For our Future's Sake
 | |
| Abbreviation | FFS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2018 |
| Type | Campaign group |
| Purpose | Youth and student-led campaign calling for a public vote on Brexit. |
| Location |
|
Key people | Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson Richard Brooks Jason Arthur |
| Website | ffsakes |
| Part of a series of articles on | |
| Brexit | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union Glossary of terms | |
| Jul 2018 | |
| Withdrawal agreement plan presented | July 2018 |
| Withdrawal agreement released | Nov 2018 |
| Scottish Continuity Bill blocked | Dec 2018 |
| Meaningful votes | Jan–Mar 2019 |
| Brexit delayed until 12 April | Mar 2019 |
| Cooper–Letwin Act passed | Apr 2019 |
| Brexit delayed until 31 October | Apr 2019 |
| European Parliament election | May 2019 |
| Theresa May resigns as PM | Jul 2019 |
| Boris Johnson becomes PM | Jul 2019 |
| Prorogation and annulment | Aug–Sep 2019 |
| Benn Act passed | Sep 2019 |
| Withdrawal agreement revised | Oct 2019 |
| Brexit delayed until 31 January | Oct 2019 |
| 2019 general election | Dec 2019 |
| Agreement Act passed | Jan 2020 |
| UK leaves the European Union | Jan 2020 |
| Implementation period begins | Jan 2020 |
| UK–EU trade deal agreed | Dec 2020 |
| Future Relationship Act passed | Dec 2020 |
| Scottish Continuity Act passed | Dec 2020 |
| Implementation period ends | Dec 2020 |
| New EU–UK relationship begins | Jan 2021 |
| UK–EU trade deal ratified | Apr 2021 |
| Windsor Framework released | Feb 2023 |
| Windsor framework adopted | Mar 2023 |
For our Future's Sake (FFS) was a student-led
referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement. It represented at least 60 Students’ Unions, and 980,000 students, across the UK.[1]
Background
FFS was launched at the
National Union of Students' National Conference in 2018. Incumbent Deputy President Amatey Doku called for 'nationwide student-led mobilization to demand a people's vote' during his re-election speech, and delegates passed policy to 'campaign for a second referendum on the deal negotiated'.[2][3]
In May 2018, the campaign launched its statement of intent in an open letter undersigned by 120 student leaders.[1] The letter was featured in several British newspapers, and FFS spokespeople pledged a 'summer of action' involving demonstrations across the UK.
The campaign's style has been described as 'irreverent' and 'provocative', attracting a broad youth appeal through
Activities
The organisation has held a number of direct-action demonstrations, including stunts at the Labour Live festival, outside
Dodie Clark
, as well as several MPs. Members of the campaign have been featured on leading news networks, and in national print media and online.
FFS also works closely with
central lobby and meet with their local MPs.[8]
The primary impact of the group is on the People's Vote campaign itself. Journalist Matthew D'Ancona described the influence of FFS as 'transformative', arguing that 'the public face of People's Vote changed fundamentally as the new network fizzed and buzzed and did its work. A campaign that had started life looking like the liberal elite demanding its job back morphed into a grassroots uprising of the young against their elders.'[9]
Membership
FFS supporters include sabbatical officers in 2018 from Students' Unions in Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, and Liverpool, as well as across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.[10]
Higher Education members
See List of Higher Education students' unions in the United Kingdom
Scotland
- Aberdeen UniversityStudents Union
- Highlands and Islands Students' Association
- Heriot-Watt University Students' Union
- St Andrews Students' Association
- Strathclyde Students' Union
- West Scotland Students' Association
England
- Bath Students' Union
- Bath Spa University Students' Union
- Birkbeck Students' Union
- University of Birmingham Guild of Students
- Cambridge University Graduate Union
- Cambridge University Students' Union
- Chester Students' Union
- Coventry Students' Union
- Edge Hill Students' Union
- Falmouth and Exeter Students' Union
- Gloucestershire Students' Union
- Hull University Union
- Keele Students' Union
- Kent University Union
- Lancaster University Students' Union
- Law Student Association
- Leeds University Union[11][12]
- Leicester Students' Union
- Lincoln Students' Union
- Liverpool John Moore's Students' Union
- London Metropolitan Students' Union
- London South Bank Students' Union
- Middlesex Students' Union
- Nottingham Students' Union
- Northumbria Students' Union
- Norwich University of the Arts Students' Union
- Plymouth Students' Union
- Roehampton Students' Union
- Sheffield Hallam Students' Union
- Staffordshire Students' Union
- Surrey Students' Union
- Teesside University Students' Union
- West London Students' Union
- Westminster Students' Union
- Worcester Students' Union
Wales
- Aberystwyth Students' Union
- Swansea University Students' Union
- Trinity St Davids Students' Union
Northern Ireland
- Queen's University Belfast Students' Union
- Ulster University Students Union
Further Education members
- Ayrshire College Students' Union
- Bath College Students' Union
- Chichester College
- City of Liverpool College Students' Union
- Coleg Cambria
- Derby College
- Dudley College
- Exeter College
- Furness College
- Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
- Havant and South Downs College
- Newcastle Under Lyme College Students' Union
National affiliates
- National Union of Students
- Labour Students
- Young Greens[13]
References
- ^ a b Farand, Chloe (13 May 2018). "Student groups with a million members back call for second Brexit referendum". The Independent. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Pontone, Maya (30 March 2018). "Vice President of NUS mobilises 'people's vote' on final Brexit deal". shoutoutuk.org. Shout Out UK. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Ramiro, Joana (28 March 2018). "NUS throws weight behind Brexit second ref". Left Foot Forward. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Helm, Toby; Boycott-Owen, Mason (12 May 2018). "Students plan summer of defiance in push for 'people's vote' on Brexit". The Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Stewart, Heather; Elgot, Jessica (11 September 2018). "Activists to use Labour conference to push for second Brexit vote". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Simons, Ned (16 May 2018). "Anti-Brexit protesters try to disrupt Jeremy Corbyn's speech to 'Labour Live' festival". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Buchan, Lizzy (26 July 2018). "Anti-Brexit protesters offer to help Boris Johnson move out of 'grace-and-favour lad pad' after cabinet resignation". The Independent. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Curiel, Joshua (1 January 2019). "Here's how we can give Britain a Final Say on Brexit". The Independent.
- ^ "Inside the People's Vote machine". members.tortoisemedia.com. 16 March 2019.
- ^ Helm, Toby (12 May 2018). "One million students join calls for vote on Brexit deal". The Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Leeds University Union - Your Student Exec Support the People's Vote March for the Future". www.luu.org.uk. 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Leeds University Union - Your Student Exec support a People's Vote". www.luu.org.uk. 11 December 2018.
- ^ FFS (16 May 2018). "Open Letter to Parliament — Students want a people's vote on Brexit". vip.politicsmeanspolitics.com. Politics Means Politics. Retrieved 13 September 2018.