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Musical anti-Brexit flashmob marches through Canterbury
16:16, 28 September 2019
updated: 11:18, 30 September 2019
A musical flashmob of more than 100 people descended on Canterbury as part of an anti-Brexit rally.
Those marching and singing on Saturday said they support the EU and the fact Britain is still a member.
They were backed by Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield.
She said: “This has been a momentous week in British politics. Our Prime Minister has been found to have prorogued Parliament unlawfully, under the guise of preparing a Queen’s Speech.
"The reality is he was attempting to force through a disastrous and reckless ‘no-deal Brexit' which would have profoundly negative consequences for the people of Kent.
"I stand with Canterbury For Europe today as they protest against Brexit and press the Government to return to the public with a confirmatory vote.
"I continue to back a final say for the British people on any deal, and will campaign to remain in the European Union.”
Sian Davies was one of the musicians taking part.
She said: "We met at the other side of the station, we played a few instruments through Canterbury. We walked through the city and down to Primark and did a flash mob. There were lots of thumbs up from people around us. The reaction was definitely positive.
"The people going to the food festival in Dane John Gardens gave us the thumbs up. We had people stopping us and telling us about how things are where they come from and how lovely Canterbury is for doing something so vocal. We weren't trying to change people's opinions, it was about us celebrating how things are now.
"What struck me was how many young people there were. We had lots of teenagers there and people saw what we were doing and joined us on the way. Momentum is definitely picking up and this issue is not going to go away."
The official result for the Canterbury district in the 2016 EU referendum was 51% in favour of leave. The Canterbury district includes Whitstable, Herne Bay and surrounding villages. The EU vote was taken using local council boundaries, unlike General Elections which use parliamentary boundaries.
But further analysis of the voting pattern along constituency lines suggests Miss Duffield's Canterbury and Whitstable constituents actually supported remain with a figure of 52.8%.
In June 2018 Miss Duffield defied Jeremy Corbyn by voting that Britain should retain access to the single market after Brexit.
Following angry exchanges when Parliament reconvened, following the Supreme Court ruling its suspension was unlawful, members of the College of Bishops said the inflammatory language being used was unacceptable.
The Canterbury Flashmob aims to promote The Peoples’ Vote – Let Us Be Heard march on Saturday October 19. More than one million people are expected to descend on Westminster. Protesters are demanding the future direction of this country, and the final decision on Brexit, is put back to the people through a confirmatory vote.
Organiser and local activist, Louise Hummerstone said: “It's a musical celebration of our EU membership and a fun, loud and peaceful expression of our opposition to Brexit.”
