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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Brexit protest: thousands march in London to 'unite for Europe' - live | Brexit protest: thousands march in London to 'unite for Europe' - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.39pm GMT | |
| 14:39 | |
| Tens of thousands of anti-Brexit demonstrators fell silent at Parliament Square in tribute to the victims of the Westminster attack. | |
| The first speaker, Alastair Campbell, said: “Before we talk about Brexit, before we call on any of the speakers, we need to recognise that something really bad happened not far from here just the other day.” | |
| Campaigners stood with their heads bowed for a minute-long silence, with the only sound the chiming of Big Ben. | |
| 2.32pm GMT | |
| 14:32 | |
| Dan Roberts | |
| More from campaigning lawyer Jo Maugham, who says his recent legal action is about giving people a democratic voice. | |
| “Starting article 50 is like a journey, a journey we can turn back from,” he tells the Unite For Europe rally. | |
| He argues that much has changed already since the referendum was held: “Last year we voted in a very different world. We had no president who wanted to tear up the trade rules … or Nato. We did not know what Brexit means and we still do not know what Brexit means.” | |
| Maugham adds: “Anyone who says they know what the popular mood is and we should give up is lying to you. What will make Brexit happen is if you give up.” | |
| 2.21pm GMT | |
| 14:21 | |
| Barrister Jo Maugham is now addressing the crowd in Westminster. | |
| Defiance from @JolyonMaugham “Anyone who says they know what the popular mood is is lying. What will make Brexit happen is if you give up.” | |
| 2.14pm GMT | 2.14pm GMT |
| 14:14 | 14:14 |
| Farron: 'We are defiant' | Farron: 'We are defiant' |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron cemented his growing role as the political leader of the Remain movement with a well-received address to the Unite For Europe march in Parliament Square. | Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron cemented his growing role as the political leader of the Remain movement with a well-received address to the Unite For Europe march in Parliament Square. |
| Interestingly he claimed to speak not just for the 48% who voted against Brexit, but also many of those who did. “We are here to show solidarity and respect for those who voted leave. We do not believe they wanted this. [Theresa May] does not speak for 52% she barely speaks for 5%.” | Interestingly he claimed to speak not just for the 48% who voted against Brexit, but also many of those who did. “We are here to show solidarity and respect for those who voted leave. We do not believe they wanted this. [Theresa May] does not speak for 52% she barely speaks for 5%.” |
| He also voiced the mood of many of those in the crowd about their right to be in this place just days after the terrorist attack this week. “We are defiant against those who would seek us to be afraid about last Wednesday,” he said. “We are also defiant because democracy did not end on the 23rd of June,” added Farron. | He also voiced the mood of many of those in the crowd about their right to be in this place just days after the terrorist attack this week. “We are defiant against those who would seek us to be afraid about last Wednesday,” he said. “We are also defiant because democracy did not end on the 23rd of June,” added Farron. |
| Earlier the sound of Big Ben striking 145pm marked the end of a minute’s silence among a sombre but determined crowd. | Earlier the sound of Big Ben striking 145pm marked the end of a minute’s silence among a sombre but determined crowd. |
| “We will never be cowed, we are here to stand for our beliefs,” added Labour MEP Seb Dance. | “We will never be cowed, we are here to stand for our beliefs,” added Labour MEP Seb Dance. |
| 2.10pm GMT | 2.10pm GMT |
| 14:10 | 14:10 |
| Farron to cheers: “We are not giving up this week of all weeks. We here are as testament that we refuse to despair. Britain can be better." | Farron to cheers: “We are not giving up this week of all weeks. We here are as testament that we refuse to despair. Britain can be better." |
| 2.01pm GMT | 2.01pm GMT |
| 14:01 | 14:01 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| Speakers have been taking to the stage in Parliament Square. | Speakers have been taking to the stage in Parliament Square. |
| #uniteforeurope speaker Seb Dance MEP says: "It's not us who need to confront reality. It's the Brexiteers" says no mandate for hard brexit | #uniteforeurope speaker Seb Dance MEP says: "It's not us who need to confront reality. It's the Brexiteers" says no mandate for hard brexit |
| Lib Dem's Tim Farron next at #uniteforeurope march says Theresa May makes Nigel Farage look like a moderate by choosing most extreme Brexit. | Lib Dem's Tim Farron next at #uniteforeurope march says Theresa May makes Nigel Farage look like a moderate by choosing most extreme Brexit. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.03pm GMT | at 2.03pm GMT |
| 1.45pm GMT | 1.45pm GMT |
| 13:45 | 13:45 |
| The front of the #uniteforEurope demo has reached Parliament Square now and many of the marchers are placing yellow flowers at the memorial. pic.twitter.com/bD48yryHTy | The front of the #uniteforEurope demo has reached Parliament Square now and many of the marchers are placing yellow flowers at the memorial. pic.twitter.com/bD48yryHTy |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.45pm GMT | at 1.45pm GMT |
| 1.37pm GMT | 1.37pm GMT |
| 13:37 | 13:37 |
| Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission’s president, has told French voters to remember the key role their country plays, together with the European Union, when they vote in next month’s presidential election in which the anti-EU candidate Marine Le Pen is a strong contender. | Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission’s president, has told French voters to remember the key role their country plays, together with the European Union, when they vote in next month’s presidential election in which the anti-EU candidate Marine Le Pen is a strong contender. |
| Juncker was asked at the EU summit in Rome about Le Pen’s antagonism toward the EU. He said “the role of France, together with the EU, is a central role” and must remain so. | Juncker was asked at the EU summit in Rome about Le Pen’s antagonism toward the EU. He said “the role of France, together with the EU, is a central role” and must remain so. |
| “I’d tell the French, don’t forget to be France, which knows how to speak to the rest of the world.” He added: “I’d tell the French, stay French.” | “I’d tell the French, don’t forget to be France, which knows how to speak to the rest of the world.” He added: “I’d tell the French, stay French.” |
| 1.29pm GMT | 1.29pm GMT |
| 13:29 | 13:29 |
| Former BBC correspondent turned academic James Rodgers tweets: | Former BBC correspondent turned academic James Rodgers tweets: |
| On the corner of Piccadilly and St James'. #UniteForEurope demo has been passing for at least 45 mins and still thousands to come pic.twitter.com/igj2PTKPIl | On the corner of Piccadilly and St James'. #UniteForEurope demo has been passing for at least 45 mins and still thousands to come pic.twitter.com/igj2PTKPIl |
| 1.22pm GMT | 1.22pm GMT |
| 13:22 | 13:22 |
| After dreadful events of Wednesday feels very good to be in Parliament Square as part of a democratic demonstration #UniteForEurope pic.twitter.com/0o8Hnf6uCR | After dreadful events of Wednesday feels very good to be in Parliament Square as part of a democratic demonstration #UniteForEurope pic.twitter.com/0o8Hnf6uCR |
| 1.19pm GMT | 1.19pm GMT |
| 13:19 | 13:19 |
| On its 60th birthday, people from Sweden to Bulgaria speak their mind about whether the project is worth pursuing. | On its 60th birthday, people from Sweden to Bulgaria speak their mind about whether the project is worth pursuing. |
| 1.10pm GMT | 1.10pm GMT |
| 13:10 | 13:10 |
| Pertinent point from the Financial Times’ Jonathan Eley: | Pertinent point from the Financial Times’ Jonathan Eley: |
| UKIP now has zero MPs. And to think Cameron called a referendum on a matter of huge importance to placate this shower. | UKIP now has zero MPs. And to think Cameron called a referendum on a matter of huge importance to placate this shower. |