RESPLENDENT in blue and yellow, Steve Bray is a well known for being an anti-Brexit protester. Going by the name of Mr Stop Brexit, here we take a look at how he got into political activism and where he is now.
Who is Mr Stop Brexit?
Hailing from Port Talbot in Wales, Steve Bray is a political activist who’s won a reputation for his daily protests against Brexit.
Born in 1969, he is known by many as Mr Stop Brexit.
He carries multiple signs and wears yellow starred EU trousers, a hybrid Union Jack/EU flag and a “Stop Brexit” top hat.
As well as protesting in Westminster, he also goes on the conference circuit to put forward his message.
Bray has said he remains apolitical on party politics while he campaigns on this single issue.
He’s been standing in front of Parliament since September 2017.
What is Mr Stop Brexit known for?
Bray has become notorious for photo-bombing live politics interviews, by quietly walking into the background of a shot as a broadcaster speaks to a politician.
He’s savvy too – when the camera moves, so does he, remaining in the frame all the time.
Bray famously managed to derail Tory Brexiteer Mark Francois on October 16, 2019 when the MP was trying to do an interview but got repeated drowned out by the shouting by Bray.
It caused Francois to state: “If we leave, it will be delightful that this idiot will shut up.”
Bray accused the BBC of erecting a five-metre platform outside Parliament to stop him in his tracks.
But the political activist got round that by using a huge pole to wave an EU flag in the background, then broadcast on the Westminster College Green.
He tweeted: “How much have these TV towers cost the BBC? (An anonymous source suggests £10,000).
“And to what ends? If the panorama at Westminster includes anti-Brexit protestors, why wouldn’t they include us? “At what point is this censorship?”
However, BBC political journalist Joey D’Urso responded by saying the Beeb “regularly” uses a podium like this for big political moments.
Bray was also known for drowning out Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg as he was interviewed outside Parliament.
I thought about what would be the best trolling tune if he announced the election. And of course, it had to be Things Can Only Get Better. Because everybody can relate to that and the 1997 election.
Steve Bray on crashing Rishi Sunak’s election speech
ITV has called him a “notable figure” for the length of his protest and for the technique he uses to disrupt interviews.
While Labour MP Ben Bradshaw branded him an international celebrity.
What happened to Steve Bray aka Mr Stop Brexit?
On May 22, 2024, Bray emerged back into the spotlight when he played Things Can Only Get Better during Rishi Sunak’s election speech.
He said he chose the New Labour tune because to “troll the Conservatives”.
The D:Ream song is widely known for its association with Labour beating the Tories in the 1997 General Election.
Speaking from near Westminster Abbey, Bray told PA news: “I thought about what would be the best trolling tune if he announced the election.
“And of course, it had to be Things Can Only Get Better. Because everybody can relate to that and the 1997 election.
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“I didn’t do it for Labour. I did it because it was the top trolling song for the Conservatives.”
Bray went onto reveal he has now been banned from protesting outside Parliament and Whitehall.
He added: “Of course, the police are trying to shut us down all the time.
“Both of the amps got soaked and they blew anyway.
“It was just so wet today. Water got into them and they were just gone.
“I’ll just buy some more.”
What is Steve Bray aka Mr Stop Brexit’s job?
Bray quit his regular job to become a full time political activist.
However, he actually started his working life out in the British army.
After this Bray was a self-employed coin-dealer, but he quit this job to protest outside the House of Commons.
When is the general election 2024?
The key points you need to know about the next UK General Election are:
The main date for your diaries is July 4, 2024, when millions of voters will go to the polls for the General Election.
But the process of formally triggering the election will take place on May 24, 2024 when Parliament is prorogued, signalling the end of the parliamentary year.
May 30, 2024 will see Parliament officially dissolved which means all current MPs cease to hold office and vacate their seats.
A crucial moment will be the release of the parties’ election manifestos where they set out their list of pledges for government.
After over a month of campaigning we then go to the polls.
Once votes have been counted, the King asks the leader of the party with the most MPs to become prime minister and to form a government.
