Right-wing protesters and counter-demonstrators gathered outside No 10 North in Manchester city centre on Saturday afternoon, with police keeping the two groups apart using metal fences. The events passed off without serious incident, although two people were arrested and later released without charge.
Protesters gather outside No 10 North
A group of more than a hundred people, many carrying Union Jack flags, gathered shortly after 12 noon outside Prime Minister Andy Burnham's northern HQ in Albert Square. They were later joined by a larger group of counter demonstrators organised by Stand Up to Racism, who waved Palestinian flags.
The Manchester Evening News witnessed one man being escorted away by police. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) later said two people were arrested and released without charge.
Police operation and resources
Police bosses said they had provided 'significant' resources, thought to be in excess of operations mounted for big football matches like the Manchester derby. In the end, far fewer protesters attended than expected, with police estimating around 400.
GMP had authorised increased stop and search powers, giving officers the power to order people to leave or face arrest. The force said the 'vast majority of both sides caused no issues to our officers'.
Organisers and speakers
The right-wing demonstration was organised by Zachary Appleton of the Strength and Honour party. He told the Manchester Evening News: "We want rid of this Labour government. I can't even understand why there's a counter protest. This is a protest against the people who are in power who we believe should not be in a position of power. Nobody voted for Andy Burnham. We're here because we want a general election."
Mr Appleton led a series of speeches, a two-minute silence for victims of crime including Lee Rigby and Henry Nowak, and criticised leaders for 'importing an ideology which is incompatible with our own'. He also urged Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe to 'put their differences aside and come together'.
Another speaker, John Lawrence from Oldham of the National Housing Party UK, who has stood to be a councillor in his home town five times, said: "I'm here because of the HMOs and the hotels. The worst thing is that people don't engage with the local community and then there's trouble in the street when everyone kicks off. It's all against us but nobody will say anything. I've tried to be diplomatic and go to meetings. They don't want to know that people are angry."
In his speech, Mr Lawrence said Andy Burnham should make good on a promise to deport foreign nationals who commit crime, pointing to a video circulating online purporting to show a foreign national drunk in Piccadilly Gardens despite an arrest for harassing women. "If they commit crime, they just get bailed to another town," he said.
Counter-demonstration and police response
Stand Up To Racism, urging people to join their counter demo, said in a Facebook post that as many people as possible were required to 'defeat the far right'. The post went on: "We will not accept racial violence directed at HMOs or fascists roaming freely around our city centre."
In an update on Saturday afternoon, GMP said two males were arrested, one for possession of an offensive weapon and the other on suspicion of robbery following an incident not related to the demonstrations. They were later released without charge.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Dexter said: "Our policing operation was designed to balance the right to peaceful protest with the need to keep the city centre safe and moving for everyone else. We also have had to ensure our plans were flexible and resilient so that any 'flash protests' in other areas of the city could be dealt with quickly, to minimise disruption and risks to safety in our communities. This plan continues into the remainder of the evening.
"As a result of extensive preparation and the work of officers and partner agencies throughout the day, both groups of demonstrators were able to exercise their rights safely, and we saw no significant disorder. I would like to thank our officers, partners and the public for their support and cooperation, which helped minimise disruption and allowed people to enjoy all that Manchester city centre has to offer."
