Bremain in Spain joins 670,000-strong People's Vote march

BRITS living in Spain are on their way home after joining the 670,000-strong People's Vote march in central London calling for the public to have a final say on any Brexit deal – and for this vote to include an option to remain in the European Union.

Bremain in Spain, a campaign group fighting Brexit with over 5,200 members on its Facebook site, joined the march with their slogan 'Brexit is Bonkers' and wore yellow baseball caps and blue T-shirts.

Many of Bremain in Spain's members and supporters have begun posting their own photographs of the day's march on social media, which show a wealth of imagination among remainers.

The most-liked so far reads: “My mother-in-law lives in Spain. Please don't make them send her back here!”, while other popular banners read: “Even Baldrick had a plan;” “Jacob's Crackers,” in the style of the popular water biscuits and referring to Tory hard-line Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg; “Ikea has better cabinets;” “Nice one, Dave,” referring to British prime minister David Cameron who held the referendum on leaving or remaining in the EU; “June 24, 2016: Worst hangover ever,” referring to the day after the referendum; “This is the worst trade negotiation since Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” and even, “This is like when Geri overestimated her viability as a solo artist and left the Spice Girls;” although the latter may not be the best analogy, given that Geri Halliwell had two number one singles and two best-selling albums within as many years of leaving the band.

A mother and daughter walked side by side carrying blue banners with the EU sign of a ring of yellow stars, the mother's reading: “Pulling out doesn't work,” and the daughter's, with an arrow pointing to her mother, reading: “My mum.”

A counter-protest by the pro-Brexit association Leave Means Leave attracted just 1,200 marchers, whilst the People's Vote march filled the streets wall-to-wall from Marble Arch to the British Parliament building.

Lord Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (Labour), the city's first-ever Muslim mayor – a human rights lawyer and son of working-class Pakistani immigrants – joined the march, and told reporters that he did not believe a People's Vote should be limited to accepting or rejecting a deal between the UK and Brussels, but should also allow an option for remaining in the EU.

Conservative remainer Anna Soubry addressed the crowds after the protest with similar words to those of Khan and pointing out that 'the majority' wanted a further public consultation on the UK's membership of the EU.

SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was not able to attend the march, gave a live video speech calling for a fresh referendum that included the option of remaining.

Scotland voted 68% in favour of 'remain' and speculation is rife that the region will once again seek independence, this time to be able to stay in the EU.

Prime minister Theresa May was at an art exhibition in her constituency of Maidenhead, Berkshire, and declined to comment on the People's Vote march.

Just across the border from the southern Spanish province of Cádiz, Gibraltarians had also organised a trip to their capital city and carried a banner reading “Gibraltar for Europe,” with the figure of 96%, which was the number of voters from the Rock who opted to remain in the EU.

Many of the marchers were young adults aged 18 to 20 who were unable to vote in the original referendum on June 23, 2016 as they were too young, but who would now be able to if a consultation of any type was reconvened.

A high number of the British residents in Spain who attended were also unable to vote, since the UK does not permit any of its citizens who have lived outside the country for 15 years or more to cast their ballot in national or local elections, which included the referendum.

Spaniards living in the UK, as well as other Europeans who have made Britain their home, are also incensed at being unable to vote in the Leave/Remain referendum, despite being directly affected by the result.

Tens of thousands of Spaniards who live in Britain work for the NHS, as State school teachers, as dentists, in science, and in the catering and care industries.

 

Second photograph by demonstrators David and Aimée Mills

All other photographs by Bremain in Spain