Grassroots Out

Grassroots Out
Name	Grassroots Out
Founded	2015
Purpose	Political advocacy
Location	United Kingdom
Key people	Arron Banks; Matthew Elliott; Brendan O'Neill; Gisela Stuart; Kate Hoey
Area served	United Kingdom

Grassroots Out was a political advocacy group active during the 2016 United Kingdom referendum on European Union membership. It campaigned in favour of withdrawal, operating alongside actors from conservative, labour, nationalist, and libertarian backgrounds, and engaged with parliamentary, media, and grassroots networks across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The campaign intersected with parties, pressure groups, and media outlets, contributing to debates during the referendum period.

Background and formation

Grassroots Out emerged in the context of cross-party and cross-organizational efforts preceding the 2016 European Union membership referendum. The referendum was a consequence of commitments made by Prime Minister David Cameron in response to electoral pressures from the Conservative Party and the rise of UKIP under leaders such as Nigel Farage and Diane James. The programme of Conservative policy debates, including stances taken at the 2015 United Kingdom general election, the influence of European Conservatives and Reformists groups, and interventions by figures from the Labour Party like Gisela Stuart shaped the environment in which the group was formed. Actors involved had prior links to organizations such as the TaxPayers' Alliance, Leave.EU, Vote Leave, and think tanks including Centre for Policy Studies, Institute of Economic Affairs, and Policy Exchange.

Objectives and campaign activities

The primary objective was to advocate for the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union in the 2016 referendum. Activities included street-level canvassing, media appearances on outlets like BBC Television, Sky News, and The Sun, participation in debates at venues such as Manchester Central and The London Palladium, and production of advertising across television and social platforms associated with Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The group sought to influence voters in English constituencies, Scottish constituencies, Welsh constituencies, and Northern Irish constituencies, engaging with trade associations, unions such as Unite the Union critics, and business groups including the Federation of Small Businesses. Campaign tactics drew on prior mobilization methods used in referendums like the Scottish independence referendum, 2014 and general election campaigning techniques seen in campaigns led by Boris Johnson and Theresa May.

Leadership and organization

Leadership featured a mixture of politicians, activists, and business figures. Prominent individuals associated with the initiative included former Members of Parliament such as Gisela Stuart and Kate Hoey, commentators like Brendan O'Neill, and businessmen such as Arron Banks. Organizational links connected to campaign strategists associated with Matthew Elliott, who had previously worked on campaigns for groups including Business for Britain and the No2EU coalition. The organizing structure combined local volunteer groups, constituency coordinators, and national spokespeople who appeared alongside peers from Conservative Party and Labour Party benches at public events and hustings hosted by broadcasters such as ITV and Channel 4 News.

Funding and affiliations

Funding and affiliations involved individuals and entities active across the British political spectrum. Major donors and backers included private contributors associated with businesses in sectors present in cities like Bristol, Manchester, and London. Financial ties and transactions intersected with organizations such as Leave.EU and Vote Leave, and donors were scrutinized in parliamentary inquiries conducted by committees including the House of Commons committees on standards and electoral oversight. Affiliations extended to think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research critics and advocacy networks associated with libertarian groups such as Adam Smith Institute and nationalist groups such as the Democratic Unionist Party in discussions over shared messaging.

Controversies and criticism

The campaign faced criticism and controversy over messaging, coordination with other groups, and funding transparency. Concerns were raised by opponents including figures from the Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, and civil society organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch regarding claims made in advertisements and leaflets. Questions about coordination prompted scrutiny from the Electoral Commission and parliamentary inquiries, while media outlets like The Guardian, The Financial Times, and The Telegraph reported on alleged relationships with foreign actors, data firms such as Cambridge Analytica, and social media targeting practices. Legal challenges and allegations were debated in venues including the High Court of Justice and parliamentary hearings involving Members of Parliament from Labour Party and Conservative Party.

Impact and legacy

The campaign contributed to the outcome of the 2016 referendum, which led to the UK beginning the process of withdrawal from the European Union, culminating in events such as the passage of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 and the triggering of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The referendum result reshaped party dynamics within the Conservative Party and Labour Party, influenced leadership contests involving figures such as Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Jeremy Corbyn, and affected subsequent negotiations with the European Commission and member states including Germany, France, and Ireland. The legacy includes continued debates within institutions like Parliament of the United Kingdom and civil society organizations, influence on campaigns such as the 2017 United Kingdom general election and the 2019 United Kingdom general election, and ongoing study of campaign practices by academic institutions such as London School of Economics, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.

Category:Political organisations in the United Kingdom