People march in central London demanding final say on Brexit deal

Photo taken on Oct. 19, 2019 shows the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain. British lawmakers on Saturday voted for a key amendment to force British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to seek another Brexit extension from the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Oct. 19 -- Tens of thousands of people on Saturday marched in central London to demand a final say on Britain's departure from the European Union (EU).

Huge numbers of people took part in "Together for the Final Say" event, calling for a second Brexit referendum as British lawmakers were engaged in intensive debates inside the parliament chamber on the Brexit deal reached Thursday between London and Brussels.

The members of parliament sat in the first Saturday session in 37 years to decide the fate of Brexit.

Earlier Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the House of Commons and urged lawmakers to back his deal, warning that further delay would be "pointless" and "corrosive" of public trust.

Protesters gathered in narrow streets between Parliament Square and Tarafalgar Square, in Green Park and Hyde Park in central London, adorned in European Unions flags, beret and carrying placards after they kicked off the march in Park Lane.

Meanwhile, the Letwin amendment, which requires Brexit delay until legislation to enact the Brexit deal gets passed, was approved in the House of Commons by a vote of 322-306, dealing another blow to the British government, which is determined to leave the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal.

"I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so," the prime minister said in response to the latest vote outcome. He already made it clear not to ask Brussels for "another pointless delay" of Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party who firmly opposed the new Brexit deal, hailed the vote result, saying "it is a historic day in parliament."