Final Say march: All the powerful speeches from the Brexit protest

Supporters came from all four corners of the UK to listen to speakers including Sadiq Khan, Jo Swinson and Patrick Stewart make the case for another referendum on Brexit

The People’s Vote march saw hundreds of thousands march through the streets of London to the heart of Westminster – inspiring more than 270,000 people to sign a letter to politicians in the UK and in Brussels demanding a Final Say on Brexit.

Coinciding with a historic day for parliament – when Boris Johnson brought forward his finalised Brexit deal only for it to be struck down on the first Saturday session of the Commons since the Falklands War – the rally saw some of the nation’s most influential thinkers speak on why it was time to ask the nation how to proceed amid parliamentary deadlock.

Figures from both the left and right wing of the nation’s politics spoke to the crowd on parliament square – with London mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour’s John McDonnell gracing the same stage as Michael Heseltine, who sat in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson and celebrities from Sandi Toksvig to Patrick Stewart.

Following the march Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, threw his weight behind the campaign to bring about a second referendum in an email to supporters, calling on them to sign the letter that will be delivered to the prime minister as well as MPs, MEPs and leaders in Europe.

“It’s a letter from the people that will go not only to the prime minister, every MP and MEP, as well as the head of all the heads of government among the 27 other European member states,” Sir Keir said.

“It asks them to honour our shared democratic values; it asks them not to turn away from us now and deny us the chance for the final say. Whether you’re joining us today or not, add your name to the letter now and send a message to the powerful.”

The Independent has been campaigning for a Final Say referendum since 2018, a fight which has secured the backing of more than 1.3 million people.

The Final Say letter can be signed at www.peoples-vote.uk/letter.