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Brexit live: thousands 'march for Europe' in post-referendum protest - as it happened

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Sat 2 Jul 2016 11.40 EDTFirst published on Sat 2 Jul 2016 05.55 EDT

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Afternoon summary

Chris Johnston

That’s about all from our Brexit live blog today. Here’s a quick wrap-up of Saturday’s events:

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Channel 4 News political correspondent Michael Crick comments on the Tory leadership contest:

If May gets good majority among Tory MPs, but a Brexiter wins party members, Tories could end up in very similar mess to Labour

— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) July 2, 2016

Angry Corbyn 'held back' by aides

Jeremy Corbyn leaves after speaking at an anti-racism rally in north London. Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters

Jeremy Corbyn was held back by aides on Saturday after a reporter asked if he was “running away” from answering questions about his beleaguered leadership. The Labour leader turned around to confront the journalist on Highbury Fields in north London, where he had been speaking at an anti-racism rally.

Photographer Julian Andrews told the Telegraph: “There were three or four camera crews and a handful of photographers. Everyone had been told that he wasn’t answering questions. He was walking back to his car when it happened.

“The reporter asked him if he was running away and he completely fired up. He swung around and made his way to confront her but two or three aides carried him away. He was really pissed off.”

Corbyn then told the reporter to contact his press office if she wanted to arrange an interview.

The incident comes as Angela Eagle made a renewed call for Corbyn to stand down.

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Speaking of Angela Eagle, Ewen MacAskill has been Merseyside to visit the constituency of the former shadow defence secretary and shadow business secretary who is now a potential Labour leadership contender.

Many Labour MPs returning to their constituencies this weekend, including Eagle, face a backlash from pro-Jeremy Corbyn party members incensed by moves to oust him from office.

Angela Eagle tells Corbyn to quit

Angela Eagle. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images

Angela Eagle has renewed her call for beleaguered Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to quit for the good of the “party and the country”. The former shadow business secretary is poised to mount a challenge to Corbyn, with former shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith also believed to be considering a bid.

As she called on Corbyn to do the “right thing for the party and the country”, Eagle told ITV News: “Let’s face it, the country is in a crisis and we need strong opposition. It’s all about Jeremy considering his position and I don’t think speculation about anything else is useful.”

Deputy leader Tom Watson is continuing to seek a meeting with Corbyn’s team to find a way of negotiating a settlement as the crisis engulfing the party shows no sign of abating.

Jarvis Cocker. Photograph: Nick Cunard/REX Shutterstock

Jarvis Cocker has recorded a video message for the estimated 30,000 people who took part in the March for Europe rally in London. In the message shot in a recording studio in Paris, the Pulp frontman held up a world map and said: “You cannot deny geography. The UK is in Europe. How can you take it out?”

The march started at Hyde Park and made its way through central London, ending with speeches at Parliament Square.

Labour peer Michael Cashman told the crowd: “No more lies, no more hate. We need to uphold the values of democracy and inclusiveness which are at the heart of the EU and this country. We must not let rightwing, narrow-minded nationalism nor xenophobia define us. We are better than that. I honestly believe the disinformation in this campaign has undermined our democracy. Decent British values are also the values of the European Union.”

Demonstrators wearing EU flags as capes and with homemade banners saying “Bremain” and “We love EU” joined the event, co-organised on social media by comedian and satirist Mark Thomas to address “anger, frustration and need to do something”. He said: “We would accept the result of the referendum if it was fought on a level playing field. But it was full of misinformation and people need to do something with their frustration.”

Actor Billie Piper said: “We’re all entitled to an opinion. We’re all angry and we’re all scared and, quite frankly, some of us are ashamed. We have been eager to show the rest of the world that the decision does not speak for all of us. The horrific violence and terrifying hate crime might have happened on British soil but those attitudes are not British.

She added: “I worry, in the throes of frustration and disgust, that some of us have stooped as low as the people that we’re angry at. If you judge people for their backgrounds or make sweeping generalisations about people we don’t understand then we’re nothing but hypocrites.”

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Speeches underway in Parliament Square

Jamie Grierson
Jamie Grierson
Thousands of protesters on the March for Europe have reached Parliament Square. Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters

I’ve arrived at Parliament Square, which is overflowing with thousands of demonstrators. A sea of people waving flags, banners and placards have gathered in the shadow of Big Ben to voice their anger at the Brexit vote.

Guest speakers are delivering speeches from a stage set up in front of the square, including David Lammy MP, who is campaigning to have the decision voted down in the Commons. “Look at this Nigel Farage, look at this Boris Johnson, look at this Michael Gove,” he told the crowd. Lammy was followed by Sir Bob Geldof, who told the crowd he felt “bereft”.

Protesters hold pro-EU placards on the March for Europe. Photograph: Niklas Halle/AFP/Getty Images

Between speeches, chants broke out. “Fromage not Farage”, “never gonna give EU up”, “nothing compares 2 EU”, “Don’t EU want me baby” and “they lied to leave – is that democracy?” were among the slogans and messages written on banners held aloft in the square.

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