Yesterday, Kaberi and I were among the estimated 700,000 people marching for a People’s Vote on the outcome of the negotiations between the UK Government and the EU27. These comments summarise our impressions.
Today I saw the Britain that I feared we had lost: inclusive, calm, compassionate, funny, resolute, welcoming, decent.
Thank you all for reminding me it’s still there, and will always be there.#PeoplesVoteMarch
— Simon Ubsdell #FBPE (@SimonUbsdell) October 20, 2018
People’s vote marche is the most impressive and deeply moving support for Europe I‘ve ever seen. Millions across Europe feel with you! Thx so much!!! Danke! Merci!
— Peter Altmaier (@peteraltmaier) October 20, 2018
What struck me today was that this was the voice of the gentle people, the people who don’t shout the loudest, who don’t demand the most, who are used to being ignored. Just for one day they gathered and showed that in gentleness there can sometimes be great power.
— Simon Ubsdell #FBPE (@SimonUbsdell) October 20, 2018
It was indeed a wonderful feeling of hopeful welcoming solidarity, crossing generations. It was a delight to be a part of it and uplifting to know the awfulness on display recently does not represent the majority. This is the Britain I want to represent and be proud of.
— Rosie Chapman 🌍🇪🇺 (@RosemaryChapman) October 20, 2018
Yesterday’s march, which was led by young people, was a moving reminder that humanity is still a strong force in the UK. We saw people of all ages in the march, ranging from senior citizens marching for their grandchildren to children wrapped in the EU flag.
There were also many, original placards which people had made. Here are a few examples.
Meanwhile, the BBC continues to boost the profiles of politicians like Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson by quoting them ‘for balance’ every time anyone dares to question the wisdom of the UK leaving the EU.
The scale of the March felt amazing, as we stood in it. Before we set off, we heard a series of stirring speeches. Our friend Tom Brake, Brexit spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat’s, pointed out how much of a distraction Brexit has been for both the Government and Parliament. There are many other pressing issues, such as homelessness, which they could have been doing something about.
The speeches included Vince Cable uttering the most popular slogan of the day: “Bollocks to Brexit”. The rhythmic pattern of this slogan was repeated from time to time during the march using whistles.
By Sunday morning, news of the march (which eventually became the top story on BBC News on Saturday afternoon) had been removed from the BBC’s top stories. Even while the article was the main story, the first person quoted in it was Nigel Farage, who was speaking at a pro-Brexit event in Harrogate attended by 0.17% of the number of people attending the march. That there has been no follow-up of the March at all by the BBC suggests censorship rather than balance.
As we approached Downing Street, we could see many marchers heading in the opposite direction. We learned from them that access to Parliament Square had been blocked as there were too many people.
On our way to finding something to eat in Chinatown, we passed the statue of Shakespeare in the middle of Leicester Square. The quote on the lectern he is leaning on reads “There is no darkness but ignorance”. It seemed somehow appropriate for the occasion.
