Hundreds attend No Brexit Day rally in Cambridge
Daniel Zeichner told a crowd of hundreds at a 'No Brexit Day' rally in Cambridge today that the best deal is staying in the European Union.
The city's Labour MP, who advocates revoking Article 50, told them that other options discussed did not represent getting back control from the European Union, but giving it up.
"For those who want it over, the answer is simple: Revoke Article 50," he said.
"We must also recognise that there are many people acrosss the country tonight who are bitter and angry and disappointed. So we must be careful in our tone and measured, because we are winning the argument. The argument, quite frankly, is there to be won."
Calling for a second referendum, he added: "We should not be afraid of democracy."
Dr Julie Smith - Baroness Smith of Newnham - also spoke at the rally, and pointed out that the House of Lords had not been offered a chance to hold a meaningful vote on the deal.
The rally was organised by Cambridge Stays, the anti-Brexit group, to mark the day that the country was due to leave the European Union.
Paul Browne, chair of Cambridge Stays, said: “Brexit is a mess, a national crisis, but on Friday as Brexit Day passes with no Brexit we’re gathering to say loud and clear that it does not have to be like this.
"Theresa May has offered to resign in a final bid to get her dodgy deal through Parliament, even though she knows her successor - whoever it is - will seek to backtrack and undermine it at the earliest opportunity, plunging the UK back into chaos.
"We know that Brexit is no longer the will of the people. Polls over the past six months show a consistent and clear majority in favour of remaining in the EU, and in the past few days a million marched for a People’s Vote, and a Parliamentary petition to revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit became the fastest growing and largest ever.
"Enough is enough. MPs must put Brexit back to the people in a referendum with the option of staying in the EU, or they must revoke Article 50 and end the Brexit crisis themselves.”
Prior to the rally, MPs in the House of Commons rejected the government's Withdrawal Agreement by 344 votes to 286, a margin of 58.
The UK has now missed the EU's deadline to delay Brexit until May 22 and leave with a deal.
The Prime Minister has until April 12 to seek an extension or the country faces a no-deal Brexit on that date.
Mrs May said it was "almost certain" now that European elections would have to be held.
South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen had been due to talk at the rally, but was unable to leave Westminster in time.
The former Tory was earlier announced as the interim leader of the Independent Group, which has registered as a political party called Change UK in order to fight the elections to the European Parliament, expected to be held on May 22.
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