- Title: Pro and anti-Brexit protesters united in distrust of UK PM after vote postponed
- Date: 10th December 2018
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PRO-BREXIT PROTESTERS SINGING "RULE BRITANNIA"
- Embargoed: 24th December 2018 15:34
- Keywords: Brexit withdrawal agreement meaningful vote Brexit vote Theresa May British Prime Minister
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA0039AD4W1Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Protesters for and against Brexit expressed their dismay on Monday (December 10) after British Prime Minister Theresa May abruptly decided to pull a parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside parliament, waving banners and shouting their respective slogans.
While both groups are opposed in their Brexit stands, demonstrators from each side were against postponing Tuesday's vote.
"I think she's scared she knows she's going to lose and I think that by deferring that's very dangerous because the clock is ticking down and that leaves us closer and closer to crashing out with no deal," Kate Gott, an assistant teacher from Norfolk, said.
"I think it's deeply irresponsible of her to defer the vote...She's acting in her own best interests and not in the interest of the country."
Gott was one of dozens of anti-Brexit voters waving pro-EU flags and banners while loudly chanting "Stop Brexit" and calling for "a people's vote".
They were joined by musicians playing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", also the "Anthem to Europe".
Nearby a gathering of pro-Brexit demonstrators shouted their own slogans calling for a swift divorce from the bloc. One elderly female protester burnt a piece of paper with the EU flag.
"I'm frustrated, I think we need to move on quickly, time is running out," Sam Goulding, a 62-year-old builder from London, said.
"We voted to leave the European Union, we didn't vote to get a good deal from the EU."
May's decision on the eve of the vote, came after repeated warnings from members of parliament she faced a rout against her agreement for a deal with the bloc.
The move thrusts the United Kingdom's divorce from the European Union into chaos, with possible options including a disorderly Brexit with no deal, another referendum on EU membership, or a last-minute renegotiation of May's deal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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