Yesterday’s Final Say march gave me hope that the UK may still make the right decision and remain in the EU

Yesterday I volunteered as a marshal at the second largest march in the UK this century. It was peaceful and well-spirited, with hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds coming together in a unity that has been amiss since 2016.

Three things surprised me as the march passed by my position in Park Lane:

1. The sheer scale of public outcry against Brexit;
2. The number of people in attendance over the age of 60. The press would have you believe it was all young people yesterday – that is a fallacy, the majority were older. It’s certainly made me question whether the generational divide on this issue is actually as prevalent as first thought;
And 3. The number of people in attendance that voted Leave in the referendum. I met a lot of people yesterday who felt angry and misled by politicians about what Brexit really means. People spoke to me specifically about the promise of more money for the NHS, and how betrayed they felt by the whole process. I admire their honesty and drive to correct what they see as a big mistake.

It hit home to me at the march quite how much of a minority the no-deal Brexiteers really are. Not all 17.4 million leave supporters voted for the same reasons, or with the same beliefs. Indeed, just like the press, maybe I too was guilty of assuming all Leave voters sung from the same hymn sheet. Many simply trusted politicians to deliver on the promises they made – that is something at some point, nearly all voters in the UK have been guilty of.

All of this should make uncomfortable reading for those continuing down the Brexit path without the foggiest idea what people actually want. When Theresa May refers to the “will of the people”, which Leavers will is she referring to? Different promises appealed to different members of our society – the awful thing is most of those promises are not deliverable.

The only solution to this situation is complete honesty from politicians on the three options which are actually achievable: a no-deal Brexit – potentially catastrophic for UK businesses and which will certainly result in a loss of jobs. According to Jacob Rees-Mogg, it would take until 2050 at least to see any positives; a soft Brexit – giving up our sovereignty, having to accept laws with no say and no veto while still paying into the EU, for fewer benefits and influence; or remaining in the EU to have a say over our laws, influence the future of our continent and cut immigration by actually implementing EU laws. More jobs, more prosperity, increased investment. More money and staff for the NHS.

In a Remain scenario, the government could appease those Leave voters concerned about immigration by implementing stricter EU laws. The three-month stay restriction for those unable to provide evidence they can support themselves and not be a drain on society. I’m surprised the government has chosen not to implement this in the past.

The march brought to light for me the sheer complexity of this issue. People must be able to have a final say on what, factually, is on the table.

Matthew Blakemore
Hertfordshire

I was on the People’s Vote march yesterday and it felt good to be flexing some democratic muscle, together with 700,000 others. Obviously a great many people in this country have simply had enough of government constantly recycling archaic political ideologies and giving us a load of nonsense. This does not serve the people of this country – or any country.

The people want to be united with each other for a better future. Current political thinking will not help them to achieve this. Our public servants must serve us properly or be held to account.

To my mind this whole mess has been created by one man – David Cameron. He bounced into town flashing his big ego and everyone got suckered in by it. Then – wham! – he made the stupidest mistake any British prime minister has ever made. He underestimated the electorate; took them for granted. Then he did a bunk and went home and hid in his shed. Brilliant.

He does need to be held to account for what he did. Why can’t the people bring a civil case against Cameron for gross negligence? He was supposed to be working for us. Obviously, that was his job. And he failed miserably.

It could all be over by Christmas, and then we can start the new year with some optimism.

Chris Bonfield
Address Supplied

At the People’s Vote march, I didn’t see anger – only utterly peaceful protest. At 84, I hate crowds, and easily feel threatened by them. But being among perhaps 700,000 people with one common purpose was one of the most inspirational and uplifting experiences of my life.

The sense of common purpose, of shared humanity, was palpable. Two police officers chatting together as they walked with the crowd were happy to agree when I said: “this must be one of your easiest days”.

I feel ashamed that my generation – who have actually known war – helped push the No vote in 2016. But we’re dying off, and thankfully a new generation of internationally-minded people is coming along.

It would be hard to imagine that number of Brexiteers, or even 1 per cent of it, marching so peacefully. Their leaders would be too busy fighting, sniping, backstabbing, squabbling about their direction and who should lead.

May will never agree to a second referendum – it could consign her premiership to the dustbin of history. We must go on working to ensure that she realises there is no democratic alternative.

David Buckton
Cambridge

It was a great experience to take part in Saturday’s march. Congratulations to The Independent. However much the hard-line Brexiteers may appear to belittle it, they – and Brexit MPs especially – cannot possibly fail to have taken serious note of it, particularly in contrast with Nigel Farage’s rally, and what it all might mean for future voter turnout on the issue.

Adrian Cosker
Hertfordshire

A basic principle of democracy is freedom to change. Only in a dictatorship are things set in stone, never to be changed by the people.

I am dismayed by the fact that at the present time, the British people are being denied this fundamental democratic right, the freedom to be given the opportunity to change their minds. I never thought I would ever see a founding principle of democracy smothered in this way in our country.

The UK population now has a far greater understanding of what Brexit means than they did two years ago. The people are now able, given the opportunity, to make a balanced decision on their future, in or out of the EU. Things have moved on since 2016, when the people were fed a diet of lies and misleading information. The choices and implications are far clearer now.

Surely it is also a violation of human rights, that millions of people in this country are to have their European citizenship taken away without their consent?

Many of our politicians should be utterly ashamed of themselves for allowing this situation to develop, and for sacrificing our democratic principles in this manner.

Malcolm Gray
West Sussex

Grammar does not belong to Trump

The English language is one of the most widely used in the world, and although the accents can vary greatly, the spelling and grammar are reasonably consistent.

Variations in spelling do occur, although mostly consistently – such as color and colour, and centre or center. The usage is usually constant at a national level.

Grammatical usage is, however, far more consistent. Languages do change, and some individuals – including Shakespeare – have made many contributions. Others, such as President Trump, have simply made mistakes and then tried to cover for them with statements such as his tweet that: “When referring to the USA, I will always capitalize the word Country!”

There is nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as you are willing to accept them, and correct them. There is, however, something for Trump’s critics to think about in Napoleon Bonaparte’s comment: “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” Each mistake, whatever its form, becomes another nail in the coffin, and this particular coffin is starting to accumulate nails at quite a rate.

Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia

Why do we still allow the likes of Tommy Robinson to cause such damage?

The loathsome, deplorable antics of Tommy Robinson – aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – seen outside Leeds Crown Court, could have caused the trial of suspected child abusers to collapse.

Robinson was arrested for trying to film the accused men as they entered court and was heard discussing the “Muslims and jihad rape gangs” for an hour outside.

The despicable behaviour of this warped reprobate over the past few years is cause for great concern. His long history of damaging, antisocial behaviour has done nothing to enhance the plight of any of the groups he has chosen to “support”. He desperately needs medical and psychiatric treatment – preferably while serving a long prison sentence. This self-centred opportunist may cause serious harm one day, if not brought to book now.

Robinson needs to be saved from himself before he causes more grief for the British people. He has very little to offer any disenfranchised group except the ability to grab the limelight which, albeit necessary, has to be in a framework of constructive activity for change.

For too long Tommy Robinson has caused trouble, and he needs help to realign his twisted, addled mind.

Keith Poole
Basingstoke