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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/aug/31/brexit-stopthecoup-protests-uk-proroguing
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| Brexit: thousands turn out for #stopthecoup protests across UK - live | Brexit: thousands turn out for #stopthecoup protests across UK - live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds have gathered in George Square, central Glasgow, on a sunny but blustery afternoon, waving saltires, EU flags and handmade signs, to hear speeches from the SNP’s Keith Brown, Scottish Labour’s Paul Sweeney and Patrick Harvey from the Scottish Greens. | |
| SNP MP for Glasgow Central Alison Thewliss told the Guardian that her inbox had been full of messages protesting the prime minister’s decision earlier this week to suspend parliament. | |
| “I’ve heard from people I’ve never heard from before, and when I was chapping doors in the constituency this morning the message was the same. It’s an egregious democratic outrage. You can’t shut down parliament because you think it’s not going to agree with you.” | |
| She said that MPs were galvanised to fight prorogation this coming week, with more cross party collaboration since Johnson’s move. “A lot of people didn’t believe it could happen until it actually did.”The show this afternoon has been completely stolen by a little boy walking around with a hand written ‘Boris is a jobbie’ sign, which he has now turned into a chant. | |
| Speaking in Glasgow’s George Square, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “I’m proud to be here with all of you supporting that, to say to Boris Johnson no way, it’s our Parliament. | |
| “No way do you take us out without a deal - we will stop you and give the people their rights and their say to determine their future.” | |
| He said he is backing the protests all over the country, adding: “Demonstrations are taking place everywhere because people are angered and outraged about what is happening. | |
| “Angered that the government and a prime minister elected by 93,000 members of the Tory party is trying to hijack the needs, aims and aspirations of 65 million people. | |
| “Well think on Boris, it’s not on and we’re not having it.” | |
| Crowds have now moved on to Trafalgar Square where some demonstrators have been sat in the road blocking traffic for up to an hour. | |
| Scotland Yards says no arrests have been made. | |
| From the demo in Whitehall | |
| Huge crowds, great signs, controlled anger #StoptheCoup #DefendOurDemocracy #Whitehall “this is just the beginning of something huge” pic.twitter.com/NE4ibSVlGF | |
| Chris McHugh, 33, who works for Labour MP Liz Twist and was demonstrating in Newcastle, said the protest is about “protecting democracy”. | |
| He added: “The fact that thousands have taken to the streets of Newcastle today is so telling.” | |
| From my colleague Dan Sabbagh in Whitehall | |
| 'Boris is a bum face' - youngsters protest, Whitehall pic.twitter.com/NquEbylQEz | |
| Anti-Brexit campaign group Another Europe Is Possible has called for daily demonstrations. | Anti-Brexit campaign group Another Europe Is Possible has called for daily demonstrations. |
| Alena Ivanova, from the group, said: “Today’s protests are the beginning of something huge - they have been inspiring, full of youth and diversity and energy.” | Alena Ivanova, from the group, said: “Today’s protests are the beginning of something huge - they have been inspiring, full of youth and diversity and energy.” |
| She added the daily protests must “grow into the millions” in “the centre of every town in the country”. | She added the daily protests must “grow into the millions” in “the centre of every town in the country”. |
| From my colleague Simon Murphy at the demo in London | From my colleague Simon Murphy at the demo in London |
| Guardian columnist Owen Jones made a passionate speech, asking crowd: “Are we going to stop our unelected prime minister thrashing our democracy like the Bullingdon club would trash restaurants?” pic.twitter.com/tqGlJDccYS | Guardian columnist Owen Jones made a passionate speech, asking crowd: “Are we going to stop our unelected prime minister thrashing our democracy like the Bullingdon club would trash restaurants?” pic.twitter.com/tqGlJDccYS |
| Several hundred protesters braved the wet weather to gather in Birmingham’s Victoria Square to hear speeches opposing the proroguing of Parliament. | Several hundred protesters braved the wet weather to gather in Birmingham’s Victoria Square to hear speeches opposing the proroguing of Parliament. |
| Labour’s West Midlands MEP Neena Gill told the crowd: “When I heard what was going on this week, I was actually gobsmacked. | Labour’s West Midlands MEP Neena Gill told the crowd: “When I heard what was going on this week, I was actually gobsmacked. |
| “Boris may think he can shut down Parliament, but he cannot shut down the people.” | “Boris may think he can shut down Parliament, but he cannot shut down the people.” |
| Hitting out at “right-wing Brexiteers” who she claimed aim to roll back hard-won rights and change the face of Britain, Gill added: “No-deal Brexit will be a complete catastrophe for this country and this region.” | Hitting out at “right-wing Brexiteers” who she claimed aim to roll back hard-won rights and change the face of Britain, Gill added: “No-deal Brexit will be a complete catastrophe for this country and this region.” |
| Anti-Brexit demonstrators then marched along nearby New Street, Temple Street and Waterloo Street - with a handful of by-standers shouting pro-Brexit slogans, including a group of men chanting “Boris Johnson’s barmy army”. | Anti-Brexit demonstrators then marched along nearby New Street, Temple Street and Waterloo Street - with a handful of by-standers shouting pro-Brexit slogans, including a group of men chanting “Boris Johnson’s barmy army”. |
| From the demo in Brighton | From the demo in Brighton |
| #defendourdemocracy #stopthecoup The Level, Brighton pic.twitter.com/GlgQXaWKmc | #defendourdemocracy #stopthecoup The Level, Brighton pic.twitter.com/GlgQXaWKmc |
| Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell labelled Boris Johnson a “dictator” in a stinging attack as he addressed crowds outside Downing Street. | Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell labelled Boris Johnson a “dictator” in a stinging attack as he addressed crowds outside Downing Street. |
| Referencing Jeremy Corbyn’s absence from the rally — which earlier prompted cries of “where’s Jeremy?” from protesters — McDonnell said the brought a “message of solidarity” from the Labour leader. | Referencing Jeremy Corbyn’s absence from the rally — which earlier prompted cries of “where’s Jeremy?” from protesters — McDonnell said the brought a “message of solidarity” from the Labour leader. |
| He went on to attack the prime minister’s move to suspend Parliament, saying it had had “rightfully” been called “a very British coup”, adding: “We have defeated dictators in the past in our history and we will defeat this dictator under Johnson.” | He went on to attack the prime minister’s move to suspend Parliament, saying it had had “rightfully” been called “a very British coup”, adding: “We have defeated dictators in the past in our history and we will defeat this dictator under Johnson.” |
| Earlier, he said: “This is a fight to protect our democracy. We know what Johnson is up to, it’s not very subtle, is it? He wants to close down our democracy to force through a no-deal Brexit.” | Earlier, he said: “This is a fight to protect our democracy. We know what Johnson is up to, it’s not very subtle, is it? He wants to close down our democracy to force through a no-deal Brexit.” |
| He added: “He also wants to try and convene a general election based upon this idea of his, he can frame it as people versus Parliament. Let’s make it absolutely clear... Boris Johnson, this is not about Parliament versus the people, this is about you versus the people.” | He added: “He also wants to try and convene a general election based upon this idea of his, he can frame it as people versus Parliament. Let’s make it absolutely clear... Boris Johnson, this is not about Parliament versus the people, this is about you versus the people.” |
| Meanwhile, Shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler, wearing a “defend democracy” sticker, geed up the crowd, chanting: “Wanna know what democracy looks like? This is what democracy looks like.” | Meanwhile, Shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler, wearing a “defend democracy” sticker, geed up the crowd, chanting: “Wanna know what democracy looks like? This is what democracy looks like.” |
| After speaking at a demonstration in her Brighton constituency, former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas thanked those who came out to protest. | After speaking at a demonstration in her Brighton constituency, former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas thanked those who came out to protest. |
| “This is what democracy looks like,” she tweeted. “This is about more than Brexit. | “This is what democracy looks like,” she tweeted. “This is about more than Brexit. |
| “A democracy worthy of name isn’t one where power is hoarded at the top. | “A democracy worthy of name isn’t one where power is hoarded at the top. |
| “We need a CitizensConvention to put people at heart of our politics, not feral elites.” | “We need a CitizensConvention to put people at heart of our politics, not feral elites.” |
| My colleague Dan Sabbagh is at the protest in central London | My colleague Dan Sabbagh is at the protest in central London |
| From the Whitehall demo pic.twitter.com/8YZaInXo7J | From the Whitehall demo pic.twitter.com/8YZaInXo7J |
| Around 2000 protesters marched through Bristol city centre, bringing traffic to a standstill. | Around 2000 protesters marched through Bristol city centre, bringing traffic to a standstill. |
| People gathered at College Green and looped around the city, through the middle of the Broadmead shopping area and back to meet at Bristol Cenotaph. | People gathered at College Green and looped around the city, through the middle of the Broadmead shopping area and back to meet at Bristol Cenotaph. |
| They shouted “What do we want? Democracy! When do we want it? Now!”, “Boris Johnson, shame on you” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Boris Johnson’s got to go”. | They shouted “What do we want? Democracy! When do we want it? Now!”, “Boris Johnson, shame on you” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Boris Johnson’s got to go”. |
| Footage of the demos across the UK | Footage of the demos across the UK |
| Fantastic turnout for the protest against Cummings' and Johnson's prorogation.Not in our name. #SaturdayMorning#DefendOurDemocracy #DefendDemocracy#StopTheCoup #BlockTheCoup #StopTheBrexitCoup pic.twitter.com/ODggLn3xWU | Fantastic turnout for the protest against Cummings' and Johnson's prorogation.Not in our name. #SaturdayMorning#DefendOurDemocracy #DefendDemocracy#StopTheCoup #BlockTheCoup #StopTheBrexitCoup pic.twitter.com/ODggLn3xWU |
| Thousands of people have gathered in George Square in the centre of Glasgow at a People’s Assembly Defend Democracy rally against the prorogation of Parliament and calling for a general election. | Thousands of people have gathered in George Square in the centre of Glasgow at a People’s Assembly Defend Democracy rally against the prorogation of Parliament and calling for a general election. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to be among the speakers, ending his three-day visit to Scotland. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to be among the speakers, ending his three-day visit to Scotland. |
| From my colleague Simon Murphy at the protest in London.. | From my colleague Simon Murphy at the protest in London.. |
| A young Italian couple who live in Britain also took to the stage with their two young children to convey their disgust at the suspension of Parliament. pic.twitter.com/z53kLzZs0f | A young Italian couple who live in Britain also took to the stage with their two young children to convey their disgust at the suspension of Parliament. pic.twitter.com/z53kLzZs0f |