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People's Vote march: 'Hundreds of thousands' attending London protest | People's Vote march: 'Hundreds of thousands' attending London protest |
(35 minutes later) | |
Protesters calling for a referendum on the final Brexit deal are marching in London for what organisers say will be the "biggest, loudest and most important" demonstration of its kind. | Protesters calling for a referendum on the final Brexit deal are marching in London for what organisers say will be the "biggest, loudest and most important" demonstration of its kind. |
They are heading to Parliament Square, where a rally will be held later. | They are heading to Parliament Square, where a rally will be held later. |
Young voters are leading the march, which organisers the People's Vote campaign say is being attended by more than 500,000 demonstrators. | Young voters are leading the march, which organisers the People's Vote campaign say is being attended by more than 500,000 demonstrators. |
Prime Minister Theresa May has already ruled out such a referendum. | Prime Minister Theresa May has already ruled out such a referendum. |
MPs from all the main political parties are supporting the demonstration. The People's Vote said stewards on the route estimated 570,000 were taking part. | MPs from all the main political parties are supporting the demonstration. The People's Vote said stewards on the route estimated 570,000 were taking part. |
Scotland Yard said it was not able to estimate the size of the crowd. | Scotland Yard said it was not able to estimate the size of the crowd. |
Meanwhile, former UKIP leader Nigel Farage is leading a pro-Brexit rally at Harrogate Convention Centre, the latest in a series of events organised by the Leave Means Leave group. | |
Before it started, he said: "The general mood across the country is 'just get on with it'. That is what the majority of people are saying." | |
The British public voted to leave the EU by a margin of 51.89% to 48.11% in a referendum in June 2016. | The British public voted to leave the EU by a margin of 51.89% to 48.11% in a referendum in June 2016. |
The UK is scheduled to leave on 29 March 2019, under the terms of the two-year Article 50 process. | The UK is scheduled to leave on 29 March 2019, under the terms of the two-year Article 50 process. |
Labour's Lord Adonis, a campaigner for People's Vote - which wants a referendum on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations - said: "Brexit's becoming a dog's dinner. | Labour's Lord Adonis, a campaigner for People's Vote - which wants a referendum on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations - said: "Brexit's becoming a dog's dinner. |
"This week's fresh chaos and confusion over Brexit negotiations has exposed how even the best deal now available will be a bad one for Britain." | "This week's fresh chaos and confusion over Brexit negotiations has exposed how even the best deal now available will be a bad one for Britain." |
Richard Tice, founder of Leave Means Leave and former co-chair of Leave.EU, told BBC Breakfast: "The idea that you should have a second referendum would be incredibly damaging - most of all to the trust in democracy from people up and down this country." | Richard Tice, founder of Leave Means Leave and former co-chair of Leave.EU, told BBC Breakfast: "The idea that you should have a second referendum would be incredibly damaging - most of all to the trust in democracy from people up and down this country." |
'Final say' | 'Final say' |
Some 150 coachloads of people from across the UK - including as far away from London as Orkney - travelled to the March for the Future, which started in Park Lane. | Some 150 coachloads of people from across the UK - including as far away from London as Orkney - travelled to the March for the Future, which started in Park Lane. |
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan - who started the march - is among those to speak at Parliament Square, along with representatives from the main political parties. Celebrity speakers will also include Steve Coogan, Delia Smith and Deborah Meaden. | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan - who started the march - is among those to speak at Parliament Square, along with representatives from the main political parties. Celebrity speakers will also include Steve Coogan, Delia Smith and Deborah Meaden. |
Ms Smith said it was "the most important issue in our lifetime", adding: "My message to MPs is please sort this out. Let the people you serve have their say." | Ms Smith said it was "the most important issue in our lifetime", adding: "My message to MPs is please sort this out. Let the people you serve have their say." |
Mr Khan said: "What's clear is that the only options on the table now from the prime minister are a bad Brexit deal, or no deal whatsoever. | Mr Khan said: "What's clear is that the only options on the table now from the prime minister are a bad Brexit deal, or no deal whatsoever. |
"That's a million miles away from what was promised two-and-a-half years ago." | |
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon sent a message of support to the rally, saying the SNP would support a vote that would give the option of staying in the EU. | First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon sent a message of support to the rally, saying the SNP would support a vote that would give the option of staying in the EU. |
'Young stand to lose most' | 'Young stand to lose most' |
#PeoplesVoteMarch was trending on Twitter on Saturday, with lots of young people - some of those who were not eligible to vote in the 2016 referendum - heading on the march. | #PeoplesVoteMarch was trending on Twitter on Saturday, with lots of young people - some of those who were not eligible to vote in the 2016 referendum - heading on the march. |
Emily Longman, 20, one of the students leading the march behind a People's Vote banner, was four months too young to vote in the 2016 referendum. | Emily Longman, 20, one of the students leading the march behind a People's Vote banner, was four months too young to vote in the 2016 referendum. |
She studies Spanish and is due to study abroad next year, but said "no-one knows what will happen with Erasmus funding". | She studies Spanish and is due to study abroad next year, but said "no-one knows what will happen with Erasmus funding". |
Aleta Doyle, 46, from Peterborough, attending with her 12-year-old son Leo, said she was marching "for my children's future and European unity". | Aleta Doyle, 46, from Peterborough, attending with her 12-year-old son Leo, said she was marching "for my children's future and European unity". |
And Leo Buckley, 16, from Hampshire, said: "Young people stand to lose the most. I'm going to be poorer and not have the same career opportunities." | And Leo Buckley, 16, from Hampshire, said: "Young people stand to lose the most. I'm going to be poorer and not have the same career opportunities." |
At the other end of the age spectrum, Joe Trickey from Croydon was celebrating his 83rd birthday at the march. He said: "I believe very strongly in the EU as a place of peace and strength." | |
'Small print' | 'Small print' |
Dr Mike Galsworthy, from NHS Against Brexit, told BBC News: "Whether you voted leave, or whether you voted remain - when a contract comes back, you do have the right to read the small print and say actually 'no, no. no, this isn't what we want to be signing up for'." | |
Campaign supporter Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street director of communications, said: "The Brexit that was promised, and the Brexit that was campaigned successfully for, doesn't exist." | Campaign supporter Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street director of communications, said: "The Brexit that was promised, and the Brexit that was campaigned successfully for, doesn't exist." |
He added: "I don't think you can re-run the referendum. I think we have to accept that we lost that debate. I think the question has to be on the nature of the deal." | He added: "I don't think you can re-run the referendum. I think we have to accept that we lost that debate. I think the question has to be on the nature of the deal." |
Saturday's event follows a march in London in June, on the second anniversary of the Brexit vote. |