HEATHER COWLEY

Posted on 29/03/2021Comments Off on HEATHER COWLEY

When did you first attend the SODEM protest outside Parliament and why did you come? 

Approximately December 2018, and because I had concerns about Brexit. There were too many attempts to silence Remainers. This was an attack on freedom of speech. 

Roughly how old are you? 

In my 30s

How frequently did you come and when was the last time you attended? 

I must have come about 20 times. Last time I attended could have been summer 2019. 

How far from Westminster do you live and what was your travelling time? 

Travel time approx 4 hours on the train. 

What’s your favourite memory? 

Meeting new people. Especially a really nice man who encouraged me to persevere in a situation of bullying and harassment from a well-known member of the far right. 

Tell me your story 

I have been politically active for some time on a variety of different issues mainly on conservative party policies and their effect on the poor and sick. I have taken part in campaigns to help make my local area better, I have also attended anti-racist, anti-fascist protests whenever I get the chance. 

I had always had concerns about brexit, I didn’t believe leaving the EU would be helpful to any person in the UK. It’s not enough to keep parroting “we won”, if people knew what they voted for, they’d be able to tell us what we’d won. Leave voters could not tell us the impact leaving would have, because they didn’t know and that’s not good enough. We were talking about the lives, futures and wellbeing of our people. We deserve better than the childish response “we won, you lost, get over it”. We are not talking about a football match. 

There was no coherent plan for our exit from the Leavers. Those who voted for this, campaigned for it and won elections on it didn’t care about the consequences as long as they got brexit. It became a game to some Leave voters. Their only response to our questions and concerns was to sneer, dismiss, threaten and bully. People should be allowed to express their views on issues that affect them, without intimidation. I have seen video evidence of SODEM protestors being attacked, threatened and bullied. This should not happen in a democracy.  

The right to express our views is a democratic right. But then many Leave supporters don’t care about democracy, not really. If they did they would expect their vote to be honoured in a democratic manner, no lies, no illegalities, no proroguing of Parliament.  

I always said that “the more we let Boris Johnson get away with, the worse he’ll get” and look where we are. 

I think by the time people wake up it’ll be too late. 


Your donation helps to keep this website going. Thank you.