Hundreds of thousands take to streets in London demanding second Brexit vote

[rooster59]

Hundreds of thousands take to streets in London demanding second Brexit vote

By Andrew MacAskill and Amanda Ferguson

 

 

LONDON/BELFAST (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of supporters of the European Union marched through London on Saturday in the biggest demonstration so far to demand that the British government holds a public vote on the terms of Brexit.

 

The protesters waved the blue and gold flag of the EU and held up "Bollocks to Brexit" banners under sunny skies to call for another referendum on the eventual deal on how Britain will leave the world's biggest trading bloc.

 

The march comes after another tumultuous week for Prime Minister Theresa May in which she failed to agree a divorce deal with EU leaders in Brussels and infuriated members of her own party by making further concessions in the talks.

 

With just over five months until Britain is due to leave there is no clarity about what a future trade deal with the EU will look like and some rebels in May's Conservative Party have threatened to vote down a deal if she clinches one.

 

James McGrory, one of the organisers of the march, said voters should have the chance to change their minds because the decision will impact their lives for generations.

 

"People think the Brexit negotiations are a total mess, they have no faith in the government to deliver the promises that were made, partly because they cannot be delivered," he said.

 

At the march, demonstrators carried placards saying "Brexit is pants", "Time for an EU turn" and "European and proud."

Organisers said about 670,000 people took part in the march, which would make it the largest in Britain since a demonstration against the Iraq war in 2003.

 

The "People's Vote" campaign, which includes several pro-EU groups, said they had stewards stationed at regular intervals to estimate the size of the crowd. The police did not provide an independent estimate of numbers participating.

 

Protesters originally gathered near Hyde Park and then walked past Downing Street and finished outside parliament where they listened to politicians from all main political parties.

 

BREXIT REVERSED?

 

Britain's 2016 referendum saw 52 percent vote in favour of leaving the European Union. But the past two years have been politically fraught as the government has struggled to agree on a plan and there are fears that Britain could leave the bloc without a deal.

 

Some opinion polls have shown a slight shift in favour of remaining in the European Union, but there has yet to be a decisive change in attitudes and many in Britain say they have become increasingly bored by Brexit.

 

The prime minister has repeatedly ruled out holding a second referendum. The opposition Labour party's Brexit spokesman said last month his party open to a second referendum with the option of staying in the bloc in certain circumstances.

 

In Belfast in Northern Ireland, around 2,000 people gathered on Saturday to oppose Brexit.

 

Brendan Heading, a 39-year-old IT worker, said he was worried the decision to leave the EU would damage the economy and could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom.

 

"I feel that Brexit threatens prosperity and stability," he said. "People should have the opportunity to vote for an alternative based on what we now know."

 

Brexit supporters held their own rally in the town of Harrogate in the north of England.

 

Richard Tice, Vice-Chairman of Leave Means Leave and one of the speakers at the event, described the people on the march in London as "losers" and said a second referendum would trigger a constitutional crisis.

 

"We had a vote, we voted to leave, the idea to have a second referendum would be incredibly damaging," he said.

 

"People need to be under no illusions as to how people feel about what is a significant potential for a total betrayal of democracy in this country."

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-21

[Lungstib]

If this is the "Peoples Vote" I'd be interested to know who or what voted the first time.  I would never in a lifetime have voted to exit Europe but if this is the new policy are we now going to see a call for a second election if the first is close? Referendums need to be ran with a need for 65% of votes for the overturn of policy which I understand happens in other countries. Both Britain and the USA are now split almost 50/50 politically and the inability for agreement on both sides is severely affecting their governance. Both countries are bogged down in divisive and ugly bickering.

[Samui Bodoh]

There is no consensus in the Tory party.

There is no consensus in the Labour party

There is no consensus in Parliament.

There is no consensus in different countries that make up the UK.

There is no consensus in NI regarding the border.

There is no consensus in Civil Society.

There is no consensus in UK business.

There is no consensus in the UK at large.

 

What better time to enact the most significant public policy change of the last 40+ years...

 

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[arithai12]

Worst possible scenario... drag things on forever.

Dear British voters, if you think you were misled, please take it up with your pro-Brexit leaders. Let this Brexit happen for good or for bad, now.

[Esso49]

Teresa May is the 2nd Nemesis of the UK, Thatcher was the first. Neither believed in listening to a huge outcry of public opinion. 

[anon537687643]

Teresa May is the 2nd Nemesis of the UK, Thatcher was the first. Neither believed in listening to a huge outcry of public opinion. 

What huge outcry is that ? The 17.4 million in June 2016 gave “public opinion “ ! More remain loser nonsense


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[sirineou]

Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know

 

Should I stay or should I go!

 

I know , I know not funny.  If it will make you feel better, At least you guys don't have Trump.

 

[nausea]

 Whatever, this sign made me chuckle -

Ha!

