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Pro-Brexiters block roads in Westminster chanting 'Bye bye EU' Pro-Brexiters block roads in Westminster chanting 'bye bye EU'
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of protesters calling for Brexit are rallying outside parliament after MPs inside voted down Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement on the day the UK was supposed to be leaving the EU. Leave Means Leave supporters lined past parliament as a March To Leave procession that started in Sunderland two weeks ago arrived in Westminster. Thousands of protesters calling for Brexit are rallying outside parliament after MPs inside voted down Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement on the day the UK was supposed to be leaving the EU. Leave Means Leave supporters walked past parliament as Nigel Farage’s March to Leave procession that started in Sunderland two weeks ago arrived in Westminster.
Traffic came to a standstill around Parliament Square as Brexit backers blocked the road while chanting “we shall not be moved”, “Brexit now” and “Bye bye EU”. Traffic came to a standstill around Parliament Square as Brexit supporters blocked the road while chanting “we shall not be moved”, “Brexit now” and “bye bye EU”.
Some moved on to chants of “Oh, Tommy Robinson”, in support of the English Defence League founder who is now advising Ukip and addressed the crowds on Friday afternoon.. Some moved on to chants of “oh, Tommy Robinson”, in support of the far-right EDL founder who is now advising Ukip.
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was playing his hour-long film attacking the BBC from a large stage on Parliament Street on Friday afternoon as demonstrators gathered outside the Palace of Westminster. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was playing his hour-long film attacking the BBC from a large stage on Parliament Street on Friday afternoon as he addressed protesters gathered outside the Palace of Westminster.
Hundreds of people stood in front of the stage, which is officially organised by Ukip, with many more pouring across as Robinson began speaking. Thousands more sat on the grass of Parliament Square enjoying the sunshine, as Nigel Farage’s March to Leave arrived. Later he addressed cheering fans: “So Theresa May has lost her vote. Many people will be asking what does that even mean. It means we were betrayed. Today is supposed to be our Independence Day.”
The protestors ranged from far right activists through to Trump-voting Americans and French supporters of a “Frexit”. As he went on, his voice appeared to be struggling and he sounded strained and croaky. One man who was stood watching could be heard joking: “Have a drink mate.”
Members of both crowds walked over and back between the March to Leave and Ukip events, which was also due to be addressed by the party leader Gerard Batten. Farage told the crowds in Parliament Square: “Frankly, I believe that what’s happened over there [in parliament], has not just turned this day that should’ve been one of great celebration into a day that history will mark as a day of great betrayal, I believe that what’s happened over the course of two years is actually one of the saddest and worst chapters in the history of our nation.”
“Brexit is a huge inspiration to us and we want France to follow,” said Rabia Ouchikhe, a French citizen from the island of Reunion who was gathered with others from France’s Eurosceptic UPR movement. She said that some 800 people had travelled from France. He said if there was a second referendum “we will beat them by a bigger majority”. He added: “We will get our country back. We will get our pride and our self respect back.”
The crowd included Chris Danbury from Bexley, south London, who was enjoying a can of beer while watching Robinson’s documentary. Thos attending ranged from far-right activists through to Trump-voting Americans and French supporters of a “Frexit”.
“I wasn’t part of the English Defence League (EDL) when Tommy was involved in that but I really respect what he has done,” said Danbury. “Brexit is a huge inspiration to us and we want France to follow,” said Rabia Ouchikhe, a French citizen from Réunion Island, who was gathered with others from France’s Eurosceptic UPR movement. She said that 800 people had travelled from France.
Asked what he and others would do if Brexit happened on softer terms or even on those of May’s deal, he shrugged and said: “We’ll just have to take them out at the general election.” Chris Danbury from Bexley in south London, who was attending the rally, said: “I wasn’t part of the English Defence League when Tommy was involved in that but I really respect what he has done.”
