Brexit protests today – LIVE: Protesters demand Boris Johnson 'stop the coup' as thousands march across UK against parliament shutdown
‘Boris Johnson shame on you,’ marchers chant outside Downing Street
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Your support makes all the difference.Thousands of protesters brought central London to a standstill on Saturday, after Boris Johnson announced he planned to suspend parliament next month.
Around 80 rallies were also held in cities and towns across the UK, organised by Another Europe Is Possible, an anti-Brexit campaign group.
Demonstrators marched down Whitehall at midday and gathered outside the gates of Downing Street chanting ”Boris Johnson shame on you”.
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The prime minister announced earlier this week that he planned to suspend parliament for almost five weeks this autumn, in an unprecedented move from Downing Street.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor and Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, both spoke to the Whitehall crowds from a stage erected near Number 10.
“It is a fight to protect our democracy – we know what Boris Johnson is up to, it is not very subtle is it?” Mr McDonnell said to the gathered protesters.
He added: “Boris Johnson, this is not about Parliament versus the people, this is about you versus the people.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, spoke to thousands of protesters demonstrating in Glasgow.
”I’m proud to be here with all of you supporting that, to say to Boris Johnson no way, it’s our parliament,” he said.
“No way do you take us out without a deal – we will stop you and give the people their rights and their say to determine their future.”
“Well think on Boris, it’s not on and we’re not having it.”
Protesters in London blocked traffic on Westminster Bridge as they demonstrated against the suspension.
“If you shut down our Parliament, we shut down your bridge,” they shouted.
Demonstrators also blocked traffic on Waterloo Bridge and near Trafalgar Square.
Organisers estimate that 100,000 people marched in London. At least three people were arrested in the capital, Scotland Yard confirmed.
A further 5,000 people marched in Bristol.
Another Europe is Possible is planning daily protests at 5.30pm, to be held every day for the foreseeable future.
Additional reporting by agencies
Although the biggest march appears to be in central London, people are out in force in the rest of the UK.
Protesters in Liverpool can be seen taking to the streets in the above clip.
And in Bristol traffic has been blocked by around 2,000 protesters, who marched to College Green and then walked around the city, through the middle of the busy Broadmead shopping area.
Lots of chanting could be heard in the city, including "What do we want? Democracy! When do we want it? Now!", "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Boris Johnson's got to go" and the ubiquitous "Boris Johnson, shame on you!"
All the marches have been dubbed "Stop the Coup!" protests by organisers.
Some protesters have asked why Jeremy Corbyn is not taking part in today's Stop the Coup marches.
It turns out the Labour leader is in Glasgow, for a three day trip to Scotland.
He was asked about comments made by Keir Starmer, about next week being the final opportunity to stop the UK from leaving the EU without an agreement.
"I'm sure he is correct because Keir has worked extremely hard as our shadow Brexit secretary," Mr Corbyn said.
"Yes, it is the chance and we will do absolutely everything we can to prevent a no-deal Brexit and the prime minister taking us into the hands of Donald Trump and a trade deal with the USA.
"That is the real agenda of the prime minister.
"There is a lot of work being done in preparation for next Tuesday."
Mr Corbyn also did an impression of Boris Johnson as he mocked the prime minister for lacking detail in his announcements.
Parliament reconvenes after the summer recess on Tuesday.
It is then expected to be suspended the following week.
A number of protesters in Whitehall have blocked Westminster Bridge.
Shouting "stop the coup" and "our democracy and parliament is under attack", the crowds brought foot and vehicle traffic along the crossing to a halt.
Marchers shouted: "If you shut down our Parliament, we shut down your bridge!"
Jeremy Corbyn is expected to speak at a Stop the Coup rally in Glasgow, at George Square.
The Labour leader is on the final day of his three-day trip to Scotland.
Thousands of protesters have already gathered in the square, in the centre of the city.
Influential left-wing campaign group Momentum has called on its members to "occupy bridges and blockade roads" to protest Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament.
Here's the view from the stage which protest organisers have erected near Downing Street today:
Momentum / @JDCmoore
"The first speaker on the stage was a leave voter called James who said he 'voted to boost British sovereignty' and “believes that what Boris is doing is totally without a mandate” and that 'he did not vote for no deal'," a Momentum spokesperson said.
“Today hundreds of thousands of people in all parts of the country and across the political spectrum have come out to take emergency action against a blatant power grab by the prime minister," added Laura Parker, Momentum’s National Coordinator.
"We have a barely-elected millionaire prime minister who is happy to exploit a loophole in our flawed democracy to hoard more power at the top.Nobody voted for an Eton educated millionaire to hijack our democracy in his own self interest.
"He is part of the same tiny, privileged elite who has been hoarding power at the top and eroding our democracy for decades."
Here's the view from Nottingham, where Stop the Coup protesters are currently rallying:
Protests will be held every day at 5.30pm across the UK for the foreseeable future, according to Another Europe is Possible, the anti-Brexit campaign group which organised today's rallies.
"We are not going away. We will be protesting EVERY DAY at 5:30 pm. Everywhere," the group said on Twitter.
Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, addressed crowds in Whitehall earlier.
The Labour MP previously said Boris Johnson was "behaving like a Latin American dictator by closing down the legislature at will."
Jeremy Corbyn is addressing thousands of protesters gathered in George Square in central Glasgow.
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