GREEN MP Caroline Lucas has warned the government it has “no mandate” to negotiate Brexit and backed calls for an early general election.

She was in Westminster last night, as her husband, Richard Savage, gave a speech on her behalf at a pro-Remain gathering in Brighton, where tales emerged of tension and disappointment in the Brexit vote aftermath.

She said: “The current government has no mandate to negotiate our withdrawal from Europe.

“That’s why I support calls for an early general election with an electoral pact between the progressive parties to allow you AND OTHER voters a choice about happens next.

“A general election to decide our relationship with the EU and a general election to unite behind what matters to both the 48 per cent and the 52 per cent.”

Among those in the crowd of more than 150 in The Level was Henrietta Dombey, 76, emeritus professor of literacy in primary education at the University of Brighton, who said Brexit was “profoundly depressing” and she worried about its impact on university research and collaboration.

She said: “There are two Germans in our pilates class and we felt that we really owed them a sincere apology.

“They are both people that have been in the country for 15 years, contributing to its knowledge.”

Tim Hughes, 58, from Seven Dials, said he thought the result was “out of order” and hoped his local Polish shop was not feeling too worried.

Aida Chavez, a 31-year-old student from Mexico, said Brexit was “very sad”, adding: “I think the EU was to some extent one of the most important achievements of humanity.”

She said since the vote friends from African countries were speaking in the street in central Brighton and a female passerby shouted “speak proper English” at them.

Verity Spott, 28, also said a Polish friend trying to help someone in the street had been shouted at by a female passerby: “You’re the one that needs help - you need to go back to your country.”

Friend Kev Nickells said he had friends who voted Leave and there was now “no point alienating” those on the opposing side.

“It’s like, right, it is done; what’s the next thing,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean it’s not something not to be sad about.”