62 days to make the choice.

I hope you're keeping healthy and are able to stay safe. This is quite a long read, but I wanted to be frank with you about the situation our nation is facing - and what we plan to do about it.

Many of Best for Britain's supporters, I know, are working on the frontlines. Not just in the NHS, but keeping all essential services running. I want to say thank you to all of you for what you are doing.

It's so clear how interconnected the world is. We all rely on each other - now, more than ever - to stop the virus in its tracks. And that goes for the nations of the world as much as it does for individual people.

When I spoke to the team about what Best for Britain can do during this crisis, we knew it couldn't just be 'business as usual'. This is too important. With your support, we will use every resource we have to remind the government of the biggest deadline approaching Britain - the deadline to extend Brexit transition in June. It's just 62 days away. I want the government to focus fully on beating the virus now. Not splitting its attention with complicated trade negotiations at the same time.
 
However, for us to do this I need to ask you for your help by making a donation today.

The deadline on 30th June 2020 is the very last chance we have to avoid adding a second enormous crisis to our lives. We must choose the option to extend the transition period until after we've dealt with Coronavirus. It also gives us the options to keep working with our European neighbours in the meantime, and to join EU bulk-buy schemes to make sure Britain gets the medical equipment we need.

By attempting to complete talks with the EU at the same time as dealing with coronavirus, the government risks doing both jobs badly. Right now they cannot afford to split their focus. At the same time, there is simply not enough time to negotiate a full trade deal between the EU and Britain. Without a full trade deal, and without an extension to the transition period, the country faces a double whammy of a painful no-deal Brexit at the same time as a coronavirus-induced recession.

That would be unfair on everyone who is currently making huge sacrifices - and it doesn't have to happen.
 
That's why I'm having to ask you for financial help right now, if you are in a position to donate.


 
I didn't take the decision to send this message lightly. Everyone is feeling the pain of coronavirus right now, and some much more than others. Just like this disease will impact those less fortunate more drastically, so too will an unnecessary 'No Deal' Brexit at Christmas time. We must, and we can, protect them.

To do this, we need to raise £40,000 in the next two weeks, to make our plans happen. We need to commission more new polling, we've already proved there's a majority in favour of extending. We need to pay researchers to compile a report on the impact of a December Brexit on top of Coronavirus, showing those in power what their inaction could cause. And we need to keep campaigning and meeting MPs, trade bodies, businesses and activists (on Zoom!).

Will you help?

I think this work is vital. I hope you do to. We are already seeing some movement, with big industry organisations backing our campaign, evidence in the news that Ministers are starting to think about the transition period and polling showing a majority of British people already want transition extended.

I understand if you are unable to help. And I hope you don't mind me asking. But without donations and support from our friends, Best for Britain will not be able to achieve the task we've set ourselves.

If you can't help us financially, please help spread the word with a poster in your window. Help us get Britain to work with the world to beat the Coronavirus. And help us get Britain working with the world, and with Europe, for many years to come.  

But, there are just 62 days left until the deadline, so our campaign must start now.
 
Thank you so much for whatever you can give. Every penny counts.

Best wishes,

Cary Mitchell
Head of Campaigns, Best for Britain

PS. Please stay safe, I wish you and your family good health and I thank you on behalf of the whole team for your support. You can donate to keep us going here, and you can download posters for your window here.