Many carried home-made placards and wore outfits ranging from yellow vests to military fatigues and polo shirts of the various fan groups that have come together under the banner of the Democratic Football Lads Alliance. Asked what he and others would do if Brexit happened on softer terms or even on those of May’s deal, he said: “We’ll just have to take them out at the general election.”
Barbara Parish, a former nurse from Nottingham, was wearing a crown and the sash of the suffragettes and held a placard tracing UK democracy from the Magna Carta to universal suffrage and beyond. “Don’t let the EU and parliament destroy it,” was her message. Many carried home-made placards and wore outfits ranging from yellow vests to military fatigues and polo shirts of the various groups that have come together under the banner of the Democratic Football Lads Alliance.
Barbara Parish from Nottingham was wearing a crown and the sash of the suffragettes and held a placard tracing UK democracy from the Magna Carta to universal suffrage and beyond. “Don’t let the EU and parliament destroy it,” was her message.
Shortly before 4.30pm the crowd cheered as a number of loyalist marching bands made their way into the square, their drums emblazoned with the slogan “true blue defenders”.Shortly before 4.30pm the crowd cheered as a number of loyalist marching bands made their way into the square, their drums emblazoned with the slogan “true blue defenders”.
Louise Peart, a former policewoman and NHS worker from Surrey, had floated across from the other rally and described the parliamentary impasse as a “shambles”. Louise Peart from Surrey described the parliamentary impasse as a shambles. “We’re tired of getting tarnished as far-right or racist or the other. We’re just working, middle-class people who want democracy to be carried through,” she said.
“We’re tired of getting tarnished as far right or racist or the other. We’re just working, middle-class people who want democracy to be carried through,” she added. A group of four men milling around on Parliament Street said they had attended the protests because they believed in freedom. Although initially confrontational at being approached by a reporter, they were happy to talk about politics.
A group of four men milling around on Parliament Street said they had attended the protests outside Parliament on Friday because they “believe in freedom”. Although initially confrontational at being approached by a reporter, they were happy to talk about politics.
“David Cameron said it was a vote once in a lifetime,” said one. “Was he talking about a hamster’s lifetime or a human lifetime?”“David Cameron said it was a vote once in a lifetime,” said one. “Was he talking about a hamster’s lifetime or a human lifetime?”
Three of the men, Greek by descent, said the EU’s treatment of the leftwing government in Greece was a major reason for their opposition to the UK’s continuing membership. Three of the men, who said they had Greek ancestry, said the EU’s treatment of the leftwing government in Greece was a major reason for their opposition to the UK’s continuing membership.
“We are here for freedom, democracy and peace,” said another. “We’re not fascists, we’re not racists, we’re not even English – our parents are immigrants from abroad. But we love this country more than some English people do.”“We are here for freedom, democracy and peace,” said another. “We’re not fascists, we’re not racists, we’re not even English – our parents are immigrants from abroad. But we love this country more than some English people do.”
All said they had supported Labour, until the party’s recent antisemitism crisis. A fourth man in the group, who identified himself as a former Tory turned UKIP member, added: “All leavers want more immigration from the common market – it’s the EU that’s racist by only including Europeans.” The men said they had supported Labour until the party’s recent antisemitism crisis. A fourth man in the group, who identified himself as a former Tory turned Ukip member, added: “All leavers want more immigration from the common market – it’s the EU that’s racist by only including Europeans.”
Irene Foster, 71, was in Parliament Square, carrying a banner saying: “No to EU.” She, her husband and her friend had all travelled from east Devon to join the demonstration. Irene Foster was in Parliament Square, carrying a banner saying “no to EU”. She, her husband and her friend had all travelled from east Devon to join the demonstration. “I’m old enough to remember what happened when we joined the EU,” Foster said. “Factories were bribed to take the stuff over to EU countries. Our workers were sent over there to show them to use the stuff and when they came back they had no jobs.”
