1,000 people from St Albans and Harpenden join historic People’s Vote march
People waiting to board a train and go to the Brexit march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
A mass of St Albans and Harpenden Remainers joined the largest-ever Brexit demonstration through the streets of London.
St Albans and Harpenden Remainers on the demonstration through London. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
About 1,000 people from the district marched from Park Lane to Parliament Square on Saturday with a million other like-minded activists to demand a People’s Vote on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Withdrawal Deal.
This comes in the midst of uncertainty about the future of Brexit. With less than a week to go until Britain was originally due to leave the European Union, MPs have voted twice to reject the negotiated document.
A petition urging the government to revoke Article 50 has also racked up more than 5.5 million signatures - the most popular ever to be submitted through the Parliament website.
Chair of St Albans for Europe (StAfE), Fiona McAndrew, said: “The timing of this march could not have been better.
The placards made by St Albans and Harpenden campaigners. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
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“We had so many newcomers joining us to march for the first time in their lives, all absolutely enraged by the government’s Brexit chaos and very anxious about the current political climate.”
Remainer groups StAfE and Harpenden for Europe (HfE) have also lead an active local campaign, including circulating 30,000 leaflets around the district.
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Fiona added: “Huge thanks go to all our brilliant volunteers and campaigners who have worked so hard to campaign for a People’s Vote and to promote this march on street stalls and by leafleting door-to-door.
“Brexit is a disaster and the government needs to let the people decide what to do about this mess. Anne Main, are you listening?”
It is estimated about a million people went on the People's Vote march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
One of the St Albans marchers, Karen Gordon, was interviewed by Sky and Japanese TV.
Chair of HfE, Richard Scott, said something has “snapped”: “The people in this community have had enough of being patronised and taken for granted by the Government, and especially by our MP Bim Afolami.
“If Bim thinks that he is entitled to a job for life in Hitchin and Harpenden, then he has made a very serious error of judgement. It is now Harpenden vs Brexit and Bim Afolami is on the wrong side in this fight.”
People of all ages joined the march with StAfE and HfE. Twelve-year-old Fran said: “I marched yesterday as it is my future and I think the UK would be better in the EU.”
Campaigners on the march with their placards. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Visit http://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/241584 to view the petition.
Campaigners at the station, with their placards. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Campaigners at the station, with their placards. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
A campaigner at the station, with a placard. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Campaigners at the station, with their placards. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Campaigners at the station, with their placards. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Campaigners at the station, with their placards. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
St Albans and Harpenden people on the People's Vote march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Richard Scott on the People's Vote march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Marching with his family, Stephen Atkinson from Harpenden said: “We like you Bim but to keep our support in the next general election, it is time you worked to revoke article 50 for the best interest of our island home." Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Campaigners at Harpenden station, going to the People's Vote march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Young people from Harpenden on the march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
St Albans campaigners on the march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
St Albans and Harpenden Remainers on the demonstration through London. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
St Albans and Harpenden Remainers on the demonstration through London. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
A St Albans for Europe banner on the People's Vote march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Campaigners at St Albans City Station for the People's Vote march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Fran, 12, joined the People's Vote march. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Gabriella, 15, from St Albans said: “I marched because I care about my future but I can’t vote yet.” Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
Karen Gordon was interviewed about Brexit and the call for a People’s Vote by Sky and Japanese TV. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
St Albans and Harpenden Remainers on the demonstration through London. Picture: St Albans for Europe/Harpenden for Europe - Credit: Archant
