Delia Smith to lead march for a people’s vote on Brexit deal

Cookery writer Delia Smith told the Evening Standard today she fears Brexit is a “dog’s dinner” as she was unveiled as a star speaker at the biggest march to hit London for over a decade.

More than 100,000 people are set to demand a people’s vote on the final terms of leaving the European Union in a demonstration led by young people from across the country.

Businesswoman and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden, another march supporter, said she believes leaving the EU will be “immensely harmful” to Britain’s small firms and the NHS.

Other stars have lent their support in video messages, including Game of Thrones star Lena Headey, author Michael Morpurgo, comedian Tracey Ullman, The Wire actor Dominic West, Lord Of The Rings actor Andy Serkis and Match Of The Day’s Gary Lineker.

London businessman Charlie Mullins today cocked a snook at a council edict to take down the giant “Bollocks to Brexit” sign over his Pimlico Plumbers headquarters near Battersea, by replacing it with an even bigger sign urging people to take part in Saturday’s landmark demonstration. The March For The Future will begin at noon on Saturday in Park Lane, processing via Piccadilly, St James’s Street, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, into Whitehall and past Downing Street. It will climax with a rally in Parliament Square at about 2.30pm.

Early indications are that it will exceed the last march against Brexit in June, when 100,000 people from around Britain turned out. Twice as many coaches have been booked, with young people in particular keen to make their voices heard. Thirty coaches have been booked by students.

In 2005, Ms Smith, 77, made headlines when she led a rallying cry at a football match that her club Norwich City was losing as it faced relegation, by walking onto the pitch at half-time and shouting, “Let’s be havin’ you!” Today she told the Standard: “I am petrified at the way Brexit is going. I’m afraid the political leaders have made a dog’s dinner of it and none of us really trust them any more to take the final decision.”

Ms Meaden said: “Brexit is going to be immensely harmful for our country — whether it’s the NHS whose staff fear for the future or small business which is the backbone of Britain.”

Irish actor and Mrs Brown star Brendan O’Carroll said: “I can’t stand watching you guys getting divorced. It could be the march of your lives.”

Ms Ullman said: “The final deal is not going to be what anyone voted for. Let’s push for a people’s vote.”

Musician and presenter Jamelia said: “Should you not have the opportunity to say, ‘This isn’t for me. I’d like to change my mind?’ Yes, you should have that option, which is a people’s vote.”

Live Aid co-organiser Bob Geldof said: “When Parliament refuses to do what we ask, when they’re so afraid of democracy, then we must bring democracy to Parliament.”

Among famous names who have helped to sponsor coaches are Hollywood actress Natascha McElhone, writer Armando Iannucci, former Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher and X-Men actor Sir Patrick Stewart.