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
Protesters have blocked Waterloo Bridge, according to rally organisers.
"Now Waterloo is shut down as well!" Another Europe is Possible, the anti-Brexit group organising today's protests, said.
"We're not just here to express our opinion and go home. We are here to resist, and we won't go away."
Momentum, the influential left wing campaign group, said hundreds of protesters were on the bridge.
Both pro and anti-Brexit marches are both being held in Manchester.
People protesting against the suspension of parliament let off small smoke bombs.
Meanwhile James Goddard, a right-wing activist, addressed the small pro-Brexit group.
Wearing a Trump 2020 T-shirt and a Public Enemy baseball cap backwards, Mr Goddard was jeered by anti-Brexit supporters.
He invited them for one-on-one conversations on camera but police officers prevented anyone coming forward.
Mr Goddard was banned from going near parliament for five years after hurling abuse at Remain-supporting MP Anna Soubry and was handed an eight-week jail sentence, suspended for a year.
Jeremy Corbyn has addressed thousands of people who are protesting parliament's suspension in central Glasgow.
"I'm proud to be here with all of you supporting that, to say to Boris Johnson no way, it's our parliament," the Labour leader 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."
He said he was backing the protests all over the country, adding: "Demonstrations are taking place everywhere because people are angered and outraged about what is happening.
"Angered that the Government and a prime minister elected by 93,000 members of the Tory party is trying to hijack the needs, aims and aspirations of 65 million people.
"Well think on Boris, it's not on and we're not having it."
And here's the Labour leader speaking earlier today, saying parliament's last chance to stop a no-deal Brexit will come next week.
The protest blockades continue.
A large number of London demonstrators have now brought Trafalgar Square to a standstill - with some sitting in the road to block traffic.
Darren Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West, has told protesters in the city that people should take to the streets to demonstrate against Boris Johnson and not allow "democracy to die".
He added: "Thank-you to the thousands of you that have marched through the streets of Bristol and across the country to make it clear we will not stand down when our democracy is being shut down.
"We are members of Parliament and Parliament is where we should be making your voice heard loud and clear, with the power of our vote and the ability to hold the Government to account.
"If Boris Johnson thinks he can turn Britain into an autocracy, he has got another think coming.
"If the Prime Minister is able to close down Parliament, we need to be able to bring it to the streets because we are your voice in Parliament and our democracy is about all of us.
"What is clear from all of you today, and in towns and cities up and down the country, is that the British people will not let democracy die."
Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams, a former MP for Bristol West, told the same protest that Boris Johnson had lied to the public during the 2016 referendum.
"Democracy is never a one-off event, whether it is a referendum or an election. It is quite clear in 2016 we were lied to," he said.
"We were lied to by the man who is now our Prime Minister. Boris Johnson was one of the people in 2016 who said this was all about Parliamentary sovereignty and this is all about taking back control.
"What have his actions shown us? He doesn't give a toss about Parliamentary sovereignty.
"All he cares about is being in power himself and being in power for his class of people so they can be the people who rule over us. We must stand up to that.
"What Johnson has done is wipe out most of the September calendar, wipe out most of the October calendar, leaving them with about four days to make the most important decision of any of our lifetimes and the most important decision that this 650 people will ever have to make.
"That is worthy of North Korea, not Great Britain."
Sajid Javid has defended Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament and denied reports that he had a serious falling out with the prime minister.
Despite insisting during the Tory leadership campaign that suspending parliament was a bad idea, Mr Javid has now claimed the government needs time to focus on its agenda in the run-up to outlining plans in October's Queen's Speech.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is quite usual this time of year, Parliament goes into what's called a conference recess and it doesn't usually sit for some time in September and early October.
"It's right because we are focusing on the people's priorities."
Mr Javid insisted he has a "fantastic" relationship with Boris Johnson, after the abrupt firing of his adviser Sonia Khan.
It is understood Mr Javid was not informed of his aide's sacking before the prime minister's senior adviser Dominic Cummings took the decision on Thursday evening.
Ms Khan was then escorted from Downing Street by a police officer after the dismissal.
The chancellor, who delivers his keynote spending review to the Commons next week, raised the issue with Mr Johnson at a meeting on Friday and was reported to be "absolutely furious" about the situation.
Brexit supporters have staged counter protests as the Stop the Coup marches gather momentum.
Standing in front of the Cenotaph, flanked by ranks of police officers, a small number of Brexit backers unfurled and stood with a "Brexit Now" banner.
Their presence drew angry chants and attention from those who were part of the Stop the Coup demonstration, including shouts of "where's your Tommy gone?".
Some Stop the Coup protesters have chased after a Brexit supporter in central London.
One Brexit supporter, who left the area near the Cenotaph where his group had been stood with the Brexit now banner, was aggressively followed by Stop the Coup marchers.
Police struggled to prevent the visibly angry crowd from swarming around him, as they shouted "Brexit scum" at the man and appeared to try and provoke a reaction from him.
The man, who was wearing a grey jumper, was pursued into Westminster tube station to cheers from the crowd which had been hot on his heels.
After speaking at a demonstration in her Brighton constituency, former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas thanked those who came out to protest.
"This is what democracy looks like," she tweeted. "This is about more than Brexit."
"A democracy worthy of name isn't one where power is hoarded at the top.
"We need a #CitizensConvention to put people at heart of our politics, not feral elites."
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