PROTESTERS descended on Newport on Saturday to hold demonstrations against the suspension of parliament — to shouts of 'traitors' from passers-by.

Two separate protests were held at St Thomas' Square by Islanders for Europe, at 11am, and the Isle of Wight Labour Party, at noon.

Both called on the government to halt its plans to prorogue parliament from the second week of September until October 14, ahead of Brexit negotiations.

The Islanders for Europe demonstration met with criticism from members of the public as shouts of 'traitors' and 'liars' could be heard over the chants of the protesters.

Speaking to the crowd, Isle of Wight Green Party leader Vix Lowthion said: "It's the people who are the most important part of this. The people are the most important part of democracy, and those people in Westminster, those people in Downing Street, and dare I say it, the Queen at Buckingham Palace — their power rests on their mandate from us."

She led protesters in chants of 'Boris Johnson got it wrong, and 'stop the coup.'

Protester Paul Wilson said: "I'm here so our children wont have to grow up in this mess that is about to happen.

"Boris Johnson is showing dictatorial tendencies, regardless of if you are a remainer or a leaver, you should be terrified of this.

"Those who said they wanted to leave to take control, are ready to hand it over to a single person to shut down democracy."

Island Labour chair Julian Critchley said: "The only hope to heal the divisions of our nation is through democracy.

"The democracy of our parliament, the democracy of our people and the democracy our ancestors have fought for it — from the Levellers to the Chartists and the Suffragettes."

Ms Lowthion said: "The shutting down of parliament is the seizing of power away from the people and this is not acceptable.

"We stand together in this square to demonstrate to the government that we are prepared to act to defend our democracy, an attack on parliament is an attack on us.”

More than 1.7 million people nationally have signed a protest opposing the prorogation of parliament, including more than 3,000 from the Isle of Wight.

 

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