Patrick Stewart says ‘nothing democratic’ about Brexit referendum at People’s Vote rally

'People weren't just misled, they were lied to.'

As thousands of remainers roared with glee as Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was delayed, Sir Patrick Stewart took to Parliament Square London to congratulate demonstrators.

The Star Trek actor praised the People’s Vote rally for ‘transforming’ British politics and said the second referendum they demand is not the ‘pipe dream’ opponents have described it as.

Claiming there was ‘nothing democratic’ about the 2016 referendum, he said: ‘People weren’t just misled, they were lied to.’

He was joined by other celebrities and politicians including Great British Bake Off host Sandy Toksvig and members of Labour’s shadow cabinet.

A triumphant Sir Stewart added: ‘You haven’t just filled a nice bar in north London, you have taken over an entire city.

‘You haven’t just impacted the Brexit debate, you have transformed British politics.’

Following the Government defeat, four members of Labour’s front bench left Parliament to address the rally.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: ‘We must put it back to the people.

‘This is a pivotal moment in our history and it shouldn’t be left to a handful of MPs.’

She was joined by shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, who said it was ‘fantastic’ to see the demonstration.

He added: ‘It’s an historic moment, we have defeated Johnson again. We are not going to let him whip out with his sell-out deal.

‘We will say no to him again and again. Whatever deal he brings must go back to the people.’

MP Antoinette Sandbach, who had the Conservative whip removed, credited the crowd with ‘changing her mind’ on a second vote.

She said: ‘My local party voted no confidence in me for resisting no deal.

‘It’s undemocratic and not what people voted for, but it’s honourable that I put my job on the line to protect tens of thousands of jobs that will be lost in the north west from no-deal Brexit.’

Meanwhile, pro-Brexit activists also gathered in Westminster.

Jason Hurt, 48, from Sheffield, was sporting a ‘I voted Leave’ T-shirt, and said he feels people who voted for Brexit are being ignored.

He added: ‘I voted Leave, I want my voice heard.

‘It is always about the Remainers, never about the Leavers. There are 17.4 million of us, we never get our voices heard.’

When they learned Johnson had lost a key commons vote on his Withdrawal Agreement, thousands of people cheered in the streets as if a goal had been scored.

The approved amendment by expelled Conservative MP Sir Oliver Letwin means the deal has to be withheld until all appropriate legislation has been put in place.

Under the Benn Act, passed by Parliament last month, which makes an no-deal Brexit illegal, Johnson will now be bound by law to the EU for an extension until January 31.

This is because he failed to get his deal passed by Parliament by today, but the Prime Minister says he will not negotiate a new deadline, telling MPs ‘the law does not compel me to’.

Determined to get the UK out of the European Union by Halloween, he vowed to introduce the legislation needed to implement his deal next week.

Earlier reports said this would be on Tuesday but Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg told MPs it would be on Monday.