Brexit march: '1 million' Put It To The People protesters stage historic rally for a second referendum
See how we covered the day's events live
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Your support makes all the difference.Some one million people were estimated to have joined the Put It To The People march in central London today, organisers said.
Organised by the People’s Vote, Britain for Europe and Open Britain, protesters demanded the public be given a final say on the Brexit process.
Campaigners seeking a second referendum started in Park Lane at midday before gathering at Parliament Square for a series of speeches, with demonstrators tailing back through the route shown on aerial footage.
On stage Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson addressed Theresa May's own speech this week when she told voters fed up of Brexit that "I am on your side".
He said: “Have a look out of the window prime minister. Open your curtains. Switch on your TV. Here are the people. Theresa May - you don’t speak for us.”
And Michael Heseltine told marchers that the EU represented "parliamentary democracies working together with power based on a shared sovereignty far in excess of anything any one of us could achieve individually" over decades.
People came from across the country to join the demonstration. Sorcha Kirker, 27, travelled from Orkney and told The Independent: "This is too important to miss because of something like geography. It’s our future."
The march took place as Ms May fought to stay in office, with ministers reportedly plotting to oust her. In a letter to MPs she did not guarantee that she would bring her deal back to the Commons for a third meaningful vote, amid suspicions it would fail to pass again.
See below how we covered the march live:
Femi Oluwole from Our Future Our Choice has been out with The Independent today, speaking to fellow protesters on today’s march.
“Solidarity from Scotland,” is First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s message as she addresses the crowd in Parliament Square.
Tom Watson is now speaking at the rally. Alastair Campbell says it’s “great” to see the Labour party’s deputy leader at today’s event.
Speaking at today’s rally, The Independent’s editor Christian Broughton has paid tribute to the “great passion” of young people making their voice heard on the need for a Final Say referendum.
“We’re going to keep campaigning for a final say for as long as it takes. We know our readers care, along with everyone here. And we know millions of people across Britain care because they’ve signed the petitions, including ours. I want to say from everyone on our team – thank you so much for your support.
He added: “By marching together and staying positive we show there is a more progressive, engaged, collaborative way for politics to work. It’s here today and it’s a way out of the Brexit chaos. And at the heart of that new politics are young voices of great passion and integrity.”
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has told the rally he joined today’s march in London for his daughter.
“There’s one reason I’m here today. Her name is Saoirse Elizabeth Watson, my 10-year-old daughter. She has told me to thank you for campaigning for her future – thank you.”
“Like a lot of people I didn’t want to be here today – and let me explain. I didn’t want a referendum called to heal internal Tory wounds… I didn’t want a prime minister who refuse to compromise or a government who pandered to extremism. And I didn’t want the humiliation of our country isolated and alone on the international stage.
“We wanted to respect the result of the referendum and try to get a deal that was in the best interest of all people in our country… At every turn we have been ignored.
“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.”
In perhaps the most powerful section of his speech, Watson said: “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.”
(Photo: AFP)
Speaking from the stage earlier, Sadiq Khan said he was “a proud European”.
The London mayor told the crowd: “No matter how you voted in the referendum, no matter what political party you support, we can all agree that Brexit has been a complete and utter mess.
“With days to go we're in danger of falling off the cliff, which will have catastrophic consequences… It’s time to give us, the British people, a final say on Brexit.”
(Photo: PA)
Former deputy prime minister Michael Hesletine, today’s final speaker, received loud applause from the crowd.
The Conservative statesman said: “I dismiss with contempt the image of us as an island, wrapped in a Union Jack, glorifying – in Churchill’s famous phrase “very well, alone”… Churchill did everything in his power to end this isolation (during World War II). Alone was never Churchill’s hope or wish – it was his fear.”
Lord Hesletine added: “I look back over 70 years of peace in Europe. 50 years of European partnership... 29 parliamentary democracies working together with power based on a shared sovereignty far in excess of anything any one of us could achieve individually.”
“What cannot be in doubt is our responsibility to hand over and pass on to a younger generation a country richer, more powerful, safer than that which we ourselves inherited. Our partnership with Europe – that is our destiny.”
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