexit protests attracted between 300,000 and 1 million demonstrators.
- Other recent London rallies: ? 60,000 (May) and > 110,000 (September 2025).
Voices from the March: Personal, Scientific, and Organizing Perspectives
Madeleina Kay, a 32-year-old newlywed from Sheffield, described Brexit as a “travesty” that disrupted her plans to relocate to Germany and emphasized the need for a better future for young people who could not vote in 2016.
Professor Arttu Rajantie, a Finnish theoretical physicist based in Reading, warned that visa requirements and reduced funding have hampered recruitment of European researchers, noting the “high cost and high bureaucracy.”
Clare Hall, an NRM organizer, expressed a straightforward goal: full re-entry into the EU, arguing that the past decade has shown “nothing to lose” and that life has become harder due to increased costs and administrative hurdles.
Official Statements & Responses: Political Leaders’ Assessment
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock addressed the crowd, characterising Brexit as an “unmitigated, unprecedented, continuing disaster” that has inflicted “huge” economic damage. He framed the United Kingdom’s current status as an “applicant for involvement in security arrangements,” contrasting it with the country’s former role as a “significant participant” in shaping European policy. Kinnock warned that the nation is “trapped as outsiders” and urged a reversal of the referendum outcome.
Criticism & Opposition: Social Media Mockery and Pro-Brexit Reactions
The modest turnout sparked widespread online ridicule. Independent economist Julian Jessop remarked that “literally dozens” were present, while former Tory MP Bob Seely highlighted the proportion as “hundreds out of 70 million.” Pro-Brexit commenters dismissed the march as a “small cult” and suggested that “no one cares anymore.” These reactions underscored the polarized perception of the re-join campaign.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps: Discrepancies in Crowd Size
Police figures place attendance at 1,500, yet live-stream observers and on-site commentators reported numbers ranging from “five to 800” up to “a few thousand,” indicating uncertainty about the exact size of the demonstration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Lord Kinnock said: “We used to be, not very long ago, a significant participant in deciding the condition and the development of our continent.” — Neil Kinnock, Former Labour Leader
- “Brexit has been an unmitigated, unprecedented, continuing disaster. The economic damage is huge. Stupendous.” — Neil Kinnock
- “She said: “I think Brexit was a travesty for the United Kingdom and it has also had a personal impact of me, a huge amount.” — Madeleina Kay, 32, Sheffield
- “He said: “We can’t recruit young European researchers in the same way as we could because they have got 27 countries where they can go without any barriers whereas to come to Britain, they have to get a visa.” — Arttu Rajantie, Finnish Theoretical Physicist
- “Hundreds out of 70 million.” — Bob Seely, Former Tory MP
- “No one cares anymore except a small cult.” — Anonymous pro-Brexit social-media user
What’s Next: Future of the Rejoin Campaign
Organizers plan to sustain pressure through further rallies and parliamentary lobbying ahead of the next general election. The Labour government’s response, and any policy shift toward EU re-membership, will likely shape the political discourse in the coming months.
