Summary: Over a million people march for a people's vote
Official figures put the numbers at the central London march today at over one million.
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon told the rally in Parliament Square that “the prime minister and her government have proved completely incapable of delivering on the result of the 2016 vote, which is why it is right that this should now go back to the people.”
Margaret Georgiadou, the “frustrated remainer” behind the petition to revoke article 50 has received a string of death threats over her challenge to the Brexit process.
Deputy Leader of the Labour party Tom Watson told the crowds in Parliament Square: “Theresa May: you don’t speak for us.”
Addressing the crowd Anna Soubry of The Independent Group, Conservatives Justine Greening and Philip Lee, Green Caroline Lucas, the Lib Dem’s Jo Swinson, the SNP’s Ian Blackford and Labour’s David Lammy and Rosena Alin Khan took it in turns to criticise the Brexit process.
Ms Soubry urged her parliamentary colleagues to “put your country first, get into the lobbies and vote for a People’s vote”.
Mr Blackford said: “No parliamentarians should be going through the lobbies to make their constituents poorer.”
The campaign group @ByDonkeys who have been posting the Tweets of prominent politicians in the run-up to the referendum on billboards around the country unfurled a banner with a Tweet from Brexiteer David Davis in which he said: “If a democracy cannot change, it ceases to be a democracy.”
Writer Caitlin Moran shared an image of her placard on Instagram
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Following his speech, deputy Labour leader Mr Watson tweeted: “The Prime Minister claims she speaks for Britain.
“Well, have a look out of the window, Prime Minister. Open your curtains. Switch on your TV. Look at this great crowd today. Here are the people.
“Theresa May: you don’t speak for us. PutItToThePeople.”
The Prime Minister claims she speaks for Britain. Well, have a look out of the window Prime Minister. Open your curtains. Switch on your TV. Look at this great crowd today. Here are the people. Theresa May: you don’t speak for us. #PutItToThePeoplepic.twitter.com/wnKOrtmoO8
David Lammy: "Are you listening Theresa May...are you listening Jeremy Corbyn" before asking the crowd to shout "they lied" again and again after reciting the names Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Nigel Farage and Theresa May. It's stonking speech...
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, urged people to secure a longer extension to the process, to allow time for a new referendum to be held.
“This is now the moment of maximum opportunity – we need to avoid both the catastrophe of no-deal and the damage which would be caused by the prime minister’s bad deal. The EU’s decision to postpone things until at least April 12 has opened a window, and those of us who oppose Brexit must seize the chance it offers.”
Sturgeon said the House of Commons must take back control from Theresa May and “secure a longer extension to the process, to allow time for a new referendum to be held”.
“The prime minister and her government have proved completely incapable of delivering on the result of the 2016 vote, which is why it is right that this should now go back to the people.”
Tom Watson tells Theresa May: 'Let the people take back control'
The deputy Labour leader, Tom Watson, has called for a people’s vote to reunite the country and decide the future together.
He joined other political leaders marching through London before taking to the stage in Parliament Square.
Tom Watson speaks at the rally. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images
“The prime minister claims she speaks for Britain. Well, have a look out of the window prime minister. Open your curtains. Switch on your TV. Look at this great crowd today. Here are the people. Theresa May: you don’t speak for us.”
He said Labour efforts to “put aside party differences” to broker a better deal that could satisfy both leavers and remainers had failed.
“At every turn we have been ignored. At every stage Theresa May has doubled down rather than reaching out. She has made it impossible for anyone who cares about jobs, about solidarity at home and abroad, about friendship across borders and between communities to support this Brexit.”
Watson finished his speech by saying that the only way to solve the crisis was to recognise that “we’re all in it together”.
He said: “The way to break the stalemate is for parliament and the people to come together. The way to reunite our country is to decide on our future together. It’s time to say with one voice: put it to the people. Prime minister, you have lost control. Let the people take back control.”
