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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Jessica Sansome

Revoke Article 50 Brexit petition reaches five million signatures

A petition to stop Brexit now has now surpassed five million signatures - making it the most popular to ever be submitted to the Parliament website.

The Revoke Article 50 campaign has now overtaken a 2016 petition calling for a second EU referendum which reached 4.1 million signatures.

It calls on the Government to revoke Article 50, saying: "The government repeatedly claims exiting the EU is 'the will of the people'.

"We need to put a stop to this claim by proving the strength of public support now, for remaining in the EU. A People's Vote may not happen - so vote now."

Theresa May is facing increasing pressure as March 29 approaches (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

As the Brexit turmoil continues, the petition, which was created on the February 14, began gaining signatures on Wednesday and crashed the Parliament website several times on Thursday after Theresa May 's speech criticising MPs for not backing her Brexit deal.

But after hundreds and thousands of people marched in the capital on Saturday to demand a second referendum, the petition has now gained 5,031,741 signatures - and is still rising.

Members of the public descended on Parliament and took over the streets of London for The Put It To The People rally with organisers claiming that one one million people have taken part in the march.

The Put It To The People March took place on Saturday with 'one million' people taking part (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

It comes as the European Union looks set to offer to delay Brexit from March 29 until May 22, so long as MPs approve Theresa May's withdrawal deal in a House of Commons vote next week.

If they don't accept the PM's deal in the third "meaningful vote", the UK would have until April 12 to tell the European Council a way forward.

The woman behind the popular petition has now come forward and said she is receiving death threats.

Woman who started petition for Brexit to be cancelled 'receives death threats' as it hits four million signatures  

Margaret Georgiadou spoke out in a tweet on Saturday which has now been liked more than 39,000 times and has been flooded with support.

She has since followed up the post with a message of thanks to those who have been supportive of her.

Ms Gerogiadou said: "Heartfelt thanks to all who sent messages of support and friendship. You the voters are the real heroes. I'm just a latter-day Bilbo Baggins, looking for one or three Gandalfs.

Ms Georgiadou has thanked those who have been supportive of her (Margaret Georgiadou Twitter)

"Every individual can be a hero;; each person has tremendous power for good - use it fearlessly!

"March on, march on, With hope in your hearts,, And you'll never walk alone. May the force be with you all! xxxxx"

Parliament must consider holding a debate on all petitions that gain more than 100,000 signatures.

However, Theresa May said this week that she is against revoking Article 50.

Teenager found dead on train tracks near East Didsbury station  

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