Yellow vest pro-Brexit protesters, similar to those who took recently to French streets, have blocked Westminster Bridge this morning, paralysing traffic.
Pro-brexit protest at Westminster Bridge brings traffic to a standstill. pic.twitter.com/YfJ0YSz1JKBREAKING Westminster Bridge blocked by pro-Brexit yellow vest protestershttps://t.co/wEVzMR3OW7 pic.twitter.com/KskcvCFxF6
— Mirror Breaking News (@MirrorBreaking_) 14 декабря 2018 г.
— Mike Sutherland 🏴 (@vern_cotter) 14 декабря 2018 г.
"Buses serving routes via Westminster Bridge Road may be delayed because of a demonstration which is blocking the road," Transport for London tweeted addressing the incident.
Westminster Bridge blocked by bizarre yellow vest protest https://t.co/VK4sVyl2WW pic.twitter.com/FhJrjCkcTl
— tweetonlondon (@tweetonlondon) 14 декабря 2018 г.
Chants of 'Brexit now!' were shouted by 30 to 60 Brexiteers, according to British media, as Theresa May holds talks with EU leaders trying to improve the Withdrawal Agreement.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police noted that they are aware of the protests, adding that no arrests have been made. There is no exact information as to whether the rally was planned beforehand.The social group ‘Fighting for Justice,' appears to be behind the protest, as their Facebook account features a live stream of the event. The group's social media pages promote solidarity with France's yellow-vest protesters and stance of high profile UKIP figures such as ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson and leader Gerard Batten.
The protesters told Sputnik's correspondent in London that they do not want to belong to a grand European "superstate," adding that they are willing to "reclaim control" of their country:
“This is Britain. We are not European. We have never been European. We don’t want to be part of a federal European superstate…” #YellowVestsUK told me today as they protest across London #YellowVests #Brexit pic.twitter.com/oJo0LnOkir
— Zhenya (@evgenia_fili) 14 декабря 2018 г.
“We want to reclaim control of our country. This is our land and we are taking it back,” #YellowVestsUK told Sputnik, speaking about #Brexit #NoDeal #YellowVests #London #LondonBridge pic.twitter.com/KJjgfJ1OfL
— Zhenya (@evgenia_fili) 14 декабря 2018 г.
Addressing the Brexit deal issue, they spoke out against it, calling to "dump it" to avoid yet another referendum:
“Dump the deal. No Deal #Brexit” say #YellowVestsUK, who also against a second #referendum pic.twitter.com/g9zjxo7eEK
— Zhenya (@evgenia_fili) 14 декабря 2018 г.
The vests that were seen on the British protesters resemble those worn across-the-board in France. Hundreds of thousands of Gilet Jaune protesters have brought large parts of France to a halt over the last month, with their rallies for more progressive taxes, increased social guarantees, scrapping of a proposed fuel tax etc. often turning violent. French President Emmanuel Macron announced a concession, namely backtracked on the fuel tax, however, it is not immediately clear if the move would stop the protesters from carrying on with their rally.
The Brexit impasse is central in today's relationsip between Britain and the 27 EU member states, with no final deicision yet reached on the much debated withdrawal agreement. On Thursday, British Prime Miniester Theresa May was told by her EU colleagues to return to the UK parliament and find a way to resolve the Brexit logjam after she failed to convince EU leaders in Brussels that her plan to win the anti-Brexit MPs is credible enough.
