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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Oliver Milne

Momentum vow to 'occupy bridges and block roads' to stop Parliament shutdown

Left-wing group Momentum has called for supporters to occupy bridges and block roads in an attempt to stop Boris Johnson suspending Parliament.

The Jeremy Corbyn supporting the campaign has called for people to join '#StopTheCoup" protests and "shut down the streets" s across the UK, in response to the plans which campaigners fear will make stopping a no-deal Brexit impossible.

Last night hundreds of protesters gathered outside Westminster to oppose Boris Johnson's plans by blocking busses and bringing part of central London to a standstill.

It comes after prominent Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle called for a general strike and other MPs said they would occupy the Common's chamber.

Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has called for a general strike (MDM)

Writing for the Mirror, Mr Russell-Moyle said Mr Johnson's plan "could kill the existing relationship between the monarchy and Parliament"

He added: "We need a mass movement of resistance, with marches, civil disobedience and protests in every village, town and city of this country."

Laura Parker, Momentum National Coordinator, said she would join an occupation of parliament as the group stepped up its campaign.

She said: "Our message to Johnson is this: if you steal our democracy, we’ll shut down the streets.”

Ms Parker added: “Eton educated, millionaire Boris Johnson is stealing our democracy so he can sell off our NHS to big US corporations in a no-deal, Trump first Brexit.

"This is an establishment coup by a tiny, privileged elite who have been eroding our democracy for decades.

"Real power doesn’t sit with the Queen or in parliament. It’s with us, the people - and that’s why we need to take action.

"There are thousands of us who will join an occupation of Parliament and block the roads before we let Johnson close the doors on democracy.

"Today we’re going to contact all Momentum supporters and encourage them to protest, occupy and blockade on Saturday."

Protesters took to the streets last night (Wiktor Szymanowicz/REX)

The group is also going to join other Remain-supporting campaigns in a protest outside Parliament when MPs return on September 3.

The group claim that alongside trade unions and campaign groups they are supporting protests across the country this weekend with events organised  in Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield and York.

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