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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) | |
3.48pm GMT | |
15:48 | |
Carmen Fishwick | |
Sid Mohandas, 33, teacher and researcher, attended the march with his husband Jayson Gillham, 30. | |
Mohandas was born in India and previously lived in the US and Sweden before Britain. “I’m against Brexit and its divisive values. I want a second referendum, to make my voice heard and support people who are a minority,” he says. | |
“I am representing a minority. I am an immigrant. I feel I’ve experienced racism and homophobia and I feel the values that are behind Brexit are representative of those. | |
“I’m worried about society, that people’s voices will get crowded out, and diversity. White nationalism is disturbing. Me and my husband got married last year. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Things that we thought wouldn’t happen have.” | |
3.36pm GMT | |
15:36 | |
Edinburgh protest | |
Good turnout at #MarchForEurope in #Edinburgh 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/iK5QUofiMD | |
More than 1,000 protesters have taken to the streets of Edinburgh in a simultaneous anti-Brexit protest organised by the city’s Young European Movement. | |
Marchers gathered in the city centre and headed to the Scottish parliament, waving EU and Scottish flags and carrying placards reading “We want EU to stay” and “In business lying is a crime, why not in politics?” | |
Among those giving speeches were Green MSP Ross Greer, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP from the Liberal Democrats, SNP MPs Tommy Sheppard and Joanna Cherry. | |
Young European Movement Edinburgh chairman Jean Francois-Poncet said: “We want to raise the issue in British and Scottish people’s lives that you have lies in the referendum campaign that people were not held accountable for and, whether you voted Remain or Leave, that is a real issue.” | |
3.20pm GMT | 3.20pm GMT |
15:20 | 15:20 |
Carmen Fishwick | Carmen Fishwick |
Fiamette Porri, 50, is from Italy, and met her husband Donald Thompson, 55, at a London nightclub 19 years ago this month. | Fiamette Porri, 50, is from Italy, and met her husband Donald Thompson, 55, at a London nightclub 19 years ago this month. |
“Soon I will have to get my daughter [Chiara, 12] an Italian pasport. I don’t know what to do [about UK citizenship]. I need to decide, but I’ve heard it’s a long waiting list and they can send your application back for small things. It’s 85 pages to fill,” Porri says. | “Soon I will have to get my daughter [Chiara, 12] an Italian pasport. I don’t know what to do [about UK citizenship]. I need to decide, but I’ve heard it’s a long waiting list and they can send your application back for small things. It’s 85 pages to fill,” Porri says. |
“I know lots of people in this situation. They’re breaking families. The atmosphere is suddenly that maybe you think I wasn’t that welcome here in the first place. I came here 20 years ago because there were opportunities, but at the same time I contributed to being here: working, never took benefits, I pay taxes. And of course I was young then, but now, where do I go?” | “I know lots of people in this situation. They’re breaking families. The atmosphere is suddenly that maybe you think I wasn’t that welcome here in the first place. I came here 20 years ago because there were opportunities, but at the same time I contributed to being here: working, never took benefits, I pay taxes. And of course I was young then, but now, where do I go?” |
3.13pm GMT | 3.13pm GMT |
15:13 | 15:13 |
Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
Alastair Campbell tells the Remain movement not to give up: “When you see a car heading toward a cliff, you don’t keep driving. | Alastair Campbell tells the Remain movement not to give up: “When you see a car heading toward a cliff, you don’t keep driving. |
“The media in this country is a right-wing cartel of tax-dodgers that pretends to speak for their readers when they speak for themselves and their own vested interest,” he adds. | “The media in this country is a right-wing cartel of tax-dodgers that pretends to speak for their readers when they speak for themselves and their own vested interest,” he adds. |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.13pm GMT | at 3.13pm GMT |
3.08pm GMT | 3.08pm GMT |
15:08 | 15:08 |
More from Alastair Campbell: | More from Alastair Campbell: |
"I know I am in a minority in thinking Brexit can be stopped, but I'm not in a minority in thinking that it should be," says @campbellclaret | "I know I am in a minority in thinking Brexit can be stopped, but I'm not in a minority in thinking that it should be," says @campbellclaret |
2.39pm GMT | 2.39pm GMT |
14:39 | 14:39 |
Tens of thousands of anti-Brexit demonstrators fell silent at Parliament Square in tribute to the victims of the Westminster attack. | 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.” | 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. | Campaigners stood with their heads bowed for a minute-long silence, with the only sound the chiming of Big Ben. |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.21pm GMT | at 3.21pm GMT |
2.32pm GMT | 2.32pm GMT |
14:32 | 14:32 |
Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
More from campaigning lawyer Jo Maugham, who says his recent legal action is about giving people a democratic voice. | 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. | “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.” | 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.” | 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 | 2.21pm GMT |
14:21 | 14:21 |
Barrister Jo Maugham is now addressing the crowd in Westminster. | 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.” | 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. |