Dominic Grieve new vice president of the European Movement

The European Movement has announced former attorney general Dominic Grieve as its new vice president.

It comes in the week that the pro-rejoin group announced record membership figures of of 20,000.

Grieve, one of the Tory rebels stripped of the whip by Boris Johnson in 2019 for refusing to back a no-deal Brexit, served as attorney general from 2010 to 2014. The MP for Beaconsfield from 1997 to 2019 was also chair of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee for four years.

He joins the Movement’s present vice presidents Caroline Lucas, Vince Cable, Michael Heseltine and Joyce Quin.

Grieve said: “It’s an honour to be appointed vice president of the European Movement. I believe that this is the only organisation with the courage, capacity and commitment to reverse the calamity of Brexit and take the UK in a new direction that repairs our relationship with the European Union. This mission has never been more important.

“It’s exciting to join this movement at a time of such growth and progress. Just last week, the European Movement hit the milestone of 20,000 members – in fact, they are now within reach of 21,000.

“In the last few months, we’ve also seen public opinion shift definitively towards recognising Brexit as a mistake. Not even the Brexiters can outline a Brexit benefit. Last week, no government minister was willing to appear on the BBC’s Brexit Question Time special to defend their record on Brexit. And
two weeks ago, Boris Johnson, the man who brought us this disastrous hard Brexit, was exposed for the charlatan he is – something I have said since 2019.

“I will work with my fellow vice presidents to build greater cross-party links in our campaign to rebuild ties with the EU.”

Emma Knaggs, interim CEO of the European Movement said: “We are thrilled and honoured to welcome Dominic Grieve to the European Movement. We are certain that his expertise and commitment to Europe will rally our already growing movement.

“The European Movement is a cross-party organisation which already boasts some of the biggest and most respected names in British politics from Vince Cable to Caroline Lucas, and Dominic Grieve’s appointment only strengthens these cross-party relationships.

“The European Movement is the only organisation with the courage, capacity and commitment to reverse the calamity of Brexit, and I know that Dominic will do everything in his power to help us achieve our organisational aims”.