Yahoo – AFP, Roland Jackson, July 2, 2016
People hold up pro-Europe signs as thousands of protesters take part in a march through the centre of London on July 2, 2016 (AFP Photo/Niklas Halle'N) |
London
(AFP) - Thousands marched through London on Saturday, waving European flags and
chanting "We love you EU" to voice their opposition to Britain's
stunning vote to quit the bloc.
The march went
past Downing Street -- where demonstrators shouted "shame on you"
aimed at outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the referendum --
before ending up at parliament.
"Breverse",
"The Leave Campaign Lied", "Save our Future" and
"Never Gonna Give EU up" were among the colourful banners on display,
the latter referring to the 1980s hit by pop star Rick Astley.
Organisers
said over 40,000 took part, but police did not give figures.
"I
think the Leave campaign misled people, we are (making) a wrong decision
because of the lies," protestor Casey, 37, told AFP.
"Baguettes
not regrets," chanted others along the route.
Musician
Bob Geldof urged Remain supporters to "take to the streets".
"Let's
get real," he said. "Going online and tweeting your indignation is
only venting into the ether. It achieves nothing.
"Come
out. Take action amongst your friends, work colleagues and in your
neighbourhoods."
Organisers
claimed more than 40,000 were taking part in the pro-EU rally
through central
London, on July 2, 2016 (AFP Photo/Niklas Halle'n)
|
Second
referendum urged
In a move
that stunned Europe, Britons voted 52 percent in favour of withdrawing from the
EU bloc with 48 percent against, with many citing immigration concerns as the
reason to leave the bloc.
The narrow
victory has triggered anger in Britain among those who wanted to remain in the
EU and more than four million people have signed a petition calling for another
referendum.
"There
must be a second referendum. Everybody knows that if there is... we'll vote to
stay," said former television producer Nicholas Light, 82, on Saturday's
march.
The seismic
June 23 vote prompted the resignation of Cameron who called the referendum in a
bid to decide the long-contentious issue once and for all. He backed the failed
Remain campaign.
It also
unleashed a bitter leadership battle in the ruling Conservative party and chaos
in the main opposition Labour party, whose leader Jeremy Corbyn is now facing
all-out revolt.
The
favourites to succeed Cameron have meanwhile been pushing for a delay in
starting the process that will eventually see Britain leave the 28-member EU.
Frontrunner
Theresa May and high-profile rival Michael Gove have both said they do not
expect Article 50 -- the formal procedure for leaving the bloc -- would be
invoked this year.
EU leaders
have urged a swift divorce, fearful of the impact of Britain's uncertain future
on economic growth and a potential domino effect in eurosceptic member states.
A man holds
up a placard depicting Michael Gove, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson
as liars
during the 'March for Europe' rally in London, on July 2, 2016 (AFP
Photo/
Niklas Halle'n)
|
Markets
turmoil
Last week's
shock vote plunged financial markets into crisis, wiping trillions off equities
around the world and sending the pound to its lowest point against the dollar
in more than three decades.
The Bank of
England has said it could slash interest rates this summer to counter the
downbeat economic outlook.
And finance
minister George Osborne has warned the government would abandon its promise to
achieve a budget surplus by 2020, sparking forecasts of more spending cutbacks
and tax hikes.
The vote
over the EU laid bare serious divisions in Britain.
Younger
voters -- many of whom worried about their right to travel and work in the EU
-- mainly voted to remain while their Baby Boomer elders were likelier to vote
Leave.
Voters in
Scotland, Northern Ireland and the capital London backed remaining, while those
that chose to leave were largely from less affluent areas in England and Wales.
The
Scottish vote has re-ignited the debate over independence there.
First
Minister Nicola Sturgeon went to Brussels Wednesday to press Scotland's desire
to remain part of the EU, and says a second independence referendum is now
"on the table", after voters voted No in 2014.
Organisers
said over 40,000 took part in a pro-EU march through London, waving
colourful
banners reading "Breverse", "The Leave Campaign Lied" and
"Never Gonna
Give EU Up" (AFP Photo)
|
Keep calm
Queen
Elizabeth II meanwhile Saturday urged calm in an "increasingly challenging
world", in what some commentators suggested could refer to the situation
after the Brexit vote.
"As
this parliament has successfully demonstrated over the years, one hallmark of
leadership in such a fast-moving world is allowing sufficient room for quiet thinking
and contemplation," she said, while opening a new session of the Scottish
parliament in Holyrood.
The BBC's
Scottish political editor, Brian Taylor, said the remarks, the queen's first
since the Brexit vote, could be seen as "a 'Keep Calm and Carry On'
message."
Specifically
they appeared aimed "at the wider body politic, at those in Holyrood,
Westminster and elsewhere who now have to cope with the impact of the vote to
leave the EU," he wrote.
Leading #Brexit campaigner Farage quits as UKIP leader https://t.co/tmx0b9h0j2 pic.twitter.com/GgmFN2RQej— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 4, 2016
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