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Brexit march is 'biggest rally in years' as 100,000 take to streets of London

Protesters participating in an anti-Brexit demonstration, march through central London, Britain October 20, 2018 (REUTERS)
Protesters participating in an anti-Brexit demonstration, march through central London, Britain October 20, 2018 (REUTERS)

Thousands of anti-Brexit campaigners have gathered in central London calling for a second referendum in what has been dubbed the biggest rally in years.

The People’s Vote March set off from Park Lane at midday and will end as activists gather in a rally in Parliament Square.

Joe Trickey, from Croydon, is celebrating his 83rd birthday at the march.

He said: “I believe very strongly in the EU as a place of peace and strength.

“Going out puts us in isolation and leaving isn’t about trade deals, it’s about our values.”

Mr Trickey is protesting alongside his daughter, who is holding a sign about his birthday, and plans to celebrate afterwards with “a glass of wine”.

Thousands of campaigners are marching through central London, with Sadiq Khan joining the young voters group holding a People’s Vote banner.

Some 100,000 people were expected to gather in London on October 20 as part of a demonstration demanding a referendum on the final Brexit deal


The London Mayor and chef Delia Smith are among those due to speak at the event.
Simon Chater is part of the Devon for Europe group, which arranged eight coaches to bring campaigners to London for the event.

The 69-year-old from South Devon said: “This is the first time in my life I’ve been political.”

He said 400 people had travelled in coaches arranged by the group, with some leaving Devon at 6am.

Marching under the “Islanders for Europe” sign, Glenn Kobanny said he had travelled from the Isle of Wight this morning to be part of the protest.

Protesters participating in an anti-Brexit demonstration, march through central London, Britain October 20, 2018. (REUTERS)
Protesters participating in an anti-Brexit demonstration, march through central London, Britain October 20, 2018. (REUTERS)

The 52-year-old, originally from the island, said: “It’s just a load of nonsense, it was a bunch of lies to begin with.

“I’m sorry that people fell for the lies but we speak to leavers as much as we talk to remainers and they’re just as fed up with it as well.”

Many of his group took three types of transport to be in London today, travelling by bus, boat and train.


Theresa May visited an arts exhibition in her constituency of Maidenhead today while anti-Brexit protesters gathered for the People’s Vote march.

Titled Maidenhead And Me, the exhibition featured work by locals with different perspectives of the town.

One of the works was called Bridge Over Troubled Brexit Waters and depicted Mrs May carrying a cross over a river of bad Brexit headlines.

The Prime Minister refused to answer questions about the fate of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and whether or not the UK would suspend arms sales to the Gulf state now it has confirmed Mr Khashoggi is dead.

Campaigners have begun the march to Parliament Square, led by a group of young voters calling for a second referendum.

Emma Stevens and Emily Longman are two of the students leading the march behind a People’s Vote banner.

Miss Longman, 20, said she was four months too young to vote in the referendum.

She said: “We’re both Spanish students due to study abroad next year, but no one knows what will happen with Erasmus funding.”

Miss Stevens, also 20, said: “We don’t want the other European countries to hold the same view [of leaving the EU].”