People’s Vote and The Independent March for the Future, London, 20 October 2018

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Series Details 20.10.18
Publication Date 20/10/2018
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Remain (in the EU) campaigning organisations in the United Kingdom organised a People's Vote and The Independent March for the Future in London on the 20 October 2018. The campaign was calling for a 'People's Vote' (or second referendum) on the terms of any Brexit deal presented to Parliament by the UK Government.

On the day supporters claimed that up to 700,000 took part in the march.

Background

The People's Vote campaign launched on the 15 April 2018 sought to ensure that the UK government's Brexit deal was put before the country in a public vote so that the public could decide if a decision that would affect lives for generations made the country better or worse off.

The campaign was launched with a rally in London in front of an audience of over 1,000 people. There were speeches from from leading anti-Brexit MPs from across the party divide – Anna Soubry, Chuka Umunna, Layla Moran and Caroline Lucas – about why they thought it should be for the people, rather than politicians to decide.

The People's Vote campaign was run by Open Britain.

Subsequently, the People’s Vote campaigning group organised a march in London on the 23 June 2018 to highlight their demand for a People's Vote on the final deal that the UK Government negotiated with the EU for the country to leave the Union. They estimated that 100,000 took part in the march.

James McGrory, Executive Director of Open Britain, one of an alliance of organisations behind the March for a People’s Vote, said:

'This March for a People’s Vote was an incredible show of strength, and it shows the politicians in Westminster just how angry people in this country are about the mess being made of Brexit'.

During late August 2018 commentators noted that the main tactical aim of the People's Vote campaign seemed to be to persuade the Labour Party leadership to support a people’s vote. The issue might come to a head at Labour’s annual conference in late September 2018.

Other groups campaigning for a People's Vote included:

+ Seventy prominent UK business people, November 2018
+ 1500 of the UK's top lawyers, November 2018 in a letter to The Guardian 'Let the people judge whether a Brexit deal is fit for purpose'.
+ Members of Momentum, November 2018

Further information

Open Britain was a campaigning organisation set up after the June 2016 EU referendum in the United Kingdom. It was the successor to the main Remain campaigning group Britain Stronger in Europe.

Open Britain campaigned for Britain to be open and inclusive, open for business, open to trade and investment, open to talent and hard work, open to Europe and to the world.

Open Britain had three key objectives:

+ The best deal for Britain
+ Making a positive case for Europe
+ Growing the grassroots

In February 2018 Open Britain joined other remain campaigning organisations such as the European Movement, Wales for Europe, Britain for Europe, InFacts, Scientists for EU, Healthier IN the EU (renamed NHS against Brexit in September 2018), Leave Watch, The New European and others, and pro-Remain MPs from the Labour Party, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, SNP and Plaid Cymru on the All Party Parliamentary Group on EU Relations to form a Grassroots Coordinating Group.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://www.peoples-vote.uk/march
Related Links
In Facts, 05.11.18: Brexit ‘bad for business, bad for working people’ say bosses https://infacts.org/brexit-bad-for-business-bad-for-working-people-say-bosses/
In Facts, 20.10.18: People Power can get a People’s Vote. Yes, it can! https://infacts.org/people-power-can-get-a-peoples-vote-yes-it-can/
Deutsche Welle, 20.10.18: Thousands in London march for vote on Brexit terms https://p.dw.com/p/36s1L
In Facts, 23.10.18: May’s denial of People’s Vote is desperate and patronising https://infacts.org/mays-denial-of-peoples-vote-is-desperate-and-patronising/
People's Vote: News, 22.10.18: Biggest Brexit demonstration yet as 570,000 come together for People's Vote march https://www.peoples-vote.uk/_biggest_brexit_demonstration_yet_as_570_000_come_together_for_people_s_vote_march
Social Europe, 29.10.18: A People’s Vote Isn’t Dogmatic – It’s Democratic Engagement At Its Best https://www.socialeurope.eu/a-peoples-vote-isnt-dogmatic-its-democratic-engagement-at-its-best
The Independent, 20.10.18: [Editorial]: Beyond the march, The Independent presses MPs to keep our options open on the most important decision in generations https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/brexit-march-final-say-campaign-second-referendum-peoples-vote-eu-negotiations-a8593576.html
The Guardian, 20.10.18: People's Vote march: '700,000' rally for new Brexit referendum– as it happened https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2018/oct/20/peoples-vote-march-london-second-referendum-brexit-live
Politico, 20.10.18: Hundreds of thousands rally in UK for second Brexit referendum https://www.politico.eu/article/hundreds-of-thousands-rally-in-uk-for-second-brexit-referendum/
UK: Parliament: House of Lords: News, 24.10.18: Lords debates People's Vote on Brexit https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2018/october/lords-debates-peoples-vote-on-brexit/
The Guardian, 05.11.18: UK's top lawyers urge Theresa May to back second Brexit vote https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/05/uks-top-lawyers-urge-theresa-may-to-back-second-brexit-vote
ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/
BBC News, 20.10.18: People's Vote march: Hundreds of thousands attend London protest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45925542
The Guardian, 03.11.18: Business leaders join call for second vote on Brexit https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/03/business-leaders-join-call-for-second-vote-on-brexit
CAPX, 26.10.18: Can politicians ignore the public? https://capx.co/can-politicians-ignore-the-public/
Labour List, 06.11.18: 41% of Momentum members want a ‘people’s vote’ on Brexit 'in all circumstances' https://labourlist.org/2018/11/41-of-momentum-members-want-a-peoples-vote-on-brexit-in-all-circumstances/

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