'More than 500,000' anti-Brexit protesters march through London

The People's Vote march in London - Paul Grover
The People's Vote march in London - Paul Grover

Organisers claim more than 500,000 anti-Brexit campaigners have joined a central London protest calling for a fresh referendum.

The People's Vote march set off from Park Lane and ended with a rally in Parliament Square.

Celebrity cook Delia Smith, Dragons' Den businesswoman Deborah Meaden and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were among speakers at the event.

The People's Vote campaign said its stewards estimated the size of the crowd to be around 570,000. The estimate has not been verified by the police. 

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, speaking ahead of his platform appearance, said: "Today will go down as an historic moment in our democracy. A moment when, in their thousands, people from every corner of our country and every section of our society will take to the streets - coming to make our voice heard.

"We've heard some complain that a public vote would be undemocratic and unpatriotic. But the opposite is true. There's nothing more democratic - nothing more British - than trusting the people to have the final say on our future.

"The lies, the mistruths and the deceptions of the referendum campaign have now been exposed, and it's clear the will of the people is changing. No one voted to leave the EU to make themselves poorer. No one voted to make life harder for our children and grandchildren. No one voted to see our NHS damaged. And no one voted for the shambles that this Government has created."

People's vote march - Credit: Paul Grover
The People's Vote march set off from Park Lane and ended with a rally in Parliament Square Credit: Paul Grover

In a video message of support, Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, said: "Let me say this loudly and clearly, if the issue comes before the House of Commons, SNP MPs will support a People's Vote which includes the option to remain in the EU."

She added: "The Tory government's handling of these negotiations has been chaotic, incompetent and shambolic.

"Having spent two years telling us that no deal was better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister is now preparing to pile pressure on MPs to vote for a bad or blindfold deal on the grounds that 'no deal' would be catastrophic.

"She is trying to scare the UK into the frying pan out of fear of the fire. It is a scandal and it should not be accepted."

Delia Smith said people were not fully informed when they voted but now understood "the dire consequences".

"The only way we can avoid this total madness and win back our future has to be a People's Vote."

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