Hundreds of demonstrators protested outside Britain’s parliament in rival camps on Tuesday, divided by Brexit but united against the deal that was overwhelmingly voted down by MPs.
In one camp, Europhiles wearing starry berets proudly waved European Union flags and signs reading “Stop Brexit” under Westminster’s windows.
Parliament’s vote against the deal raises the possibility both of Brexit being delayed -- perhaps indefinitely -- and of Britain being forced to leave the European Union without an agreement.
John Wilkins, a professor of ancient Greek who often travels across Europe to give lectures, said he believed Britain must “learn with our neighbours”.
Pat Gillies, 60, was worried that “phone charges would go up” for Britons visiting Europe and that they would no longer be allowed to “take our pets away” on holiday.
“We spend our summers in Greece and if we leave with no deal, we won’t be able to do that because we won’t be able to go to the EU for more than 90 days,” she added.
Emma Knaggs, 37, gave up her “well-paid” job in telecoms to become a full-time anti-Brexit volunteer, and was outside parliament hoping to defend her “freedom of movement” rights.
“My whole family benefited from EU citizenship: my parents lived for 28 years in Belgium and I was born there,” she said.
“I wanted to do something else with my life and realised Brexit was the thing I cared the most about,” she said.
Security was also a major concern for anti-Brexit protester Peter Benson, 55, who was born near Dublin but has lived in the United Kingdom for 35 years.
“I think terrorism could return to the UK if there’s a Brexit,” he said, referring to explosive packages found in London and Glasgow last week and claimed by a group calling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
In the middle of the pro-EU crowd, around twenty pro-Brexit supporters fought to make themselves heard, some concerned May’s deal would have maintained too close relations with the EU.
“We voted to leave the EU so we must leave the EU, we’re a democracy,” said Suzanne Nicholson, who vowed to keep making the 185 mile (300km) trip from Yorkshire to Westminster to demonstrate “until we’re out”.
Harriett, a retired Londoner, hoped that Brexit would solve overcrowding in London.
“I hope leaving the EU will change London, London is very overpopulated, we want to get many people to leave,” she said.
“I don’t usually demonstrate, I have to do my bit... because I’m a leaver.”
