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On Parliament Square
Sep. 6th, 2019 08:02 amWell that was interesting. MPs dashing in and out of the house to come across and give us updates and thank us for our efforts. The speakers included Jess Philips, David Lammy, Caroline Lucas, Jo Swinton, Philip Lees, Ian Blackford, Lord Adonis, Diane Abbott, Jon Ashworth and others whose names I forget... But the star of the night was Dominic Grieve.
This was as much of a surprise for him as for anyone else. He looked utterly astonished and rather moved, when the crowd applauded his entrance, breaking into chants of 'You are not alone' and the Seven Nation Army riff adapted to his name. He thanked us for our warm welcome.
'But you must understand,' he added with a kind of rueful smile, 'I am a passionate Conservative.'
'We'll let you off!' Someone shouted, amid much chuckling. On realising that we weren't going to hurl brickbats at him for being a tory, he spoke about his support for giving the people a final say on Brexit, the necessity of moderation and rationality, and he ended just as he began, surrounded by cheers and goodwill.
One heartwarming keynote common to speakers and protesters alike, was the respect and sympathy shown towards those Conservative MPs who have had the whip withdrawn for defying Boris Johnson. This along with a fierce indignation and optimism was the hallmark of the event, with just one sombre note, from a representative of the British Medical Association. No laughter then, as he talked about the very real possibility of people dying through lack of medical supplies if a no deal crashes through. I have tried to ignore the lack of supplies issue because I just don't want to believe it could happen, and something in me can't believe it possible, not here, not to us. I know friends who are worried about medication, but surely, surely they will work something out...
The BMA speaker looked grim, and I wonder where my head has been for the past few months.
Yes it could happen, yes here, yes to us. And he was not optimistic at all.
By the time I left, the bill had gone to the Lords. The rally had to leave parliament square at 8, only to be replaced by a march for Freedom of Movement that had come up from the Home Office. The police looked tired, and the night was just beginning.
This was as much of a surprise for him as for anyone else. He looked utterly astonished and rather moved, when the crowd applauded his entrance, breaking into chants of 'You are not alone' and the Seven Nation Army riff adapted to his name. He thanked us for our warm welcome.
'But you must understand,' he added with a kind of rueful smile, 'I am a passionate Conservative.'
'We'll let you off!' Someone shouted, amid much chuckling. On realising that we weren't going to hurl brickbats at him for being a tory, he spoke about his support for giving the people a final say on Brexit, the necessity of moderation and rationality, and he ended just as he began, surrounded by cheers and goodwill.
One heartwarming keynote common to speakers and protesters alike, was the respect and sympathy shown towards those Conservative MPs who have had the whip withdrawn for defying Boris Johnson. This along with a fierce indignation and optimism was the hallmark of the event, with just one sombre note, from a representative of the British Medical Association. No laughter then, as he talked about the very real possibility of people dying through lack of medical supplies if a no deal crashes through. I have tried to ignore the lack of supplies issue because I just don't want to believe it could happen, and something in me can't believe it possible, not here, not to us. I know friends who are worried about medication, but surely, surely they will work something out...
The BMA speaker looked grim, and I wonder where my head has been for the past few months.
Yes it could happen, yes here, yes to us. And he was not optimistic at all.
By the time I left, the bill had gone to the Lords. The rally had to leave parliament square at 8, only to be replaced by a march for Freedom of Movement that had come up from the Home Office. The police looked tired, and the night was just beginning.
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