Volt believes Britain's future is at the heart of Europe and Volt UK is there to provide a Bridge to Europe.
Ten years ago, Britain was promised the world. It has had seven prime ministers and a shrinking economy. The UK will soon have a new PM. Volt strongly encourages whoever takes the keys to Number 10 to take this opportunity to bring the UK back to where it should be: at the very heart of Europe, not on the margins.
On 29 March 2017, the UK triggered Article 50, starting a process that would cost the UK greatly in economic and diplomatic power. On that same day, Volt was founded to bring Europeans closer together. From that day forward, they would move in opposite directions: Britain pursuing splendid isolation, Volt building unity.
Ten years of consequences
Brexit was sold to the British people with the promise of greater prosperity and greater sovereignty, and to "take back control" from Brussels. Yet, 10 years on, Britain is less influential in the world, the British economy is running below expectations, and public finances are suffering. Their leadership is shattered; Britain has now had 7 prime ministers in the last 10 years, all of whom failed to effectively face up to the consequences of Brexit. Additionally, Brexit opened the doors to the normalisation of racist and far-right rhetoric, which is still tainting political discourse to this day.
Ten years of building
While Britain has spent the last decade struggling, Volt spent it on building a progressive, pan-European political movement. What began as a small group with an idea has now grown into a movement with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of elected officials. Today, Volt is active across 31 countries and has established 22 national parties, turning a vision into a pan-European political force.
The geopolitical landscape has changed
However, the geopolitical landscape of 2026 is very different from the one that Britain imagined in 2016.
Europe is building strategic autonomy, increasing its defensive capabilities, and growing its economy. The challenges connected to AI, the energy insecurity that comes from a fragmented world, in spirit and trade, demand European unity.
The UK could - and should - be a strong participant at the heart of Europe, not an observer on the sidelines.
Why the UK needs Volt now
It is precisely this participation in Europe on which Volt was founded. While Brexit was set in the belief that Britain would be stronger on its own, Volt emerged from its belief that Europeans would be stronger together. Ten years after both began, the contrast between them is striking. Britain spent the past decade moving away from Europe and is suffering from the consequences, while Volt spent a decade building a European future.
The anniversary of Brexit is not a moment to mourn what was lost, but to reconsider what remains possible. Volt exists in every European country and also within the UK. Volt believes Britain's future is at the heart of Europe, and Volt UK is there to provide a bridge to Europe.
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