We are wrapping up our live coverage of the Unite for Europe march today - thanks for reading.
Brexit protest: thousands march in London to 'unite for Europe' – as it happened
This article is more than 7 years old
EU supporters take to capital’s streets to demonstrate against Britain’s departure from the union
Updated
Sat 25 Mar 2017 12.48 EDT
First published on Sat 25 Mar 2017 07.05 EDTLive feed
Key events
Nick Clegg: ‘Perpetual sense of anger’
Nick Clegg wraps up the rally with a blistering speech that almost persuades Alistair Campbell to forget the coalition.
“Thank you for standing for the principles of openness, tolerance and pluralism ... and a European Union that of course is not perfect but has done so much for protecting us from tyranny,” he tells the crowd.
“Like many of you I was profoundly saddened by the outcome of the referendum but that sadness has given way to a perpetual sense of anger about the choices that Theresa May and her government have taken since.”
“It was a choice to pull us out of the customs union, it was a choice to embark on that demeaning bout of transatlantic obsequiousness,” Clegg explains, as he accuses the prime minister of “threatening to turn our country into a bargain basement cowboy economy”.
And that’s it for the day. Campbell receives a polite round of applause as he sends the crowd home with the exhortation: “keep fighting to keep Britain in Europe”.
There have also been anti-Brexit protests in Madrid today, as Guardian contributing editor Giles Tremlett tweets:
Brits gathering in Madrid, Spain protest to keep ALL RIGHTS postBrexit @RobertsDan @cajuk pic.twitter.com/WDxrDDFK0l
— Giles Tremlett (@gilestremlett) March 25, 2017
Lammy: 'We're living in a dictatorship'
Tottenham MP David Lammy tells the Guardian there is a way back into the EU for Britain. “In the end this is about the people. We’re hearing a lot of stuff about the will of the people and it’s complete spin,” he says.
“There are a lot of people against Brexit in this country, and people are changing their mind. We’re even seeing Labour wobbling and wondering why we’re here. We’re here because of a lot of anti-immigration rhetoric.
“We’re living in a dictatorship. In democracies people are always allowed to change their minds. Over the coming months and years we will fight. Nigel Farage wouldn’t give up. Labour needs to rediscover its mojo, and quickly,” Lammy adds.
Writer and commentator Bonnie Greer tweets:
Thanked every cop I saw : #UniteForEurope
— Bonnie Greer (@Bonn1eGreer) March 25, 2017
On the job-the @metpoliceuk #TheMet#MarchForEurope2017 pic-@Otto_Englishpic.twitter.com/SBaDoQsIyC
Edward Farquharson, 54, says he attended the march to make his voice heard.
“I don’t believe in Brexit. I think the views of those who wanted to remain should also be heard. It’s a tragedy.
“I’m worried about the economy - it’s going to be a disaster. I suspect we’ll end up where we are today, having spent a lot of money and effort. We’re going to have to sign lots and lots of little agreements, and spend huge amounts of money.”
Sid Mohandas, 33, teacher and researcher, attended the march with his husband Jayson Gillham, 30.
Mohandas was born in India and previously lived in the US and Sweden before Britain. “I’m against Brexit and its divisive values. I want a second referendum, to make my voice heard and support people who are a minority,” he says.
“I am representing a minority. I am an immigrant. I feel I’ve experienced racism and homophobia and I feel the values that are behind Brexit are representative of those.
“I’m worried about society, that people’s voices will get crowded out, and diversity. White nationalism is disturbing. Me and my husband got married last year. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Things that we thought wouldn’t happen have.”
Edinburgh protest
Good turnout at #MarchForEurope in #Edinburgh 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/iK5QUofiMD
— Sabine Kurz (@SabineKurz) March 25, 2017
More than 1,000 protesters have taken to the streets of Edinburgh in a simultaneous anti-Brexit protest organised by the city’s Young European Movement.
Marchers gathered in the city centre and headed to the Scottish parliament, waving EU and Scottish flags and carrying placards reading “We want EU to stay” and “In business lying is a crime, why not in politics?”
Among those giving speeches were Green MSP Ross Greer, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP from the Liberal Democrats, SNP MPs Tommy Sheppard and Joanna Cherry.
Young European Movement Edinburgh chairman Jean Francois-Poncet said: “We want to raise the issue in British and Scottish people’s lives that you have lies in the referendum campaign that people were not held accountable for and, whether you voted Remain or Leave, that is a real issue.”
Fiamette Porri, 50, is from Italy, and met her husband Donald Thompson, 55, at a London nightclub 19 years ago this month.
“Soon I will have to get my daughter [Chiara, 12] an Italian pasport. I don’t know what to do [about UK citizenship]. I need to decide, but I’ve heard it’s a long waiting list and they can send your application back for small things. It’s 85 pages to fill,” Porri says.
“I know lots of people in this situation. They’re breaking families. The atmosphere is suddenly that maybe you think I wasn’t that welcome here in the first place. I came here 20 years ago because there were opportunities, but at the same time I contributed to being here: working, never took benefits, I pay taxes. And of course I was young then, but now, where do I go?”
Alastair Campbell tells the Remain movement not to give up: “When you see a car heading toward a cliff, you don’t keep driving.
“The media in this country is a right-wing cartel of tax-dodgers that pretends to speak for their readers when they speak for themselves and their own vested interest,” he adds.
More from Alastair Campbell:
"I know I am in a minority in thinking Brexit can be stopped, but I'm not in a minority in thinking that it should be," says @campbellclaret
— Dan Roberts (@RobertsDan) March 25, 2017
Tens of thousands of anti-Brexit demonstrators fell silent at Parliament Square in tribute to the victims of the Westminster attack.
The first speaker, Alastair Campbell, said: “Before we talk about Brexit, before we call on any of the speakers, we need to recognise that something really bad happened not far from here just the other day.”
Campaigners stood with their heads bowed for a minute-long silence, with the only sound the chiming of Big Ben.
More from campaigning lawyer Jo Maugham, who says his recent legal action is about giving people a democratic voice.
“Starting article 50 is like a journey, a journey we can turn back from,” he tells the Unite For Europe rally.
He argues that much has changed already since the referendum was held: “Last year we voted in a very different world. We had no president who wanted to tear up the trade rules … or Nato. We did not know what Brexit means and we still do not know what Brexit means.”
Maugham adds: “Anyone who says they know what the popular mood is and we should give up is lying to you. What will make Brexit happen is if you give up.”
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