Calls for capital to break away from UK after Brexit vote
Almost 150k people sign petition in favour of separating capital from rest of the nation after 60% of London backs Remain
CALLS for Mayor Sadiq Khan to “declare independence” of London are on the rise following the capital’s rejection of Brexit.
Nearly 150,000 people have signed a petition asking the Mayor of London to “declare London independent, and apply to join the EU”.
Meanwhile, the hashtag “Londependence” has begun trending on Twitter, as many of the capital’s young residences voice their disillusionment, with many also tweeting “#notmyvote”.
Just five boroughs in London backed Brexit, with a whopping 60% of voters in the capital choosing Remain.
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The results was at odds with the rest of the nation, with 53.2% of English voters choosing to leave.
While yet to respond to the petition, Mayor Sadiq Khan released a statement following the result saying he believes London would be better off in the EU.
He said: “I want to send a particular message to the almost one million Europeans living in London, who make a huge contribution to our city - working hard, paying taxes and contributing to our civic and cultural life.
“You are welcome here.”
“We value the enormous contribution you make to our city and that will not change as a result of this referendum.”
Despite Khan’s silence on the petition, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has come forward to say she could call a new independence referendum for Scotland within months, since the country overwhelmingly voted in favour of Remain.
In a speech, she revealed she has already begun talks with Khan on the matter, because there is a “clear common cause between” the leaders.
Speaking on the reasoning behind a potential second vote, she said: “It is a significant material change in circumstances.
"It’s a statement of the obvious that the option of a second independence referendum must be on the table, and it is on the table."
Workers in the Square Mile are bracing for months of hardship as banks and other financial institutions begin considering whether to cut jobs or relocate to Europe.
Prior to the vote, JP Morgan, HSBC and Goldman Sachs said thousands of jobs in the City of London could be moved overseas in the event of Brexit.
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