Thousands of Britons up and down the country have taken to the streets to protest the government’s plans to take the UK out of the European Union.
On the twelve-month anniversary of Theresa May triggering Article 50, before she called an early election and the Conservatives lost their mandate to govern, rallies were held in cities and towns in England, Scotland, Wales, and Nothern Ireland.
Despite the north of England being described as Brexit heartlands, the biggest rally was held in Leeds, where more than 5,000 people marched together to demonstrate against the economic and societal pain Brexit will inflict on those across the UK.
The Great Northern March saw peaceful protesters carrying a huge EU flags and a variety of signs and banners through the centre of the city before amassing at the Leeds Art Gallery for speeches from Lord Adonis, Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley, and others.
Dear @theresa_may & @jeremycorbynn there are many voters marching today at the #GreatNorthernMarch & many other regional marches. We demand an #ExitFromBrexit #WearewithEUinspirit pic.twitter.com/EtYleta9M4
— Judith #NHSLove #FBPE (@cats2home) March 24, 2018
Anti-Brexit March in Leeds outside work. #Brexit pic.twitter.com/QD0LKrxu41
— Ryan Conway (@RJConway92) March 24, 2018
Amazing Anti Brexit march in leeds #StopBrexit pic.twitter.com/Qb5W8NkxeM
— Josh Hopkinson (@joshhop1066) March 24, 2018
A few thousand people marching in #leeds today. A “bin Brexit” message. Biggest mobilisation of my community I’ve seen since trump said he was coming. pic.twitter.com/irhrJsubdC
— Samuel Stockley (@SamuelStockley) March 24, 2018
Stop Brexit at Leeds. #leeds #brexit pic.twitter.com/7tSDgrxQck
— Daniel (@danilovic17) March 24, 2018
Anti-Brexit demonstrations in Leeds today; rep'd by people of Leeds, Manchester, Hull and Sheffield, as well as Scientists, Green and Labour Parties; genius song references too! #NeverGonnaGiveEUup #KnowingMeKnowingEU #IAm10YearsOldAndIAmMoreIntelligentThanTheresaMay pic.twitter.com/zfW1lGwviE
— Chris Ioannou (@Chris_Ioannou1) March 24, 2018
Fantastic view from the #GreatNorthernMarch stage!! Let’s take back control!! Let’s stop this madness!! Let’s #StopBrexit pic.twitter.com/jx0jvRjGh0
— #HelloMyNameIsJoan #NHSLove #FBPE (@RoaringNurse) March 24, 2018
In Edinburgh, the March for Europe also saw large crows gather to demonstrate against Westminster dragging Scotland out of the EU, despite Scotland voting heavily in favour of Remain in the referendum
I found my people #Edinburgh #edinburgheumarch #brexit #eumarch pic.twitter.com/fEBqDu8vXS
— Giulia Caselli (@gclcaselli) March 24, 2018
Edinburgh march for europe..halt brexit pic.twitter.com/v6i9gsv88y
— Kirsty Hughes (@KirstyS_Hughes) March 24, 2018
At the pro-EU / anti-Brexit march in Edinburgh. #ScotRef #Brexit pic.twitter.com/Tl79daFZ5P
— Thomas W., A.o.P. (@arcofprosperity) March 24, 2018
#StopBrexit great support in Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/GgElvpmk36
— Timothy Honisett (@tim1975ed) March 24, 2018
@albawhitewolf performing in Edinburgh #MarchForEurope with @Scotkraut skulking in the front row pic.twitter.com/poekWYioqn
— Wonka Vite #FBPE (@WonkaVite) March 24, 2018
Scotland demands a people’s say on a final Brexit deal. #ExitfromBrexit #Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/SZy4yIoyHb
— Nick Rowland (@nickjrowland) March 24, 2018
On the March for Europe in Edinburgh – for a fairer, greener Europe, not Brexit and disaster capitalism @patrickharvie @EdinburghGreens @europeangreens @FYEG pic.twitter.com/qlyQ8W5rbt
— Portobello Greens ? (@PortyGreens) March 24, 2018
@BBCWorld Anti- Brexit demonstration in Edinburgh now pic.twitter.com/8kCaIHf4rw
— Graham Dane (@grahamdane) March 24, 2018
Grass-roots organised regional rallies were held in Exeter, Ipswich, Isle of White, Lincoln, Maidenhead, Newcastle, Oxford, Pontypridd, Sussex, with smaller protests also being held elsewhere.
@BenPBradshaw
Thank you for an excellent speech today at the Anti-Brexit Rally in Exeter.
Amazing crowd. pic.twitter.com/BHkewfQJvo— lizard #NHSlove (@DaveLisney) March 24, 2018
Amazing turn out at Exeter’s Anti-Brexit Rally.#WeMarch#StopBrexit #WeStandTogether pic.twitter.com/mjMIapICop
— lizard #NHSlove (@DaveLisney) March 24, 2018
Really good to see this Pro EU rally in Ipswich today #eu #brexit #ipswich pic.twitter.com/te35UGeJbe
— Andy Flatman (@Nonsuchandy) March 24, 2018
Great turnout at the Great Eastern March for Europe in Ipswich today☺ Well done @SuffEUAlliance ! #StopBrexit #RegionalRallies #Brexit #FBPE pic.twitter.com/q1vdM6f49b
— Cambridge Stays #FBPE (@cambridge_stays) March 24, 2018
