York MP unveils ‘Love Socialism, Hate Brexit’ banner at Westminster

York MP Rachael Maskell spelled out a very clear message today – in giant letters above the River Thames.

She was among a group of 13 Labour MPs who staged an anti-Brexit protest in central London.

They gathered on Westminster Bridge, next to the Houses of Parliament, as flares were lit and a 32ft (9.75m) long banner reading “Love Socialism, Hate Brexit” was hung across the Thames.

Badges bearing the same message were handed out. The MPs include long-time allies of Jeremy Corbyn.

Alongside the York Central MP were Clive Lewis (Norwich South), Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton Kemptown), Kate Osamor (Edmonton), Marsha de Cordova (Battersea), Sandy Martin (Ipswich), Alex Sobel (Leeds North West), Preet Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston), Luke Pollard (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport), Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central), Paul Sweeney (Glasgow North East), Ged Killen (Rutherglen and Hamilton West), and Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton).

‘Ask the people’

A police boat and uniformed officers arrived on the scene and asked what they were doing but the demonstration ended shortly afterwards.

The demo follows Ms Maskell coming out in favour of a second Brexit referendum.

She reiterated that message today, tweeting: “Let’s be clear Theresa May’s deal will be catastrophic for jobs, the environment and citizens rights. Asking the people is now the democratic thing to do.”

Ms de Cordova said:

• We’re sending a clear message of solidarity to the leadership that we believe the British people have been let down.

  When it comes to Brexit we need to give the people the final say.
  

Some of the group were adamant that Mr Corbyn was behind their message despite wide accusations of Euroscepticism.

MP Sandy Martin said: “Jeremy (Corbyn) is in support of a customs union and a single market and we have been saying that consistently since the election in 2017.

“Jeremy is a socialist and was also opposed to the European Union for many years but people are allowed to change their mind.

“We have a lot of other really influential socialists in the leadership of the Labour Party who have almost certainly had long discussions with Jeremy about the European Union.”