670,000 JOIN MARCH FOR FINAL SAY ON BREXIT
AT LEAST 670,000 people – many from Wales – turned out for the People’s Vote march, organisers say, making it the biggest anti-Brexit demonstration since the referendum in 2016.
Protesters told of virtual gridlock on the streets of London as they called for a final say on Brexit, joking that it had turned into more of a shuffle than a march.
Geraint Talfan Davies, Chair of Wales for Europe said: “This march was an astonishing statement of public intent. With six times the number that turned out at last June’s march this is an unmistakable sign that opinion is hardening against Brexit.
“And that certainly goes for Wales that sent 11 coaches of people to the march from north and south, with hundreds more arriving by train.
“It is clear the public is seeing through the Government’s underhand plan to try to slide through a blind Brexit, if, indeed it can secure a deal at all.
“A new referendum, with Remain as an option, is the only honourable course left”, he added.
The demonstration set off from Park Lane and finished in Parliament Square where celebrities and politicians including Conservative MP Anna Soubry, Labour’s Chuka Umunna and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable gave speeches.
Ms Soubry said: “It is clear we are the many.”
Addressing the cheering crowds, she said: “We are winning the argument, most importantly against those who voted leave.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also addressed the crowd, while dozens of celebrities posted snaps of themselves on the protest on social media.
In a video message of support, Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, said: “Let me say this loudly and clearly, if the issue comes before the House of Commons, SNP MPs will support a People’s Vote which includes the option to remain in the EU.”
She added: “The Tory government’s handling of these negotiations has been chaotic, incompetent and shambolic.
“Having spent two years telling us that no deal was better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister is now pre- paring to pile pressure on MPs to vote for a bad or blindfold deal on the grounds that ‘no deal’ would be catastrophic.
“She is trying to scare the UK into the frying pan out of fear of the fire. It is a scandal and it should not be accepted.”
There were plenty of Welsh voices calling for a second referendum, with some Welsh Labour figures making it very clear where they stand.
Among those tweeting from the march were MPs Owen Smith, Madeleine Moon, Anna McMorrin and Stephen Doughty.