Pro-Europe campaigners' day of action in Brighton and Hove

The group gave out leaflets about the negative impact of Brexit on the NHS, which claimed there had been 96 per cent fewer EU nurse applicants since the referendum vote, and that the consequences of the ‘Brexit squeeze’ had seen real wages drop and inflation rise.

Kim Gordon, 61, organiser at Brighton and Hove for Europe, said: “We fundamentally disagree with the direction government is taking on Brexit.

“Following the general election, Theresa May lost whatever mandate she thought she had for a hard Brexit and we maintain that leaving the EU is a mistake.

“Now, more than ever, is the time for pro-Europeans to join the grassroots European Movement and make our voice louder!

“Together we can keep the pressure up on Parliament to challenge Brexit and require government to account for its decisions as they are made.”

Mr Gordon said the group was making its voice heard because they believe 'a future at the heart of Europe is in the UK’s best interests', and he said they think this belief is very widely shared.

The group talked to members of the public about the importance of the UK keeping its EU membership, the groundswell of pro-European support that they say has emerged both in the run-up to the general election and afterwards and the fact that 'democracy is a process, not an event'.

Another member of the Brighton and Hove for Europe group said: “Brighton and Hove for Europe is a broad church and we have several EU citizens who have been devastated since the result.

“We have supported them in their attempts to get clarity from the Government over their rights to remain.”

She said after the election result the group has been encouraged, especially in Brighton and Hove - which voted 70 per cent Remain and has three pro-EU MPs - and they believe once there is a critical mass of people realising they can change their minds, it will be possible to influence the prevailing narrative.

The event formed part of a nationwide Action Day to give pro-Europeans a voice coordinated by the European Movement UK, with events also taking place in St Albans, York, Cumbria and London.

James MacCleary, 35, campaigns director for the European Movement UK, said: “We are seeing a major shift in the language being used to discuss Brexit. People are starting to talk about not leaving at all.

“The government and Prime Minister have lost any authority to claim a mandate to argue for their vision of an extreme, damaging Brexit; and the unchallenged view that leaving is the only option has been exposed as completely false.

“Our supporters and members are the backbone of our Movement and it is thanks to their positive involvement in this Action Day, that we have been able to demonstrate a popular, ground-based expression of, not just opposition to Brexit, but active support for staying in the EU – and to show that the European Movement UK is alive and kicking!”

Hilary Arrowsmith is a trainee reporter and communications manager at the European Movement UK.