Remainers march on UK parliament
HUNDREDS of thousands of Britons marched through London yesterday to demand a new Brexit referendum, saying their views were being ignored as politicians in parliament decided the fate of Britain’s departure from the European Union.
The protesters, some having travelled for hours from around the United Kingdom to get to the capital, waved EU flags under sunny skies and held placards that employed creativity and wit.
The crowd thronged vast stretches of central London, with thousands of people waiting to begin the march at Hyde Park by the time others had reached parliament as MPs held the first Saturday session since the 1982 Falklands war.
“I am incensed that we are not being listened to. Nearly all the polls show that now people want to remain in the EU. We feel that we are voiceless,” said Hannah Barton (56), a cider maker from central England, who was draped in an EU flag.
“This is a national disaster waiting to happen and it is going to destroy the economy.”
After more than three years of tortuous debate, it is still uncertain how, when or even if Brexit will happen as Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries to pass his new Brexit deal and plots a way out of the deepest political crisis in a generation.
While Brexit has divided families, parties, parliament and the country, both sides agreed yesterday could be one of the most important days in recent British history: a juncture that could shape the fate of the UK for generations.
Many protesters carried placards, some comparing Brexit to the election of Donald Trump. Some wore elaborate costumes with one group dressed as fruit and vegetables.
There were also effigies mocking politicians such as Boris Johnson and his key adviser Dominic Cummings.
Many of the signs displayed a dry sense of humour. One said: “I am very cross about this” while another was: “I made this sign instead of screaming.”
As the marchers advanced, some blew whistles and erupted in shouts of “Stop Brexit”. A percussion band played and a gathering sang the EU anthem, Ode to Joy.
James McGrory, director of the People’s Vote campaign, which organised the march, said ahead of the protest that the UK government should heed the anger of pro-Europeans and hold another referendum on EU membership.
“This new deal bears no resemblance to what people were promised and so it is only right that the public deserve another chance to have their say,” he said.
The mood of protesters ranged from anger to despair. Many railed against political leaders championing Brexit for being elite and out of touch.
Some were young people unable to vote during the 2016 referendum and who described the fight for another vote as the defining political event of their lives. “If we leave the EU, this is not the end, we will keep fighting to rejoin until that happens,” said Victoria Paynter (17), whose sign read ‘check us before you wreck us’.
In 2016, 52pc backed Brexit, while 48pc backed remaining in the EU.
Some opinion polls have shown a slight shift in favour of remaining in the EU, but there has yet to be a decisive change in attitudes and many voters say they have become increasingly bored by Brexit.
Since July 2017, there have been 226 polls asking people whether they support Leave or Remain, according to a poll of polls by YouGov published last week. Of those, 204 have put support for remaining in the EU ahead, seven have given a lead to leave and a few have been tied.
Other polls suggest most voters have not changed their mind: 50pc of the public want to respect the referendum result, 42pc want Britain to remain in the EU and 8pc said they don’t know, the largest Brexit poll since 2016 carried out by ComRes found.
Brexit supporters say holding another referendum would deepen divisions and undermine democracy.
The challenge for pro-referendum forces is finding enough support in parliament, and even if another referendum were agreed, it would take months to organise and there would be disputes about the question.
‘Since July 2017 there have been 226 opinion polls on Brexit. Of those, 204 said Remain, seven picked Leave and 15 have been tied’