LOCAL politicians took part in a ‘people’s vote’ rally in Leeds last weekend.

MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) was one of the speakers at the launch of People’s Vote North on Saturday, June 22.

The event was organised to take place nearly three years to the day since the European Union membership referendum that delivered a pro ‘Brexit’ result.

He was joined onstage by Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn while other famous faces taking part included footballing legends Peter Reid and John Barnes and Olympic athlete Steve Cram.

Also attending was the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Leeds North West, Kamran Hussain, who joined Shaffaq Mohammed, the Lib Dem MEP for Yorkshire and The Humber.

Mr Sobel told the crowd: “It is important that we build support to get a public vote before Boris Johnson crashes out of the EU or makes some sort of pact with Nigel Farage.

“I think it’s really important to recognise that when people voted it wasn’t clear what the shape or form it would take.

“The referendum was a blind referendum but now our eyes are open and we know what is going to happen.

“I have noticed in my constituency that a lot of people who voted to leave have changed their minds.

“The three years have made them pause and reflect and now they’d vote remain.

“Brexit should not be a decision of a few MPs but needs to be about the whole country and what it wants and needs.”

The rally’s organisers say that more than 1,000 people, from across Yorkshire and the North of England, attended. The event marked the start of a string of summertime events being held by the People’s Vote campaign across the UK.