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Some opinion polls have shown a slight shift in favour of remaining in the European Union,

Are these opinion polls from the organizations that found 'NO to Brexit' would win?

And Trump would LOSE?

Edited October 21, 2018 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, Esso49 said:

Teresa May is the 2nd Nemesis of the UK, Thatcher was the first. Neither believed in listening to a huge outcry of public opinion. 

What about Blair?

Didn't he start groundless invasions of foreign countries twice?

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, Lungstib said:

If this is the "Peoples Vote" I'd be interested to know who or what voted the first time.  I would never in a lifetime have voted to exit Europe but if this is the new policy are we now going to see a call for a second election if the first is close? Referendums need to be ran with a need for 65% of votes for the overturn of policy which I understand happens in other countries. Both Britain and the USA are now split almost 50/50 politically and the inability for agreement on both sides is severely affecting their governance. Both countries are bogged down in divisive and ugly bickering.

Why not implement a 65% majority required for all democratic decisions, on every vote, at all meetings?

Parliament and Councils would be a lot of fun!

 

Edited October 21, 2018 by BritManToo

[Esso49]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

What about Blair?

Didn't he start groundless invasions of foreign countries twice?

We are talking about ignoring the opinion of the UK population generally concerning matters (Brexit) directly affecting every UK individual,  not whether Blair and others had a consensus to undertake illegal invasions of another sovereign country.

[bert bloggs]

2 hours ago, Esso49 said:

Teresa May is the 2nd Nemesis of the UK, Thatcher was the first. Neither believed in listening to a huge outcry of public opinion. 

They did listen to public opinion ,it was to leave , so whats the problem?

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, Esso49 said:

We are talking about ignoring the opinion of the UK population generally concerning matters (Brexit) directly affecting every UK individual,  not whether Blair and others had a consensus to undertake illegal invasions of another sovereign country.

You brought up Thatcher, was she involved in Brexit?

Or are you just against women?

Edited October 21, 2018 by BritManToo

[newatthis]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

James McGrory, one of the organisers of the march, said voters should have the chance to change their minds because the decision will impact their lives for generations.

OK  BUT only the people who voted in 2016. If you didn't vote then; you can't vote now!!

[vogie]

11 minutes ago, Esso49 said:

We are talking about ignoring the opinion of the UK population generally concerning matters (Brexit) directly affecting every UK individual,  not whether Blair and others had a consensus to undertake illegal invasions of another sovereign country.

It is you and your ilk that is ignoring the opinion of the British voting public, we voted out.

[robblok]

They should just do a second vote to be done with it. Now that people fully realize everything they can make a far better choice as first time. So just vote again and accept whatever it says. 

 

 

[vogie]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

They should just do a second vote to be done with it. Now that people fully realize everything they can make a far better choice as first time. So just vote again and accept whatever it says. 

 

 

Why should there be a second vote, we havn't acted on the first one yet. Lets be clear about this, the only people that are protesting are sore losers who cannot accept the peoples vote we had 2 years ago.

[Esso49]

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You brought up Thatcher, was she involved in Brexit?

Or are you just against women?

Something you could not grasp ? Before posting worthless replies why not research what the subject is about and then you may have a modicum of understanding as to why these two ladies have similarities.  But there again perhaps you were not born during the Thatcher areas which may explain things.  That being the case this is just one reference during a much recent period for your education.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/10045061/Margaret-Thatcher-wanted-Britain-to-leave-the-EU.html

[bert bloggs]

7 minutes ago, robblok said:

They should just do a second vote to be done with it. Now that people fully realize everything they can make a far better choice as first time. So just vote again and accept whatever it says. 

 

 

So if we vote a govt in and we find out they are crap in a few months ,can we have another vote? or do we have to wait 5 years , we voted ,the leavers won ,its over .

[pgrahmm]

George Soros manipulations ?

[robblok]

Just now, bert bloggs said:

So if we vote a govt in and we find out they are crap in a few months ,can we have another vote? or do we have to wait 5 years , we voted ,the leavers won ,its over .

Now its far clearer than b4 what is at stake I hope the Brits have an other vote. I can understand the leavers not wanting this as they probably won't win again. Otherwise why worry. 

[thonglorjimmy]

2 hours ago, markaoffy said:

What huge outcry is that ? The 17.4 million in June 2016 gave “public opinion “ ! More remain loser nonsense

Spot on, 17.4 million voted in favour of leaving the EU, I do accept that the sixteen words on the ballot paper probably meant something different to every one of us, but that's not my concern, it was a democratic vote.

 

The Government must now deliver on the views of those 17.4 million people and ignore the concerns of the remaining 48 million citizens who either voted against, didn't bother voting (shame on them), those who were too young to vote, or in The Scrubs, and not worry about the impact of future generations.

