Parliament suspension: Portuguese woman becomes internet sensation after delivering impassioned Brexit statement

A Portuguese woman has been hailed as a spokesperson for millions of EU citizens, after she interrupted a Sky News interview to make an impassioned statement on Brexit.

The woman, who did not give her name, said she had “given her youth” to the UK, having lived and worked in the country for 20 years.

Speaking during a central London demonstration against the planned suspension of Parliament last night, the woman said she had “finally” joined the Brexit protests because she needed a voice.

“I have no voice and the settlement scheme is not working,” she said.

The Portuguese national and UK resident said she has 'no voice'
Sky News

Continuing her tearful plea, the Portuguese national went on: “I work and I gave this country my youth. I’m very grateful for what you taught me but you must make me part of all this process.

“I can’t just be kicked out. I build things for you, I’ve looked after your children. I’ve looked after the elderly in this country. Now you kick me out with what? With what?"

Speaking just hours after Boris Johnson announced his decision to shut down Parliament for a month, she expressed her sense of betrayal by British politicians.

“I am very very hurt by what they’ve done to England because I came here and I joined the working force and I’m very proud of it and I’m very angry at them for doing this to this country.”

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She then said she was facing problems with the government’s EU Settlement Scheme, which allows European Union citizens to apply to continue living in Britain after Brexit.

She explained there were issues with her national insurance number and she was going to have to start the application process again.

“But the 31st of October is fast approaching. What am I going to do? How am I going to stay? What are my rights?” she asked.

“I’m in the dark like many many people ... I have loads of English friends and they would never do this to me. This unelected parliament did this to us.”

Anti-Brexit demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside of Downing Street
AFP/Getty Images

Social media users have praised the woman for her “powerful” message, describing her as the “real face of what is happening”.

“This Portuguese woman just made the most moving remarks on #brexitcoup you’ll hear today,” wrote one Twitter user.

“The destructive reality of Brexit and Britain’s disfunctional system shared by this Portuguese woman just now on @SkyNews @joncraig - powerful and terrible,” tweeted another.

“To this Portuguese woman and so many other EU nationals in the UK, I'm sorry for what the British government and some of my compatriots are doing to you. I'm so, so sorry,” added another.

The woman delivered her “heartbreaking words” outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday evening, as thousands flocked to Westminster to demonstrate against the suspension of Parliament.

The protest was organised just hours after the Prime Minister announced his plan to temporarily close down the Commons in order to push through his new "legislative programme".

Within hours of his plan being approved by the Queen on Wednesday afternoon, a petition against the prorogation hit one million signatures.