Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Siobhan Benita has warned it "beggars belief" that the Conservatives have a pro-Brexit Mayoral candidate given 1.2 million people in London have signed the petition to revoke Article 50, more than the number of votes Sadiq Khan received in the 2016 mayoral election.

The claim comes as the House of Commons debated the petition to Revoke Article 50 on April 1st, which has the highest number of signatures of any parliamentary e-petition in history.

The Liberal Democrats, who are campaigning for the people to have the final say on Brexit, said the support for petition sends a clear signal to Brexiteer politicians that they are "out of touch with the capital."

Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London, Siobhan Benita, said:

“Londoners are open-minded, open-hearted, and proud Europeans. The sheer number of Londoners who have signed the Revoke and Remain petition sends a clear signal to Brexiteer politicians that they are out of touch with the capital.

“It beggars belief that, once again, the Tories have chosen a mayoral candidate who thinks we should leave the EU.

“The Liberal Democrats are clear that with the mess the Conservative Government have made of Brexit, the only route out of this chaos is a people’s vote with the option to revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU.

“The best deal for London is the deal that we already have as members of the EU, yet the Conservatives insist on trying to force a Brexit deal through that would be disastrous for our city.”

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Poplar & Limehouse, Elaine Bagshaw, said:

“What is even more incredible is that Jim Fitzpatrick - a Labour MP - is supporting this damaging Tory Brexit that will hurt the people and economy of Tower Hamlets. Despite being a remain voter in a remain voting constituency, Jim has consistently supported Theresa May’s deal and shown that the Labour party cannot be trusted on Brexit. More than 21,000 people in Poplar & Limehouse signed the petition to revoke Article 50 but he voted against holding a confirmatory referendum. He has betrayed his constituents and it is time local people had a voice that listens to them. The Liberal Democrats demand better for Poplar and Limehouse.”

Councillor Rabina Khan said:

“Even the Council has finally realised how much damage Brexit would do to Tower Hamlets, after months Liberal Democrat campaigning for action. We need to prevent the damaging Brexit that the Conservative government and their supporters are trying to cause. Tower Hamlets would be better off inside the EU.”

ENDS

For more information contact:

• Councillor Rabina Khan, 07944 790383, rabina@rabinakhan.com

• Elaine Bagshaw, 07910 230662, esbagshaw@gmail.com

Notes to editors:

The link to the petition can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/241584. A breakdown of signatures by constituency, as of 1 April, can be found below.

London Constituency Article 50 signatures

Poplar & Limehouse 21,304

Bethnal Green & Bow 24,485

Twickenham 24,653

Richmond Park 27,623

Kingston & Surbiton 18,396

Wimbledon 21,121

Putney 20,398

Tooting 22,852

Battersea 24,525

Vauxhall 25,109

Streatham 24,728

Sutton and Cheam 12,303

Carshalton & Wallington 8,703

Croydon North 12,274

Croydon South 12,303

Mitcham & Morden 10,223

Croydon Central 9,972

Beckenham 12,037

Bromley & Chislehurst 10,971

Orpington 8,000

Old Bexley & Sidcup 6,085

Bexleyheath & Crayford 5,219

Erith & Thamesmead 5,580

Eltham 10,028

Greenwich & Woolwich 19,311

Lewisham East 13,556

Lewisham, Deptford 24,598

Dulwich & North Norwood 26,343

Lewisham West & Penge 18,858

Camberwell & Peckham 22,380

Bermondsey & Old Southwark 25,142

Dagenham & Rainham 3,794

Hornchurch & Upminster 5,680

Romford 5,285

Ilford South 6,588

Barking 5,574

East Ham 7,673

Ilford North 7,931

West Ham 14,614

Leyton & Wanstead 15,114

Chingford & Woodford Green 9,484

Walthamstow 17,596

Tottenham 16,811

Hornsey & Wood Green 31,939

Finchley & Golders Green 20,043

Chipping Barnet 16,502

Enfield, Southgate 13,672

Edmonton 5,228

Enfield North 7,479

Hendon 11,693

Harrow East 7,379

Brent North 8,449

Harrow West 9,656

Ruslip, Northwood & Pinner 11,037

Uxbridge & South Ruislip 8,133

Hayes & Harlington 5,347

Feltham & Heston 6,498

Brentford & Isleworth 19,625

Ealing, Southall 8,539

Ealing North 10,353

Brent Central 12,183

Ealing Central & Acton 23,693

Hammersmith 22,319

Kensington 21,519

Chelsea & Fulham 20,611

Westminster North 18,523

Hampstead & Kilburn 28,879

Holborn & St Pancras 28,093

Islington North 26,937

Hackney North & Stoke Newington 27,818

Islington South & Finsbury 23,565

Hackney South & Shoreditch 26,669

Westminster North 18,523

Cities of London & Westminster 24,859

London 1,170,987