Labour MP Jess Phillips and SNP MP Joanna Cherry will join a stellar line-up of comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for a People’s Vote ‘Let Us Be Heard’ rally in Edinburgh today.
They will be joined by top comics Andrew Maxwell, Grace Campbell and Fred MacAulay as well as the renowned ‘Graffiti Granny’, Hazel Jones.
At the outdoor rally in the Meadows, the speakers will make clear their opposition to the democratic outrage of Boris Johnson’s government inflicting a disastrous No Deal Brexit on Britain without the people having the final say.
The rally will include speeches from well-known comedians Andrew Maxwell, Grace Campbell and Fred MacAulay, who all support the People’s Vote campaign. Hazel Jones, the former teacher known for her anti-Brexit graffiti, will also take to the stage to explain why she has been taking direct action to try to prevent a disastrous Brexit.
The People’s Vote campaign argue it is increasingly clear that the only way to deliver a lasting and legitimate solution to the Brexit crisis is to let all the people – not just a few Conservative Party members – have their voices heard through a final say referendum.
The People’s Vote campaign is organising a series of rallies across the UK, culminating in another huge march through central London on October 19.
Jess Phillips MP said: “If ever there was any doubt that Brexit has been hijacked by the hard right, there can be none now. Boris Johnson is playing fast and loose with peace in Northern Ireland and courting a no deal that will devastate people and communities across the UK that can least afford it.
“If the people of Britain want to go down Boris Johnson’s road then that is their right, but shouldn’t they at least be asked first? Because without democratic consent, any outcome to the Brexit process will lack all legitimacy and will only be the opening move in a political civil war that will last years or even decades.”
Joanna Cherry MP for Edinburgh South West said: “This rally is an important opportunity for people from across Scotland to make their voices heard. The majority of Scotland did not vote for Brexit and they certainly did not vote for food, medical and fuel shortages.”
Fred MacAulay, comedian, said: “I’m used to doing comedy but Brexit is far from funny. The Government’s No Deal planning has lifted the lid on the food shortages, traffic jams, job losses and disorder which this will inflict on the UK.
“The majority of Scotland didn’t vote for Brexit and those that did, did not vote for a destructive Brexit or No Deal to be imposed on them.
“While we now know so much more about what Brexit really means, no one has convinced me yet that they know what to do about the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, so it’s only fair that we all have our voices heard in a People’s Vote.”
“Graffiti Granny”, Hazel Jones, said: “I am speaking in Edinburgh on Thursday because it’s not my future, but that of my children, grandchildren and the whole of the next generation – who will be hit the hardest and for the longest by a destructive Brexit – that I’m concerned about.
“It’s important that our voices are heard. The Prime Minister and the leading Leave campaigners he has installed in Downing Street are ready to inflict No Deal on the country when they sold Brexit on the basis they’d get a ‘great deal.’ Their destructive Brexit is a million miles from what they promised in 2016, when they explicitly ruled out No Deal.
“There is no mandate for a destructive Brexit or a vicious No Deal. The only way through the Brexit crisis is to give everyone the opportunity to be heard in a People’s Vote.”
The Let Us Be Heard event takes place at The Meadows (Meadows Compass, North Meadow Walk) from 3:30 onwards with speeches from 4:30pm.
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