“I’m old enough to remember what happened when we joined the EU,” Foster said. “Factories were bribed to take the stuff over to EU countries. Out workers were sent over there to show them to use the stuff and when they came back they had no jobs.” Her husband, Paul, said he hoped the UK would leave the EU soon. “This is what we were promised, that leave means leave, and they are all going back on their word now,” he said.
Her husband, Paul, 70, said he hoped the UK would leave the EU soon. “This is what we were promised, that leave means leave, and they are all going back on their word now,” he said. Police horses had to be brought in to defend a hundred or so counter-protesters from Stand up to Racism gathered at the Embankment end of Richmond Terrace, when several dozen pro-Brexit demonstators, some wearing masks, approached them, shouting “Jew-hating scum” and “leftwing scum”.
Irene said: “The majority of people voted to leave.” Her husband added that if Brexit did not happen, “there’s going to be some very angry people up and down the country”. Police horses brought in to protect @AntiRacismDay #BrexitDay counter protesters pic.twitter.com/tuIv6dE4Yj
Police horses has to be brought in to defend a hundred or so counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism gathered at the Embankment end of Richmond Terrace, when several dozen pro-Brexit demonstators, some wearing masks approached them, shouting “Jew-hating scum” and “leftwing scum”. At one point a man tried to knock the camera out of a Guardian reporter’s hand as he tried to film the confrontation. Police ushered the counter-protesters down Richmond Terrace in an attempt to halt the confrontation. They then gathered on Whitehall by the Women of World War II memorial for a small rally.
At one point a man tried to knock the camera out of a Guardian reporter’s hand as he tried to film the confrontation. Police ushered the counterprotesters down Richmond Terrace in an attempt to halt the confrontation. They then gathered on Whitehall by the Women of World War 2 memorial for a small rally. Before that, counter-protesters had stayed quiet as hundreds of pro-Brexit demonstrators filed past.
Before that counterprotesters had stayed quiet as hundreds of pro-Brexit demonstrators filed past. At one point Vinnie O’Sullivan, an online rightwing figure who publishes on Facebook, stopped to shout abuse at Steve Hedley of the RMT union, and a group of policemen moved to intervene.
At one point Vinnie O’Sullivan, an online right-wing figure who publishes on Facebook, stopped to shout abuse at Steve Hedley, of the RMT union, and a group of policemen moved to intervene. Addressing the counter demo, with the rear of the large Ukip/Tommy Robinson stage in the background, Hedley said those who were behind the Brexit day rally were of the far right.
Asked why he had joined the counter-demo, one protester, who gave his name as Daniel, from Coventry, said: “Because we think either way you voted - I voted to leave - obviously Tommy Robinson and Ukip are racist and they are just trying to build off a feeling of disenfranchisement that people have. So wherever racists turn up I will be there to oppose them.” “Wherever the far-right have come to power it’s not just been against minorities, it’s been against the organised working class. And the organs of the organised working class are the trade union movement. And that’s why every time they come to power they attack us, ban us, imprison us and assassinate our leaders.
Weyman Bennett, coordinator of Stand Up To Racism, said those who had attacked them were from the Democratic Football Lads Alliance, including members of the football hooligan firm the Chelsea head hunters. “They are trying to camouflage themselves in the Brexit movement,” Bennett said. “And that’s why we’re here today, to stand in solidarity with everyone who is an oppressed minority, but out of self interest as well: because working people cannot let bastards like that pretend to represent us and come to power on our backs.”
Asked why he had joined the counter-demo, one protester, who gave his name as Daniel, from Coventry, said: “Because we think either way you voted – I voted to leave – obviously Tommy Robinson and Ukip are racist and they are just trying to build off a feeling of disenfranchisement that people have. So wherever racists turn up I will be there to oppose them.”
Weyman Bennett, coordinator of Stand up to Racism, said those who had attacked them were from the Democratic Football Lads Alliance, including members of the football hooligan firm the Chelsea Headhunters. “They are trying to camouflage themselves in the Brexit movement,” Bennett said.
BrexitBrexit
European UnionEuropean Union
Foreign policyForeign policy
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
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