'Once-in-a-lifetime party': How Leavers are celebrating Brexit at Parliament Square rally
Brexit celebration parties - and Remain grief gatherings - will be taking place across the nation on Friday night for the UK’s 11pm departure from the EU.
All eyes, though, will be on Westminster, where the Leave Means Leave campaign group is holding the main Brexit celebration rally in Parliament Square.
Leave Means Leave considers itself a cross-party group, but the rally will be Brexit Party-heavy.
Party leader Nigel Farage, chair Richard Tice, failed parliamentary candidate and former Apprentice star Michelle Dewberry, and former MEP Anne Widdecombe are among the six confirmed speakers.
TalkRADIO presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer and Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin are also set to speak.
Leave Means Leave described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime party” with anyone welcome to “join in this joyful occasion”.
In the absence of Big Ben’s bongs, the group has previously promised to “recreate the sound with our powerful speaker system”.
After Mr Farage and his Brexit MEPs mockingly waved goodbye to the European Parliament with Union Jack flags on Wednesday, Leave Means Leave is also asking for revellers to come in “good voice to sing some patriotic songs and bring along as many Union flags as they can, to wave in a patriotic display of pride”.
There is sure to be anti-Brexit counter rallies within the vicinity, too.
Meanwhile, Europe House - the European Commission’s UK office a short walk away from Parliament Square - will mark the occasion with a symbolic lowering of its flag, an official told Yahoo News UK.
Boris Johnson, the man responsible for delivering Brexit, will be marking the occasion in a low-key manner.
The PM will host a Downing Street party for Cabinet ministers and at 10pm deliver a TV address in which he will say: "The most important thing to say tonight is that this is not an end but a beginning.
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"This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act. It is a moment of real national renewal and change."
The party will feature British-sourced food and English sparkling wine. Downing Street will also be illuminated with a red and blue light show.
