'Remain' Minister Anna Soubry Close To Tears In Rousing Speech To Anti-'Brexit' Rally | HuffPost

MP says 84-year-old mother wept over result

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Senior Editor, HuffPost UK

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A Government minister was close to tears as she spoke to an anti-'Brexit' rally and railed against the surge in racism reported since the vote to Leave, and urged those wanting to stay in the EU to carry on the fight.

Anna Soubry, a staunch supporter of Remain, told a large gathering outside the House of Commons her 84-year-old mother and daughters in their 20s "wept" following Friday's result.

"We made a terrible, terrible mistake on Friday," she told the young crowd.

Anna Soubry close to tears: "People are angry."

ITV

Her impromptu speech courted controversy when fellow Tory MP Nadine Dorries, who backed 'Brexit', in a tweet accused her of being "inebriated" - a comment she swiftly deleted.

Twitter

Soubry responded by warning her on Twitter: "I suggest you delete this which is defamatory."

Dorries obliged.

The row continued, however.

The protest followed crowds gathering at Trafalgar Square wielding placards including "Reunited kingdom", "Everyone is welcome here" and "let's hug it out". Demonstrators chanted "Down with Boris" and "Fuck Farage".

The rally had officially been abandoned amid fears 50,000 people would attend. But many turned out regardless and the protest swept down Whitehall to Parliament.

Remain Rally

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A crowd of demonstrators gather outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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A demonstrator holds up a placard saying 'Stand together Stop Brexit' at an anti-Brexit protest in Trafalgar Square in central London on June 28, 2016.EU leaders attempted to rescue the European project and Prime Minister David Cameron sought to calm fears over Britain's vote to leave the bloc as ratings agencies downgraded the country. Britain has been pitched into uncertainty by the June 23 referendum result, with Cameron announcing his resignation, the economy facing a string of shocks and Scotland making a fresh threat to break away. / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Protesters gather against the EU referendum result in Trafalgar Square on June 28, 2016 in London, England. Up to 50,000 people were expected before the event was cancelled due to safety concerns. Early evening up to 300 people have still convereged on the square to vent their anti-Brexit feelings. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)

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A supporter holds a sign during a pro-EU rally in Trafalgar Square in London, after some of the pro-EU events organised in the aftermath of last week's historic referendum have been cancelled at short notice over safety concerns. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Protesters gather against the EU referendum result in Trafalgar Square on June 28, 2016 in London, England. Up to 50,000 people were expected before the event was cancelled due to safety concerns. Early evening up to 300 people have still convereged on the square to vent their anti-Brexit feelings. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Protesters gather to demostrate against the EU referendum result in Trafalgar Square on June 28, 2016 in London, England. Up to 50,000 people were expected before the event was cancelled due to safety concerns. Early evening up to 300 people have still converged on the square to vent their anti-Brexit feelings. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)

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Supporters hold a sign above umbrellas during a pro-EU rally in Trafalgar Square in London, after some of the pro-EU events organised in the aftermath of last week's historic referendum have been cancelled at short notice over safety concerns. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)

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Supporters during a pro-EU rally in Trafalgar Square in London, after some of the pro-EU events organised in the aftermath of last week's historic referendum have been cancelled at short notice over safety concerns. (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)

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A supporter during a pro-EU rally in Trafalgar Square in London, after some of the pro-EU events organised in the aftermath of last week's historic referendum have been cancelled at short notice over safety concerns. (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)

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Demonstrators gesture outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Demonstrators gesture outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Crowds demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Crowds of demonstrators gather outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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A couple kiss outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Demonstrators gesture outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Demonstrators gesture outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett (credit:Paul Hackett / Reuters)

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Demonstrators stand outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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People demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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A crowd of demonstrators gather outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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A demonstrator stands outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Demonstrators gather outside the Houses of Parliament during a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

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Demonstrators walk along Whitehall as they take part in a protest aimed at showing London's solidarity with the European Union following the recent EU referendum, in central London, Britain June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (credit:Dylan Martinez / Reuters)

In her speech, Soubry said:

"My mother is 84. She wept on Friday. Just like my 25 and 25 year old daughters shed tears because we made a terrible, terrible mistake on Friday by voting to leave the European Union.
"We are told we have to respect the vote ... I understand, people are angry. Not just the young, people are angry. All across the country, angry. Some of you will think this is pathetic, but write to your MP. Tell them how you feel. They are there to represent you.
"There are real people in this country being abused because where they have come from, the colour of their skin. This is disgraceful. It is not our country. We are tolerant. We welcome everyone to our shores.
"For centuries, people have come here to contribute. If you hear anyone has been abused because of their race or their colour of their skin. Tell the police, tell your MP, and fight back against racism."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron (below right, blue shirt) joins people at an anti-Brexit protest in Trafalgar Square

JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron addressed the crowd in Trafalgar Square insisting that the Brexit vote "is reversible".

Watch Tim Farron's speech below

He said:

"In politics, as in life, two things are always the case for me: One, if you lose, you have the grace to accept the defeat, but you never, ever, ever give up.
"We as a community must stand together, this is reversible. The people of Britain are decent, outward-looking people. We will carry on direct campaigning."

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