London (including Brexit demonstration), Northern England: Oct. 15-22, 2018

I stayed in England (in the Britain Island) several days during my visit to Europe. It was my first stay in England in two years.

There was a big demonstration in London on Sat. Oct. 20 to demand the second referendum on Brexit. About 700,000 people were reported to join it. It was the second largest demonstration in the U.K.’s post-war history after the anti-Iraq war demonstration in 2003, which 2 million people joined.

Various people participated in the event. They included men and women, the old and young.

They also included: 

Kids ans babies, (See also the top photo)

disabled people,

dogs,

and Superman(s).

It was not organized by the Remainers, but most participants were pro EU. The slogans included:

"Stop Tory Brexit,"

"We demand a vote on the final Brexit deal,"

"Liars" and "Enemies of the people."

Supporters of Conservative, Labor and Liberal Democratic parties joined the march.

There were flags and signs of the U.K., EU,  Ireland, several regions of the U.K. 

After looking the demonstrators passing by about 2 hours, I joined the parade. I walked from the Green Park through Trafalgar Square and the Dawning Street to the Parliament. (See also the 2nd photo).

The Brexit negotiations between EU and the U.K. are not going well and the concerns over no-deal Brexit is increasing. Newspapers write articles on Brexit every day (mainly on the conflicts in the ruling Conservative Party).

Once I visited bookshops, however, I found the publications on Brexit and Europe matters were less notable than two years ago.

There were many books related to Brexit and the relations with EU in 2016 in the Waterstone bookstore in the Bloomsbury district, where the Britih Museum (Photo) as well as the University Collage London and other university gather. Now, they have less books on such topics. Much attention was payed to the books on AI and the impacts of innovation I found.

The situation on Brexit is complicated and it is difficult to foresee the future developments.

I found many changes in London in the past two years.

The renovation works began in the Big Ben.

Winston Churchill' s statue looked the construction. (See the 3rd photo) 

Huge blocs were installed in the sidewalks of the Westminster Bridge, where a terrorist attack happened in March 2017.

I also visited New Castle (left photo) and Sunderland in the North East area (in the northern England). My train moved from London through the East area (cities include Peterborough), East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber (cities include York), and arrived in the North East. These five areas all voted for “leave” in the 2016 referendum. Vote for leave gathered nearly 60% in East Midland, Yorkshire and

North East.

Coal and textile industries flourished in the past in these areas. Now, many cities and towns in these areas face economic difficulties.

There spread meadows and agricultural fields alongside the railway. The farms employed many immigrants from the Eastern Europe. The number is decreasing after Brexit decision.

The streets were quiet near the Sunderland railroad station.

The shopping mall was, however, crowded with people.

I found no political campaign posters on Brexit in both Sunderland and Newcastle.