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Brexit protesters unfurl giant banner mocking David Davis during Put It To The People March

Quote comes from a speech by former DExEU secretary in 2012

Zamira Rahim
Saturday 23 March 2019 20:01 GMT
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Aerial footage shows an 800sqm banner of a David Davis quote unveiled during Put it to the People rally in Parliament Square

Protesters demanding a second referendum on Brexit mocked David Davis on Saturday by unfurling a banner emblazoned with one of the former cabinet minister’s old statements.

“If a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy,” was the quote written on the banner.

It comes from a speech which Mr Davis, a former Brexit secretary, made in November 2012 about the UK’s relationship with the EU.

His speech was strongly critical of the organisation but protesters on Saturday claimed his earlier stance was inconsistent with his current opposition to a second referendum.

On Saturday an estimated million people marched through central London to demand a second vote on the UK leaving the EU.

Simultaneously a petition calling for the UK government to revoke Article 50 and reverse the Brexit process became the most signed petition to ever be submitted to parliament.

The banner was unfurled by campaigners from Led By Donkeys, an anti-Brexit group and For our Future’s Sake, a youth group calling for a People’s Vote on the UK’s departure from the EU.

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Despite what some campaigners view as an increasing amount of support for a second referendum, Theresa May, the UK’s prime minister, opposes the measure.

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