Nicola Sturgeon calls on MPs to seize control of Brexit from beleaguered Theresa May

Nicola Sturgeon has called on MPs in Parliament to seize control of Brexit from a beleaguered Theresa May, as she joined an estimated one million campaigners in London demanding a second referendum.

It came as it emerged that opposition MPs working to secure a second EU referendum are now in talks with Conservatives who are prepared to clear the way for a People’s Vote as the pressure grows on the Prime Minister.

The Scottish First Minister joined London mayor Sadiq Khan, Labour deputy leader Tom Watson and former Tory Cabinet ministers as she addressed supporters of a second vote on Brexit in a rally outside Parliament yesterday after a march through the streets of London. Organisers claim up to one million took part.

The EU has agreed to extend the UK’s originally scheduled departure this Friday, but with May’s deal poised to be rejected again, the situation remains mired in uncertainty.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon addresses anti-Brexit campaigners in Parliament Square as they take part in the People's Vote March in London. Pic: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s absence from the People’s Vote march yesterday was widely criticised and underlined the lack of consensus on a way forward on the constitutional impasse.

Sturgeon received widespread cheers as she addressed the campaigners in Parliament Square yesterday afternoon.

“Parliament should take back control,” she said.

“Scotland – the land where more than 60 per cent of people voted to remain in the European Union – our voice has been ignored.”

Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March in London. Pic: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Sturgeon added: “Today we make our voices heard. And what our voices are saying loudly and clearly is this: Put it back to the people.”

Watson was the only senior Labour figure at the rally and pledged to back a People’s Vote, amid concerns that Corbyn remains unconvinced.

“We are one million strong,” Watson said.

“Prime Minister, you’ve lost control of this process, you’re plunging the country into chaos, let the people take control.”

Anti-Brexit campaigners gather in Parliament Square, as they take part in the People's Vote March in London. Pic: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Khan said it was “time to withdraw Article 50”.

He added: “it’s time to give us, the British people, a final say on Brexit.”

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson joined protesters, along with senior Tories Dominic Grieve and Justine Greening, as well as Anna Soubry of the recently founded Independent Group at Westminster and Green MP Caroline Lucas.

The House of Commons may get the opportunity to vote on a second referendum this week, despite a recent Commons vote which saw the proposal heavily defeated by 334 votes to 85, when Labour abstained.

A woman smiles as she participates in a Peoples Vote anti-Brexit march in London, Saturday, March 23, 2019. Pic: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

However, even with every Labour MP voting in favour, the bid for a new referendum would have failed, meaning Conservative opponents of a People’s Vote must be convinced to change their minds, or at least abstain, for it to have any hope of being approved by Parliament.

Senior figures in the SNP and Labour said they have spoken to Tories who previously rejected a People’s Vote, but are now willing to allow it to pass the Commons.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said a number of Conservative MPs had privately told him they supported a second EU referendum, but would only vote in favour once Labour is committed and a People’s Vote is likely to win Commons approval.

“It is the right thing to do to go back to the people, and I actually believe that if we had that unity across the opposition benches, that would put pressure on a number of Conservatives,” Blackford said.

“A number of Conservatives say they want that to happen as well, but they do that privately, but they won’t break publicly.”

Opposition leaders met with Corbyn this week and emerged disappointed, saying he insisted that a public vote could only be called if Labour’s proposed Brexit deal was on the ballot.

A person dressed as an astronaught holding a school traffic crossing sign reading "Stop Brexit" joins a march and rally organised by the pro-European People's Vote campaign. Pic: Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images

A senior Labour MP told Scotland on Sunday that the internal battle over a second referendum was being won by shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who back a People’s Vote, over Corbyn and his official spokesman, Seumas Milne – both of whom hold Eurosceptic views.

“When it comes to a People’s Vote, it’s Starmer and McDonnell vs Milne and Corbyn. Bit by bit, we’re shifting things slowly inside the party so that their views are irrelevant and their position becomes untenable,” said the frontbench MP.

They added: “There are Conservative MPs I’ve spoken to who will abstain when it comes to another vote. We can get it through.”