EU group plan rally

Support for vote on deal

A rally in support for a ‘People’s Vote’ on the final Brexit deal is to be held in Stirling this Saturday, September 22.

The assembly, organised by Stirling4Europe, will take place at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum from 3pm to 5pm.

Speakers will include Green Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell, former Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz, representing the European Movement in Scotland, SNP MEP Alyn Smith and Labour MEP Catherine Stihler.

The rally has been organised by Stirling4Europe which was set up last month and has been campaigning in the city centre at weekends.

Bridge of Allan man Alastair Duncan of Stirling4Europe, which has around 60 signed-up supporters, said: “This is not a rejection of the 2016 referendum. There was a majority vote to leave the European Union.

“However, people didn’t know exactly what they were voting for. Once we know what the final deal is – or no deal – people will have a much better idea of what they are voting for. We also want the vote to include the option of remaining in the EU.

“People are now more aware of the benefits of being in the EU, like free access for trade, peace in Ireland with no border and free access for Europeans to work in the NHS.”

A change.org petition to give people a final say on the Brexit deal currently has more than 800,000 signatures.

Across the UK 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent voted in favour of leaving the EU in the June 2016 referendum.

But in the Stirling constituency, 67 per cent of those who voted wished to remain in the EU.

However, a pro-Brexit group, Scots for Leave, was also launched in Stirling in the weeks after the formation of Stirling4Europe.

Their spokesman Tom Burns said: “The establishment is trying to reverse the decision of the people in the referendum, made only two years ago, and this must be resisted.

“Apart from that, the time for a second referendum is long gone. On a practical level getting the legislation through Parliament in time [before March] is no longer possible.”