Brexit protests: Confusion as pro-Remain events change their name to embrace Leave voters

Organisers said that the events had changed to ‘Stand Together’ to reflect the need to bring in Leave voters – in a move that some fear is a way of placating them

Demonstrators at a protest against the pro-Brexit outcome of the UK's referendum (AFP/Getty)

A protest against Britain’s decision to vote to Leave is in disarray after its organisers changed it to give more support to Brexit.

The “London stays” event – which was joined by events across the country such as “Oxford stays” – had become far and away the most popular protest against the British vote to leave, with over 50,000 people saying they would go and another 86,000 interested in doing so. But it has now changed its name to “Stand Together”, and embraced what appears to be a far more accepting approach to those who voted Leave.

Organiser Jessica Rodgers posted an updated on the page that said the decision to change the name had been taken because it “important to remove the connotation that we thought that the best step forward was to fight for London to become its own state, and attempt to rejoin the European Union”. She also said that it was to make it “possible to consider how to include all voters’ opinions in the next steps of the debate”.

But the change has enraged many who signed up to the event with the hope of signalling that they think Britain should not have voted to leave the EU.

“Really don't understand what's the purpose of this very last minute change,” wrote one attendee. “This is not what I signed up for. We need someone with stronger convictions, I'm afraid.”

Another said that organisers should set up a new event if they had changed their mind, rather than altering the name of an event that already had tens of thousands of attendees.

“Changing the name and sentiment of the event after 50 thousand have signed up is not the right move,” said another. “If you've changed your opinion, better to start a new event rather than seeking to redefine other people's views.”

Others said that the change of name seemed to suggest that the event was moving towards Leave, and so left them feeling worried.

“Unfortunately as a EU citizen I no longer feel safe attending this,” wrote one person, while others said that they would no longer be going to the event because it appeared to have tricked them.

Organisers rejected the claims that some had made that the name had been changed on the request of the police, the Mayor of London or another group. They said that the police had been informed about the event and they were awaiting final sign-off.

The London event will be held from 5pm in Parliament Square, on 25 June. Events will also be held in Oxford, Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool and Cambridge – all of which have had their names changed.