- Title: Brexit opponents protest against new deal
- Date: 17th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) ANTI-BREXIT PROTESTERS DRESSED LIKE BORIS JOHNSON AND THE HULK POSING WITH PLACARD READING: (English) "BREXIT MUST DIE IN A DITCH" ANTI-BREXIT PROTEST IN PROGRESS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION BUILDING IN THE BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING GIANT LETTERS READING (English) "STOP BREXIT" VARIOUS OF "PRO EUROPA" ORGANISER JEREMY THOMAS GIVING A SPEECH ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) "PRO EUROPA" ORGANISER, JEREMY THOMAS, SAYING: "I cannot support any deal. The best deal we have got, is the deal we have got now and it is the deal that is staying in the European Union where we have a say on what happens, full access to citizens' rights.... it's the deal we've known since 1974." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LISTENING TO SPEAKERS ON STAGE DURING PROTEST PROTESTER DRESSED AS HULK POSING WITH SIGN READING (English): "BREXIT MUST DIE IN A DITCH" (SOUNDBITE) (English) "PRO EUROPA" ORGANISER, JEREMY THOMAS, SAYING: "I don't think the EU will be a problem at all. If the EU have got a deal on the table, that's what they'll stick to. However, I do think that the deal isn't going to be good for Northern Ireland and simply will not be acceptable to both sides in Northern Ireland. And for that reason, I think the British parliament will quite rightly reject it because we do not want to see the return of the troubles." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BRANDISHING FLAGS AND SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTER, ANJA VAN DEN BERG, SAYING: "I think (British Prime Minister) Boris (Johnson) has put himself in a very difficult position because he's put ultimatums on himself. I'm not going to focus too much on Boris but I think it's a difficult situation and it's silly to leave when you've got such good terms already. We're not going to get better terms than we already have so that's why I made this sign: 'EU members already get the best deal' and (turning sign around) 'Please take a moment to appreciate what you (EU) already have'." PARTICIPANT PLAYING AN ANTI-BREXIT SONG ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 31st October 2019 17:16
- Keywords: Brexit Britain European Union protest deal Brussels
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1HLQ2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Brexit opponents protesting in Brussels on Thursday (October 17) rejected a new withdrawal agreement approved by European and British negotiators.
Carrying placards reading "Ditch Brexit" and chanting "The Future is Europe", some demonstrated dressed as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson or comic book hero The Hulk, to whom Boris Johnson compared himself during negotiations.
The few dozen protesters hoped the British Parliament would reject the new deal as it meets for an extraordinary session on Saturday, arguing "you're not going to get better terms than you already have".
Johnson has no majority in the 650-seat parliament, and in practice needs at least 318 votes to get a deal ratified.
Parliament defeated a previous deal struck by Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, three times.
The uncertainty over parliament's approval means that, two weeks before Britain is due to leave the world's largest trading bloc, the possible outcomes still range from an orderly departure to a chaotic exit or even another referendum that could reverse the entire endeavour.
(Production Natasha Bowler, Elena Gyldenkerne) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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