Spot the difference: on Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to peacefully request a democratic vote in a march to Parliament Square where a rally was held.

Today hundreds of people in the same place threaten rioting and violence in an attempt to push the opposite point.

Quite a contrast isn’t it.

But that’s roughly how it’s been ever since David Cameron stuck a knife into the heart of Britain in the hopes of settling a debate in the Conservative Party, which his successor Theresa May set about twisting with the same aim in mind.

One side politely requests a vote, the other responds with a pair of hobnailed boots. Or hobnailed heels in the case of May, who’s comments could be seen as inciting violence against MPs.

Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Show all 30 1 /30 Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit leave the European Union supporters attend a rally in Parliament Square after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The protest march which started on March 16 in Sunderland, north east England, finished on what was the original date for Brexit to happen before the recent extension Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds up a poster during a rally after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London, Friday, March 29, 2019. Pro-Brexit demonstrators were gathering in central London on the day that Britain was originally scheduled to leave the European Union. (AP Photo/ Kirsty Wigglesworth) Kirsty Wigglesworth AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit protester holds a sign next to a statue of Winston Churchill at the March to Leave demonstration in London, Britain March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville TOBY MELVILLE Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square in Westminster, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday March 29, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Jonathan Brady PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit protesters hold signs and wave flags at the March to Leave demonstration in London, Britain March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville TOBY MELVILLE Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit epa07471421 Pro-Brexit protesters gather outside of the Parliament for Nigel Farage's 'March to Leave' in London, Britain, 29 March 2019. MPs rejected Prime Minister's May EU withdrawal agreement earlier in the day. EPA/NEIL HALL NEIL HALL EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter sips a can of Stella in protests outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Dedicated anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and likewise pro-Brexit campaigner Joseph Afrane go head to head near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit marching band in Parliament Square Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Remain supporters wave EU flags from a bus in Parliament Square PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter shouts slogans outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside of the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside of the Houses of Parliament REUTERS Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit flag is waved in Parliament Square AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The March to Leave nears the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit protester holds a sign outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters carry the coffin of democracy AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters march outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters take part in the March to Leave protest in London PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds a sign outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A man holds satirical paintings of politicians Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit An pro-Brexit float on the March to Leave march in London Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Tommy Robinson supporter arrives at the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A jogger gestures rudely at a Brexit supporter outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament PA

I was marching, or rather wheeling because the distance is beyond my limited capacity to walk, on Saturday with my mother and my 11-year-old son. I was perfectly relaxed about taking him because he was probably as safe in that good natured, jocular crowd as he would have been at his school.

We’ve been on nearly all the big London demos, which have only grown in numbers as a dismal government has played out the dismal process of Brexit. About the worst thing that has happened? A few F bombs, a lot of booing around Downing Street and someone posting a Bollocks to Brexit sticker on the nameplate of Brexiteer Liam Fox’s Department for International Trade.

It was probably removed before he arrived for work on Monday morning, but the thought of him seeing it at least made me chuckle.

Dr Fox has been among those resorting to dire warnings and ill-judged hyperbole in an attempt to dragoon people into accepting his and his boss’s prescription for the country, with the threat of what the thugs may do if they don't always in the background.

Fox was at it again this morning, dribbling on about a “chasm of distrust” if MPs failed (as they did) to deliver his boss’s rotten apple of a deal.

Perhaps he needs his eyes testing, because that chasm already exists. He helped to open it up, and to sow that distrust he was complaining about with the lies he told during the Brexit campaign. It was Fox, remember, who said securing a super duper Brexit have your cake and eat it deal would be the “easiest thing in human history” while promising to secure a raft of whizzy new trade pacts with the rest of the world. Remind me, where are they now? He hasn’t even managed to replicate most of the existing ones we benefit from courtesy of our membership with the EU.

Still, what do you expect from a ministerial code breaker.

Lies are the stock in trade of the Brexiteers, of whatever hue. Take Ukip leader Gerald Batten. This is what he tweeted this morning: “There are reports that water cannon may be deployed tomorrow in London, and that some of the police may try to aggregate and provoke Brexiteers. There is always the danger of provocateurs planted to cause trouble. I hope it is not true but I call on everyone present to be peaceful.”

The Metropolitan Police retweeted him, along with its response: “Those reports are indisputably false.”

Translation: liar, liar, pants on fire.

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Batten appears to have been indulging in a case of projection, in anticipation of his pals going over the top.

Regardless of what the actual thugs do, and what thuggish politicians like Fox and Batten say, here’s what you should remember. Whenever there is a terrorist outrage, we are always, always, told Britain will not be cowed and that the British people are as tough as old boots and won’t give in to violence. It doesn’t matter whether the outrage is perpetrated by the IRA or some al-Qaeda offshoot, the response is the same.

We are also told that the perpetrators will be pursued and brought to justice with the full force of the law. Their lickspittles are roundly condemned.