 

We must now accept whatever the remaining Member States deem fit to give us, with the comforting knowledge that this was the ''easiest negotiation in history" and that ''the EU need us more than we need them".  

 

How dare 48 million citizens plead for a say in the final deal, the people have spoken, all 17.4 million of us, the other 48 million should be grateful for whatever the other Member States deem fit to hand down to us.

[nauseus]

3 hours ago, Esso49 said:

Teresa May is the 2nd Nemesis of the UK, Thatcher was the first. Neither believed in listening to a huge outcry of public opinion. 

What a non-comparison.

[nauseus]

39 minutes ago, Esso49 said:

We are talking about ignoring the opinion of the UK population generally concerning matters (Brexit) directly affecting every UK individual,  not whether Blair and others had a consensus to undertake illegal invasions of another sovereign country.

Rubbish. There was no EU referendum under Thatcher.

[nauseus]

23 minutes ago, thonglorjimmy said:

Spot on, 17.4 million voted in favour of leaving the EU, I do accept that the sixteen words on the ballot paper probably meant something different to every one of us, but that's not my concern, it was a democratic vote.

 

The Government must now deliver on the views of those 17.4 million people and ignore the concerns of the remaining 48 million citizens who either voted against, didn't bother voting (shame on them), those who were too young to vote, or in The Scrubs, and not worry about the impact of future generations.

 

We must now accept whatever the remaining Member States deem fit to give us, with the comforting knowledge that this was the ''easiest negotiation in history" and that ''the EU need us more than we need them".  

 

How dare 48 million citizens plead for a say in the final deal, the people have spoken, all 17.4 million of us, the other 48 million should be grateful for whatever the other Member States deem fit to hand down to us.

Next thing all foetuses will have a vote too!

[sammieuk1]

I also took to the streets yesterday looking for a 75p pound I lost????

[Proboscis]

2 hours ago, markaoffy said:

What huge outcry is that ? The 17.4 million in June 2016 gave “public opinion “ ! More remain loser nonsense


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Actually not so. THe problem for at least some of those 17.4 million who voted leave in June 2016 is that they are not getting what they voted for. Yes, they wanted to leave the EU in some sense and were buoyed up by the idea that there would be a "leaving EU dividend" of billions that could be used to build new hospitals etc. Unfortunately many leavers now realise that leaving is not as simple as saying "Good Bye."

Some may have just thought that it would be an end of immigration. But when you talk to them now, immigration is not on their mind as there is net migration out of the country of EU citizens and this is causing a shortage of key skilled staff. This should worry everyone and a solution, leave or not leave, should be found and very soon.

Some may have thought that we would not have to pay for "fat cats" in Brussels and that wouldl be great. But now they will find that if UK leaves the single market, they will have no say in the making of regulations where 70% of its trade goes.

Undoubtedly there will be savings but there will be huge costs. The UK is going to have to create its own version of GPS at a huge cost as opposed to sharing across the whole of the EU. There will be job losses, depending on how sharp the Brexit is. And there are many other issues, from medical standards (another huge additional expense) to air traffic control, all of which are complex and have to be worked out as a separate legal agreement with the UK.

The truth is that no country goes it alone anywhere, except perhaps North Korea, and even they have China. Yes, the UK can eventually build up a series of trade agreements but from a less strong basis than if it were within the single market. And there is nothing that the UK can join that makes sense geographically other than some sort of affiliation of the EU.

This does not mean that remain is the only option on the table. There are a number of shades of grey between the extremes on both sides. But it is hard to see how the UK can prosper and avoid huge difficulties outside at least a customs union.

[smedly]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

There is no consensus in the Tory party.

There is no consensus in the Labour party

There is no consensus in Parliament.

There is no consensus in different countries that make up the UK.

There is no consensus in NI regarding the border.

There is no consensus in Civil Society.

There is no consensus in UK business.

There is no consensus in the UK at large.

 

What better time to enact the most significant public policy change of the last 40+ years...

 

What could possibly go wrong?

 

all these people had to do was vote LibDem or Green in the 2017 election - the parties mainly representing remain and yet 85% of voters voted Tory or LAB who both stood on a leave manifesto

 

So I don't know who these people are, I wonder how many of them are not British Citizens 

[Esso49]

11 minutes ago, nauseus said:

What a non-comparison.

Strange response from someone who posted this

 

Posted October 25, 2016 · Report reply

 

It's Article 50 and I don't think that Theresa May is a remainer at heart! 

 

 

So you stated yourself you did not think TM was a remainder at heart.  The post you choose to reply to included this link;

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/10045061/Margaret-Thatcher-wanted-Britain-to-leave-the-EU.html

 

So  you thought TM in 2016 was a Brexiteer and the link which clearly you could not be bothered to read, stated that MT thought it would be a good idea to leave the EU.

 

So is there something you do not understand regarding the term comparison !!!   ????

"the act of comparing two or more people or things"