UK petition for second Brexit referendum reaches 3 million signatures and rising
More than 3 million Britons and UK residents have signed a petition requesting a second referendum, days after a shock vote to leave the European Union.
British parliament is obliged to consider any petition posted on its website that amasses more than 100,000 signatures. The petition demands the Government re-stage the referendum because the winning vote for Leave was less than 60 per cent and was based on a turnout of less than 75 per cent.
A large majority — an estimated 75 percent — of voters age 18 to 24 reported voting in favor of remaining in the EU, according to a YouGov poll.
The petition for a second EU referendum was set up by William Oliver Healey who wrote: “We the undersigned call upon HM government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum.”
The result revealed stark divisions between young and old, north and south, cities and rural areas, and university-educated people and those with fewer qualifications.
Demonstrators waved EU flags, held posters saying ‘Yes 2 EU’ and banners claiming the older population ‘stole our future’.
It’s unclear how, or if, the anti-Brexit protests continuing to pop up throughout the United Kingdom will affect the results of Thursday’s referendum, but a petition demanding a do-over vote has garnered more than 2 million signatures in roughly two days and is reportedly slated for discussion in the House of Commons.
Anti-Brexit protests in the United Kingdom
Anti-Brexit protests broke out on the streets of London after a petition for a second EU referendum attracted 2million signatures within a day.
The protests came despite a record 33.5 million people taking part in the referendum – the highest in any election since 1992 – in which Leave won with 51.9 per cent, a margin of 1,269,501 votes.
In a historic vote Thursday, Britain decided to leave the European Union and those unhappy with the referendum’s results have taken to the streets in protest.
In Edinburgh, demonstrators protesting the anti-immigration rhetoric of the Leave campaign chanted, “Migrants are welcome here,” as they marched down Royal Mile on Friday carrying banners declaring “solidarity with migrants” in the city’s Old Town district. In Glasgow, more than 300 gathered Friday in George Square to protest the results of the Brexit referendum and what they called the “xenophobic hyperbole” kicked up the Leave camp.
A major protest in London’s Trafalgar Square is being planned for Tuesday by a group called London Stays. “Regardless of the EU Referendum result, we stand alongside the people of Europe to show we are inclusive, open and patient to understanding how we can make the Leave decision into a positive one for all,” organizers said in an event listing for the rally on Facebook.
#Scotlond: Twitter users suggest London and Scotland join forces for independence after Brexit vote
After Britain voted to quit the EU, social media began to be flooded with the #Scotlond hashtag – combining Scotland and London to reflect the disgruntled mood of Remain voters.
The two areas saw overwhelming support for Britain to remain in the EU rather than leaving, but were outnumbered by other parts of Britain voting for Brexit.
I’ve quickly designed a logo for our new country: #ScotLond pic.twitter.com/nZi1hBjZzZ
— Michael Shaw (@MrMichaelShaw) June 24, 2016
Depressed Londoners are using the hashtag #ScotLand as part of a campaign for the capital to join Nicola Sturgeon’s battle for independence from the UK.
The first step towards #ScotLond https://t.co/inLCvTxt2B via @UKChange — jon moorhead (@jonmoorhead) June 24, 2016
London and Scotland voted to stay in the EU yesterday but a huge revolt by Middle England and Wales led to today’s Brexit.
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said today the chances of a new independence referendum for her country were “highly likely”
Watch @NicolaSturgeon give her statement in response to the #EUref result. #indyref2https://t.co/JzsyQW81E2
— The SNP (@theSNP) June 24, 2016
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said she could call a new independence referendum within months – because thirds of Scottish voters backed staying in the EU yesterday.