Brighton and Hove starts petition to ‘leave Britain and Remain in the EU’ after Brexit

ENRAGED Remain campaigners in Brighton and Hove have waged an online campaign for the city to gain independence from Britain and become “the Monaco of the UK”.

Nearly 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for a referendum for the East Sussex city to break away from the rest of the county in the wake of the Brexit vote.

The petition urges residents of Brighton and Hove to “leave the UK, stay in the EU”.

Supporters say the coastal city, where almost seven in 10 people voted to remain in the EU at last week’s referendum, could then choose its own path and dictate its own affairs.

Douglas Smith, a Brighton resident who set up the petition, wrote on the change.org webpage: “We have emphatically stated our intention and desire to remain part of the EU. 

“If the people of England and Wales have the right to choose to separate from the EU, we reserve the right to disagree with their choice.”

He added: “A local referendum should be conducted to allow the same democratic process that has taken place to pull us out of the EU to enable citizens to decide their own future here in Brighton and Hove.”

A letter on the petition page addressed to Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, states: “The People’s Republic of Brighton and Hove formerly request the city council and local government to conduct a serious discussion on exiting the UK.”

Supporters have recorded a Brighton and Hove national anthem and a new flag has been designed.