Brexit march: Hundreds of thousands descend on Westminster in People’s Vote protest

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Activists from the People's Vote organisation calling for a second referendum on Brexit unveil an effigy depicting Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a puppet operated by his advisor Dominic Cummings in central London on October 19, 2019, ahead of a march and rally. - Thousands of people march to parliament calling for a "People's Vote", with an option to reverse Brexit as MPs hold a debate on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES / AFP) (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds of thousands of activists are gathering in central London today to demand a referendum on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.

As MPs prepare to vote on the Brexit deal, the People’s Vote march will head to Westminster to demand the public have a final say on Britain’s departure from the EU.

The march will begin at 12:00 in Park Lane and proceed down the east of Hyde Park before heading through central London, past Downing Street, and into Parliament Square.

Read more: Brexit Super Saturday vote LIVE: Updates from parliament as they happen

Protesters are expected to reach Parliament Square at around 2pm with a rally then lasting 90 minutes.

    Among those expected to attend and speak at the rally include Labour shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and actor Patrick Stewart.

    People from all over the UK have travelled to London to participate in the demonstration.

    https://twitter.com/peoplesvote_uk/status/1185511119768735745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-15426894361922406492.ampproject.net%2F1908231648370%2Fframe.html

    One member of Cornwall for Europe tweeted: “On the road from #Cornwall to London for the #PeoplesVoteMarch – in one of four packed coaches organised by @Cornwall4EU. Unlike Nigel Farage & his mates, we members of the ‘metropolitan elite’ don’t use private planes to get around.”

    Meanwhile Chester for Europe said: “We are off! Our #PVroadtrip has started in the early hours. We are off to London on a #PeoplesVoteMarch and we want Parliament to know it’s only fair we should get a final say when it’s our lives which will be affected.”

    So far more than £500,000 has been raised to support the protest as of Saturday morning and politicians across multiple parties have called on the public to get involved.

    https://twitter.com/MetPoliceEvents/status/1185478206733897729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-37400664461598663166.ampproject.net%2F1908231648370%2Fframe.html
    https://twitter.com/TfLBusAlerts/status/1185499291986616321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-15426894361922406492.ampproject.net%2F1908231648370%2Fframe.html

    Roads along the route will be closed “when the numbers present require it”, said the Metropolitan Police.

    London mayor Sadiq Khan has said he will join in the march.

    “I’ll be joining hundreds of thousands of people in London to make sure our message is heard loud and clear over the jeers and sneers in the House of Commons,” he said.

    Read more: Three charts that show how MPs could vote on Brexit deal

    Speaking in the House of Commons earlier, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson also called for there to be a People’s Vote.

    “The PMs deal removes protections on worker’s rights. It puts a border down the Irish Sea and, according to the Government’s own analysis, will damage our economy greater than the financial crash,” she said. 

    “Today hundreds of thousands of people will be outside demanding a final say in a peoples vote. Isn’t it the truth that the reason that the PM refuses their calls is because he knows that if given the option people will reject his bad deal and choose to remain in the EU.”