Labour MPs join thousands marching through Liverpool to demand 'people's vote' on Brexit deal

Ella Wills24 September 2018
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Thousands today marched through Liverpool outside the Labour party’s annual conference to urge Jeremy Corbyn to support a so-called People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.

Labour politicians joined the crowd - who chanted "b******s to Brexit" and "it's not a done deal" - as they marched from St George's Hall to a rally at Pier Head on Sunday.

Demonstrators on the March For The Many in Liverpool
Getty Images

Some sections of the crowd also chanted directly at party leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying: "Hey Jeremy, take a note, for the many, People's Vote."

Supporters at the rally told the Standard a second referendum is needed because “people’s minds are changing as they realise what Brexit is”.

Marchers call for a people's vote on the final outcome of the government's Brexit negotiations
Getty Images

Labour MP David Lammy was among speakers at the event while MP Luciana Berger led the march.

Mr Lammy talked down calls for a General Election as he said “a people’s vote is the only option we can win”.

He said: “I would love a General Election that got rid of this Conservative Government, but let us be clear, to have a General Election we need to have a vote in Parliament.

“Those that say let’s have a General Election cannot name one member of Tory or DUP who would vote for that General Election.

The march took place in Liverpool on Sunday
Getty Images

“But there are members of other parties that are clear that they would now vote for a people’s vote, so a people’s vote is the only option on the table.”

Mr Lammy had greeted the crowd by asking: "Can you hear us Jeremy Corbyn? Can you hear us John McDonnell?”

He said people from across the UK were present, adding: "They are saying squarely to the leadership of the Labour Party 'listen to us, hear us, give us a People's Vote'.”

Marching for a people's vote: Olivia, Juliet and Terry Brotheridge
Ella Wills

Terry Brotheridge, from Skelmersdale, who joined the march today, said he is concerned about the possible effects of Brexit on trade in the UK.

“Companies are leaving because we are not the gateway to the EU any more,” he said.

Mr Brotheridge, 70, said a People’s Vote is necessary because “people’s minds are changing as they realise what Brexit is”.

“They were lied to,” he added. “All the people who voted to leave who work in [the car industry] didn’t realise that their jobs will go.”

His wife Juliet said she feels Brexit “sends a very unfriendly message to the European Union”.

“It puts people off from visiting,” she said.

The 58-year-old added that countries in the European Union are “stronger together”, saying that there are issues such as climate change that countries would benefit from working together on.

“If we were one big family we could help each other with possible solutions,” she said.

Mr Corbyn, appearing earlier on Sunday on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, has been asked whether he would feel obliged to respect a vote by delegates to support a second referendum.

He replied: "Let's see what comes out of conference. Obviously I'm bound by the democracy of our party."

The Labour leader said there would be a vote on Brexit at the Liverpool conference, but said it was not yet known exactly what question would be put to delegates.

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