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Protester Peter Cook and pals descend on Deal to highlight 'catastrophic' combination of coronavirus and Brexit

12:45, 20 September 2020

updated: 07:24, 21 September 2020

An anti-Brexit campaigner and his pals descended on Deal on Sunday to highlight the reasons they believe the country must suspend its exit from the EU.

Peter Cook from Gillingham and up to 10 other members from Rage Against The Brexit Machine protested by the pier.

Peter Cook pictured at his home in Gillingham will protest in Deal today Picture: Sean Aidan
Peter Cook pictured at his home in Gillingham will protest in Deal today Picture: Sean Aidan
The anti-Brexit campaigners waved flags to highlight their cause Picture: Peter Cook
The anti-Brexit campaigners waved flags to highlight their cause Picture: Peter Cook

The group already have three albums to their name but also used the event to showcase their new song, "Britastrophe" - Mutant Algorithm.

It shares a message that the combination of the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit is catastrophic, hence they feel the government must delay its negotiations.

Mr Cook told KentOnline : "We think Brexit should be suspended.

"It's simply a bad idea per se. But there are clear signs that this government cannot cope with the burden of having coronavirus and Brexit.

"The band width they're carrying is impossible.

Rage Against The Brexit Machine spread their message from the entrance to Deal Pier Picture: Peter Cook
Rage Against The Brexit Machine spread their message from the entrance to Deal Pier Picture: Peter Cook

"In Kent, we're going to face a huge 7,000 lorries sitting on our roads from December 31.

"People have no idea what that means for medicine and food. People have no idea what's going to happen with Brexit.

"I think the people of Kent were deluded, sold a really good idea.

"But it's important to know we can suspend Brexit; it's a political decision not a legal one."

Some of the protesters travelled from as far as Birmingham to take part and wanted to alert the people of a "sleepy town" to this subject.

A resident stopped in her tracks to join in the protest by the pier Picture: Peter Cook
A resident stopped in her tracks to join in the protest by the pier Picture: Peter Cook

They used music, an amplifier, flags and signs to get their message across.

Mr Cook said: "We had a superb reception in Deal. People of all persuasions got the idea of Corona crisis + Brexit = Britastrophe.

"Several people came to speak with us about the vital importance of not breaking the law and the preservation of peace on the island of Ireland.

"They will be writing to Natalie Elphicke with their concerns."

It followed similar marches in Rochester, Gillingham and the Isle of Sheppey.

Mr Cook continues to campaign despite being punched at Gillingham train station in October 2018 for his beliefs.

Youths taunted him for wearing an anti-Brexit t-shirt, leaving him with two black eyes.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal

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