Why did "1 million" people march in London?
As the speeches end and protesters file away from Parliament Square, here is a roundup of the day's main developments.
- Organizers claim that 1 million people took to the streets of the British capital today. CNN has not been able to verify this figure and London's Metropolitan Police are not commenting on crowd estimates.
- Prime Minister Theresa May came in for heavy criticism from speakers in Parliament Square at a time when she is already facing calls to resign.
- The UK is gearing up for another crucial week in the torturous Brexit process as the PM attempts to convince MPs to vote her deal through Parliament.
Brexit brings Brits to the streets
“It’s been over 10 years since I have been on a march," said Naomi Penfold, 29, from Cambridge.
"Normally Brits stay quiet and grumble but with Brexit there is too much at stake.”
"Normally Brits stay quiet and grumble but with Brexit there is too much at stake.”
"You don't speak for us," Labour deputy leader tells May
Labour
deputy leader Tom Watson has implored Theresa May to "have a look out
of the window" and "look at this great crowd today" in a tweet following
his speech in Parliament Square.
May bears responsibility for crisis, says former deputy prime minister
Former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine criticized Theresa May in a speech in Parliament Square.
“The Prime Minister herself bears a heavy personal responsibility for our current crisis,” he said, adding that her criticism of MPs last Wednesday was an "affront to parliamentary democracy."
Generals who lose wars blame their troops, managers who break their companies blame the workers, said Heseltine.
"Now we can add: Prime ministers who lose elections blame their MPs," he said, before calling for a second referendum.
"One way or another, you the people must decide. You the people must be free to vote to remain."
"We are sleepwalking towards disaster"
Private
equity director Jonty Graham, 35, and PR executive Charlotte Graham,
32, are attending the protest with their daughters Poppy, 5 and Tilly,
4.
"We are sleepwalking towards disaster," Jonty Graham told CNN.
"I have lots of friends who I play with who are French and Spanish and I like playing with them," said Tilly.
"We are sleepwalking towards disaster," Jonty Graham told CNN.
"I have lots of friends who I play with who are French and Spanish and I like playing with them," said Tilly.
Time-lapse video shows crowds in Parliament Square
The
Independent Group, a cross-party bloc of rebel anti-Brexit MPs, has
posted a time-lapse video showing the crowd in Parliament Square.
Rebel lawmaker calls on colleagues to support second referendum
MP
Anna Soubry, who recently left the Conservative party to join a
breakaway cross-party bloc known as the Independent Group, spoke to
crowds in Parliament Square.
In a video posted on Twitter by Independent Group MP Chris Leslie, Soubry said former Conservative colleagues have told her in private that they know a so-called "people's vote" is the only solution.
"Put your country first," she said, urging MPs to support a second referendum.
In a video posted on Twitter by Independent Group MP Chris Leslie, Soubry said former Conservative colleagues have told her in private that they know a so-called "people's vote" is the only solution.
"Put your country first," she said, urging MPs to support a second referendum.
"Brexit is a complete and utter mess," says London Mayor
London
Mayor Sadiq Khan addressed the crowds in Parliament Square this
afternoon, and also called for a People's Vote on Twitter.
Protest signs out in force
Take a look at a few of these protest signs for a bit of light relief.
"The result of the 2016 referendum was not well informed"
"The country had the chance to vote on a principle but now we know a bit more of what the reality would be and people need the chance to say if they want that reality," he added.
If people say they want Brexit now -- knowing what it involves -- I would respect that, Charles added.
Demonstrators of all ages are hitting London's streets
Some are carrying babies, others are celebrating their birthdays with family and friends, and relatives have met up together in the capital to protest.
Boscy, Robyn and Muffie have traveled from Brighton, Woking and Bath respectively. The niece, daughter and mother are on their third march in two years since Article 50 was triggered.
“We must revoke," said Muffie. "We owe it to the people."
Protesters gather for speeches in Parliament Square
Saturday's route for the "Put It To The People" march saw protesters start at Park Lane before heading towards Parliament Square in central London.
London mayor Sadiq Khan, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine are all set to address protesters.
