Protesters seeking a referendum on the final Brexit deal have attended a rally in London, which organisers say was the "biggest" demonstration of its kind.
Demonstrators listen to speeches in Parliament Square after taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal in central London. Photo: AFP
Young voters led the People's Vote march to London's Parliament Square, which supporters said attracted approximately 700,000 protesters.
Scotland Yard said it was not able to estimate the size of the crowd.
It also had support from a number of MPs who also want a fresh vote.
This is something which has already been ruled out by Prime Minister Theresa May.
Many held home-made signs and banners with slogans like "the wrexiteers", "Brexit stole my future" and "Even Baldrick had a plan."
Thousands of people filled the streets, some were singing, others were playing instruments, while many plastic whistles blared out.
The marchers are hoping people power will persuade the British government to hold a referendum on the outcome of the final Brexit deal.
The British public voted to leave the European Union by a slim margin in a referendum in June 2016.
The UK is scheduled to leave on 29 March 2019, under the terms of the two-year Article 50 process.
The march was held at the same time as a pro-Brexit rally in Harrogate, organised by the group Leave Means Leave and led by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
Mr Farage said: "The evidence suggests about a third of those that voted remain now say we're democrats and think the government should simply get on with it.
"And that's our message - get on with it, fulfil your promises to us, you said if we voted to leave it would happen, it needs to."
Richard Tice, founder of Leave Means Leave and former co-chair of Leave.EU, said: "The idea that you should have a second referendum would be incredibly damaging - most of all to the trust in democracy from people up and down this country."
'Final say'
Some 150 coach loads of people from across the UK - including as far away from London as Orkney - travelled to the March for the Future.
A woman holds a sign referring to the Brexit deadline of march 2019 during the People's Vote March for the Future in London. Photo: AFP / Hans Lucas
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who started the march, was among those who addressed Parliament Square, along with representatives from the main political parties. Celebrity speakers included Steve Coogan, Delia Smith and Deborah Meaden.
Ms Smith said it was "the most important issue in our lifetime", adding: "My message to MPs is please sort this out. Let the people you serve have their say."
London Mayor Mr Khan told the crowd: "What's really important is that those that say that a public vote is undemocratic, is unpatriotic, realise that in fact, the exact opposite is the truth.
"What could be more democratic, what could be more British, than trusting the judgement of the British people."
And First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon sent a message of support to the rally, saying the SNP would support a vote that would give the option of staying in the EU.
'Young stand to lose most'
#PeoplesVoteMarch was trending on Twitter, with lots of young people - some of those who were not eligible to vote in the 2016 referendum - heading on the march.
Emily Longman, 20, one of the students leading the march behind a People's Vote banner, was four months too young to vote in the 2016 referendum.
She studies Spanish and is due to study abroad next year, but said "no-one knows what will happen with Erasmus funding".
Aleta Doyle, 46, from Peterborough, who attended with her 12-year-old son Leo, said she was marching "for my children's future and European unity".
And Leo Buckley, 16, from Hampshire, said: "Young people stand to lose the most. I'm going to be poorer and not have the same career opportunities."
At the other end of the age spectrum, Joe Trickey from Croydon celebrated his 83rd birthday at the march. He said: "I believe very strongly in the EU as a place of peace and strength."
'Small print'
Dr Mike Galsworthy, from NHS Against Brexit, told BBC News: "Whether you voted leave, or whether you voted remain - when a contract comes back, you do have the right to read the small print and say actually 'no, no, no, this isn't what we want to be signing up for'."
Campaign supporter Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street director of communications, said: "The Brexit that was promised, and the Brexit that was campaigned successfully for, doesn't exist."
He added: "I don't think you can re-run the referendum. I think we have to accept that we lost that debate. I think the question has to be on the nature of the deal."
- BBC
