Supporters of Britain’s continued membership of the EU hold placards outside the Houses of Parliament.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Westminster for an anti-Brexit demonstration on Saturday that organisers say is the start of a strategic pivot away from opposing it in parliament towards mobilising public opinion in favour of a referendum on the final deal.
The People’s Vote protest, due to start at 12pm and go from Pall Mall to Parliament Square, has been organised by increasingly well-funded anti-Brexit groups based at Millbank Tower and led by Open Britain, the successor to the remain campaign.
A People’s Vote spokesperson said the two years since the referendum had been characterised by arcane parliamentary manoeuvres about this amendment or that amendment and it was time to take the issue beyond Westminster and back to the people.
Speakers will include the Conservative MP Anna Soubry, the Labour MP David Lammy and the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Vince Cable, while the campaigner Gina Miller and the actor Sir Tony Robinson will also address those present from 2pm.
Their protest will be opposed by a far-right UK Unity and Freedom march, which will start in Victoria at 2pm and head to College Green, near Parliament Square.
It is expected to be smaller, with a few thousand people attending. Promoters say it will focus on freedom from the EU, freedom from terror, freedom of speech, freedom from sharia law and unity of all people irrespective of race or creed. Gerard Batten, the Ukip leader, is expected to be present, but not the former leader Nigel Farage.
Anti-Brexit campaigners are focused on trying to create popular support for a referendum on whatever deal Theresa May achieves in negotiations with the EU.
Polling and focus group work led Open Britain to use the phrase People’s Vote in calling for a final referendum, in which remaining in the EU would be an option on the ballot paper.
The George Soros-backed group Best for Britain has been separately campaigning for a second referendum, focusing on newspaper and outdoor advertising, and local campaigning in parliamentary seats where they hope to persuade the sitting MP to support an amendment for another vote. It is encouraging supporters to attend the People’s Vote march.