Brexit marchers confused on day they planned to celebrate

Protesters who expected to celebrate Brexit outside Parliament were instead left confused by the latest defeat of Theresa May’s plans.

Some cheered when the Prime Minister suffered another Commons defeat when her Withdrawal Agreement was rejected on Friday – the slated deadline for the departure.

But others were left fearing it meant a new EU referendum was now on the cards and were frustrated by a delay.

The March to Leave started in Sunderland two weeks ago. It was joined by prominent Brexiteer Nigel Farage near Tate Britain, which is less than a mile from the destination of Parliament Square.

He tweeted that Mrs May’s agreement had been “rightfully defeated”, but warned of an “extension and further battles now seem inevitable”.

“We are not downhearted, and will fight them again,” he tweeted.

The reaction of many protesters reinforced how confusing the Brexit process has been, with some wrongly believing it was a third “meaningful vote” on Mrs May’s deal.

Danny Wallace, 28, from Manchester, said: “I listened to what happened and Theresa May pretty much said she’s going to come out with a second referendum.

“That’s a bad idea, I think what most people wanted was what was on the table.”

Roger Hopkins and Charlotte Clifford, both from Eastbourne, said they were pleased the agreement had been defeated as it was a “bad deal”.

Mr Hopkins, who is retired, said: “What I really really hope for now is to come out on WTO (World Trade Organisation) terms, it’s not ‘crashing out’ or anything like that.”

Ms Clifford added: “The people are supposed to be the masters and them inside (pointing at Parliament) are meant to do what we tell them. It’s democracy.”

Tommy Robinson, the English Defence League founder who now advises Ukip, acknowledged the confusion to cheering fans in Parliament Square.

“So Theresa May has lost her vote. Many people will be asking what does that even mean,” said the activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

“It means we were betrayed. Today is supposed to be our Independence Day.”

The final leg of the March To Leave saw hundreds of marchers file from Fulham towards Parliament Square.

Wearing a kilt and wielding a Saltire flag, Brexit Party MEP for Scotland David Coburn celebrated the march: “Excellent, isn’t it? It’s like Cromwell’s Army.”

“It’s now an argument between the establishment and the people,” he said.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin and broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer will speak at the “Brexit Betrayal” rally.

From 4pm, Mr Robinson will be joined by current Ukip leader Gerard Batten to address a Make Brexit Happen rally outside the Palace of Westminster.

Scotland Yard was compelled to dismiss as “baseless and false” suggestions from Mr Batten that water cannon could be deployed at protests to “provoke Brexiteers”.

The Metropolitan Police did have three water cannon – purchased while Boris Johnson was London Mayor – but they were sold at a more than £300,000 loss because their use had been banned.

Westminster Council said it is aware of up to 13 separate scheduled protests and the Metropolitan Police said “appropriate policing plans are in place”.

Scotland Yard said: “We will always provide a proportionate policing plan to balance the right to peaceful protest, while ensuring that disruption to communities is kept to a minimum.”