Some 20 fishing vessels to sail along the River Tyne to start a demonstration in Sutherland ending in London.

Pro-Brexit supporters to hold fishing vessel parade from North Shields to Newcastle

UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, March 14, 2019, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

Fishing for Leave group are organising a 20 boat parade that will travel from North Shields to Newcastle the day before the Sunderland - London March to Leave protest.

These pro-Brexit supporters, a group which claims quitting the European Union will boost Britain's fishing industry, are planning the parade along the Tyne in a "yellow wellies" protest, Chronicle Live reported.

Fishing for Leave say a lorry will transport a 30ft fishing boat from North Shields Fish Quay to Newcastle's Quayside, escorted by a pipe band, on Friday morning.

At the same time, 20 boats will sail from North Shields to the Tyne Bridge.

The group explained that the parade will cross the Tyne Bridge - while the fishing boats sound their horns from the Tyne - before heading to Jarrow.

In Jarrow, the protesters intend to 'fire the start' of the March to Leave protest, which is set to begin in Sunderland on Saturday and finish in London on March 29, the day Britain is scheduled to leave the EU. MPs could vote to ask Brussels to delay Brexit, when they meet at Parliament on Thursday.

In a statement Fishing for Leave said the terms of the withdrawal agreement, which MPs have twice voted to reject, were "an existential threat to fishing and a total betrayal of Brexit and Britain."

The statement says the the aim of its protest is to "remind our representatives who we elect to ensure we leave on March 29" and claims the fishing industry has suffered due to EU membership.

Fishing for Leave's statement adds that it wants MPs to 'honour the Brexit vote by ensuring Britain leaves the EU with No Deal' and calls for Brexit supporters to join the protest on foot or by following the lorry in their own vehicles.

The group describes the demonstration as "Yellow Wellies, Not Yellow Vests" - a reference to the yellow vest protests in Europe, and the footwear fishermen wear.

In 2016, Fishing for Leave organised a flotilla protest on the Thames in London, ahead of further demonstrations in April last year.

MPs voted on Wednesday evening to reject a No Deal Brexit. Prime Minister Theresa May issued an ultimatum to MPs, begging them to back her withdrawal deal proposal - at the third attempt - or face further delays to Brexit.

The parade is scheduled to start in North Shields at 8.30am on Friday, arriving at the Tyne Bridge at 12 noon, via Wallsend and Byker, before finishing in Jarrow at 2.30pm. The flotilla is set to sail from North Shields at 10am on Friday, arriving at Newcastle Quayside for midday.
 

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