London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Sep 06, 2026

Jubilant scenes at 'final say' Brexit protest

Jubilant scenes at 'final say' Brexit protest

Supporters of the "People's Vote" cheered as MPs voted to withhold approval of the PM's deal.

Protesters demanding another Brexit referendum reacted with jubilation as MPs voted to force a further delay.

Supporters of the "People's Vote" converged on Westminster after marching en masse through central London calling for a "final say" on a new deal.

As MPs delivered a blow to the PM's strategy, there were loud cheers among demonstrators in Parliament Square.

Organisers said up to a million people attended the march, while police said it was "very busy".

Videos posted to social media showed the moment the vote for the amendment proposed by former Tory MP Oliver Letwin was announced.

MPs backed the measure, which withholds approval of Mr Johnson's deal and forces him to seek a delay, by 322 votes to 306.

Meanwhile, cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg were heckled by protesters as they left Westminster and they both required police escorts.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom tweeted that she had faced "frightening" abuse outside Parliament and was "grateful" to the police.

Protesters travelled from across the UK to attend the march, which started on Park Lane ended in Parliament Square.

Ali Lothian, 60, and Mettje Hunneman, 49, travelled from Dundee and Edinburgh respectively overnight to join the protest.

Ali told the BBC she felt it was the last chance to show how strongly she felt about having another vote.

She said: "It's a big commitment - it's a whole weekend. But I regretted not coming last time. This time it was a no-brainer."

Mettje said the fact Parliament is sitting as well made it "a momentous day". "I would not feel comfortable sitting at home - I've got pals who have got a gig tonight but I just couldn't be there."

Millie Bishop-Morris, 17, made the journey from Plymouth with her mum and boyfriend.

"I think it's important that young people should be angry about this as well," she said.

She added: "I just think Brexit has gone completely the wrong way. I want to be optimistic but I'm preparing myself for the worst."

One group of protesters were seen pulling a float depicting top aide Dominic Cummings using Mr Johnson as a puppet.

With "Demonic Cummings" splashed across its forehead, the figure on the float appears to be wearing a Nazi uniform, including an armband which reads Get Brexit Done, and has a Union Jack moustache.


At the scene

By Katie Wright, BBC News

It was deja vu for many people as they descended on the streets of central London once again to demand a final say on Brexit.

Six months on from the last big rally, there was bright sunshine and blue skies to greet the protesters - which included many returning faces, as well as those marching for the first time.

In March a carnival vibe accompanied the slow walk from Park Lane to Parliament Square, but university student Ben Stocks said the atmosphere this time was "more sombre".

Another member of the crowd, Simon Gosden, 63, agreed, saying: "There's more of an air of tension. We know we're getting down to the nitty gritty - it's all or nothing."

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson were among the politicians to address the rally at Parliament Square, alongside celebrities including Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart and TV presenter Sandi Toksvig.

Sir Patrick told the crowd they had proven another referendum was not a "pipe dream".

He said: "You haven't just filled a nice bar in north London, you have taken over an entire city. You haven't just impacted the Brexit debate, you have transformed British politics."

Well-known faces also joined in the walk to Parliament Square, including TV chef Rick Stein, who shared a picture from the march.

As of Saturday morning, more than £500,000 had been donated to support the protest, with cross-party politicians calling on people to get involved.


'Honour democratic values'

People's Vote organisers are also asking people to sign a letter to Boris Johnson, EU leaders, MPs, and MEPs, asking them to allow "the chance to check whether we want to proceed with Brexit".

In an email to supporters this morning, Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the letter "asks them to honour our shared democratic values, it asks them not to turn away from us now and deny us the chance for a final say.

"Add your name to the letter now and send a message to the powerful."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
OpenAI Unveils GPT-6 and Says: "We May Already Have Reached AGI"
Congressman Accused Andrew of Sex Crimes in the United States
Donald Trump: "I'm Glad Harry and Meghan Left the United States"
Spicy Food Is Linked to Lower Death Risk — but It Is Not a Miracle Cure
AfD Enters Saxony-Anhalt Election at 41% in Historic Test for German Politics
Gen Z Turns to Investing as America's First-Home Dream Moves Further Out of Reach
Thousands Join London March Calling for Tighter Abortion Restrictions
Institute of Directors Says Tax and Regulatory Uncertainty Still Weighs on UK Investment
Bank of England Faces Rate Dilemma as Weak Growth and Persistent Inflation Raise Stagflation Risks
Masked Anti-Immigration Protesters Block Roads to Port of Dover
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Sets Out Devolution and Re-Industrialisation Agenda
British Chambers of Commerce Forecasts UK Growth of Just 1% Through 2027
UK Government Advances Bill to Tighten Rules on Overseas Political Donations
Nigel Farage Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Reform UK Donation-Law Evasion
Thousands Join Anti-Abortion March Through Central London
UK Beekeepers Call for Nationwide Tracking as Asian Hornet Sightings Increase
England Sees Sharp Rise in Property Subsidence Claims After Record Summer Heat
House of Lords Advances Financial Services Reform Bill
House of Lords Begins Detailed Scrutiny of Railways Bill and Great British Railways Plan
UK Treasury Cuts Green Book Discount Rate to Support More Regional Infrastructure Projects
Reform UK Suspends Two Senior Aides After Undercover Report on Foreign Donation Rules
UK Chancellor Warns Autumn Budget Will Require Tough Choices as Energy Shock Squeezes Public Finances
UK Parliament Raises Concerns Over Funding Structure of £400 Million Tropical Forest Initiative
Andy Burnham Launches Number 10 North as Part of UK Devolution Push
UK Reaffirms Falkland Islands Sovereignty Amid Renewed Regional Pressure
Andy Burnham to Abstain From Assisted Dying Vote as Ministers Are Told to Remain Neutral
Kemi Badenoch Sacks Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride in Conservative Economic Strategy Shake-Up
UK Government Drops Early Prisoner Release Plan in Favor of Deportations and Wider Prison Reform
UK Farmers Warn Drought-Hit Harvests Could Push Grocery Prices Higher
UK Economy Faces Persistent Stagflation Risks Ahead of October Budget
Masked Protesters Block Port of Dover Roads, Disrupting Cross-Channel Traffic
Reform UK Suspends Senior Officials After Undercover Investigation Into Foreign Donation Plans
UK Urges Households to Keep Emergency Supplies Amid Severe El Niño Warning
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Sets Out Regional Industry and Prison Reform Agenda
Siemens Energy Wins Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor Manufacturing Contract
UK Mortgage Costs Rise as Gilt Yields and Swap Rates Climb
Bank of England’s Huw Pill Calls for Prompt Rate Rise as Inflation Risks Persist
National Audit Office Warns UK Is Unprepared for Major Food Supply Disruptions
British Army Suspends Some Training Exercises as Budget Pressures Intensify
HMS Queen Elizabeth Deploys as NATO Allied Response Force Command Ship
Reform UK Suspends Two Senior Officials Over Alleged Foreign Donation Scheme
UK Reasserts Falkland Islands Sovereignty After Argentina Threatens Sanctions
Scottish Tech Company PureLifi Enters Administration With More Than 40 Job Losses
Scottish Government Names Alyn Smith Innovation and Education Minister
Green Party Co-Leader Zack Polanski to Contest By-Election for Keir Starmer’s Former Seat
Palestine Action Activists Appeal Terrorism-Related Prison Sentences
PwC Report Highlights Persistent Regional Spending-Power Divide Across Britain
UK Names Hundreds of Employers for Minimum Wage Violations
UK Commits £400 Million to International Tropical Forest Fund
UK Extends £2 Bus Fare Cap Across England Through 2027
×