Stepping out ... to get the UK back in European Union

Three Britons are walking an estimated 350km from London to Brussels as part of ongoing efforts for the UK to rejoin the European Union.

Due to arrive in Brussels on 5 June, they are carrying a public petition, which has been signed by thousands of British citizens, calling for the UK to return to the 27-strong bloc.

The Rejoin Ramble initiative comes ahead of a major pro-Remain march in London on 20 June that tens of thousands of people are expected to attend.

The three walkers are accompanied part of the way by other associations, including members of East Kent for Europe.

This is a branch of the European movement that was founded by Winston Churchill together with other European political leaders in 1949 in the aftermath of World War Two. It is also active in the campaign for cross-channel trains to stop again at Calais and Ashford stations, as well as “citizenship education” focusing on Erasmus+ projects and more youth mobility.

The “Rejoin the EU” ramble comes as a reported 60% of the UK and 80% of under 25s polling that they want to rejoin the EU.

A spokesperson for the campaign said: “We wanted a way to show our support for the European Union from the UK, which still has the largest pro-EU campaigning community in the whole of Europe.

“We decided we would collect messages of support on our website, then publish them all together in a physical book.

“The question was: how to get the book to the EU Parliament in Brussels?”

Their answer was to hand deliver the book after walking all the way from London to Brussels in over two weeks.

Three members of the National Rejoin March/NRM Youth team are responsible for the Rejoin Ramble: Peter Corr, Ceira Sergeant and Clare Hall. Corr is also organising the main REJOIN march in London later in June, and the 'ramble' to Brussels is intended to help publicise the event.

After a ferry from Dover, the trio stopped at Calais on 28 May, where they were joined by local residents who organise, via the internet, conversations in French and other European languages. The scheme is designed to  promote international linking and understanding.

The walk is due to end in Place Luxembourg in Brussels on 5 June with the ramblers inviting supporter to join them at 12.15. They then hope to present their Rejoin petition at the EU Parliament, located opposite the square.

Brexit has re-emerged as a hot political issue in recent weeks with a fierce debate in the Labour party and any possible leadership challenge this summer to the current British prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

The UK officially exited the EU in January 2020 after a referendum vote in 2016 resulted in a narrow majority wanting to leave the bloc.

Photo: Walkers at Calais in front of the city's Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle statutes ©Rejoin the EU/ East Kent for Europe