Lib Dems join StopBrexit march in Brighton

On a bright, warm September day we joined the many thousands of people marching through Brighton & Hove for the StopBrexit march. The event was organised by Brighton & Hove for Europe, timed to coincide with the Labour party conference in Brighton.

We gathered at The Level and set off just after 1pm, stopping briefly to chant outside the Brighton Centre before continuing to Hove Lawns, where the march ended in a rally. There was lots of support en route with passers-by waving, car horns tooting and even a boat flying the EU flag!

I felt sorry for the Labour delegates stuck in their stuffy, backwards-thinking conference hall. On a day when we were out celebrating our European spirit and calling for a democratic bookend to the Brexit debate, Labour members were told their party won't be debating Brexit at its conference. By contrast, at the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth last weekend, we debated and voted to affirm our policy of a referendum once the terms of Brexit are known. The options will be accepting the government deal, or an exit from Brexit. We believe that a process that started with democracy must end with democracy, and we will continue to wholeheartedly make the case for staying in the EU.