‘Love Socialism Hate Brexit’ protest held by Labour MPs in Westminster

A banner is dropped from Westminster Bridge as a group of Labour MPs have staged an anti-Brexit protest in London. Photograph: Ted Hennessey/PA Wire - Credit: PA

A group of Labour MPs have staged an anti-Brexit protest in Westminster as the party moves its position to support a second referendum.

A group of Labour MPs have staged an anti-Brexit protest in Westminster. Photograph: Ted Hennessey/PA Wire. – Credit: PA

The 13 MPs gathered on Westminster Bridge, next to the Houses of Parliament, as flares were lit and a 32ft long banner reading ‘Love Socialism, Hate Brexit’ was hung across the Thames.

The MPs are on the left of the Labour party include allies of Jeremy Corbyn.

Those present included Clive Lewis (Norwich South), Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton Kemptown), Kate Osamor (Edmonton), Marsha de Cordova (Battersea), Sandy Martin (Ipswich), Alex Sobel (Leeds North West), Preet Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston), Rachael Maskell (York Central), Luke Pollard (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport), Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central), Paul Sweeney (Glasgow North East), Ged Killen (Rutherglen and Hamilton West), and Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton).

The use of flares so close to Westminster led to uniformed police arriving by boat to inquire what was going on before the protest ended.

De Cordova said: ‘We’re sending a clear message of solidarity to the leadership that we believe the British people have been let down.

‘When it comes to Brexit we need to give the people the final say.’

The MPs earlier congregated outside Portcullis House, where many MPs have offices, where they were briefly joined by Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South.

Some of the group were adamant that Corbyn was behind their message despite some accusations that the Labour leader was not behind their aims.

MP Sandy Martin said: ‘Jeremy (Corbyn) is in support of a customs union and a single market and we have been saying that consistently since the election in 2017.

‘Jeremy is a socialist and was also opposed to the European Union for many years but people are allowed to change their mind.

‘We have a lot of other really influential socialists in the leadership of the Labour Party who have almost certainly had long discussions with Jeremy about the European Union.’