Police forced to let off smoke bombs as thousands of masked protesters wave ‘Tory scum’ banners outside Conservative Party Conference
Two separate demonstrations saw 30,000 people take to the streets in opposition to the Conservatives over Brexit and austerity
POLICE were forced to let off smoke bombs at a demo as 30,000 protesters descended on Manchester for Tory conference yesterday.
Two separate demonstrations saw 30,000 people take to the streets in opposition to the Conservatives over Brexit and austerity.
Cops were forced to act to disperse rioters upset at a People' Assembly van being blocked by security.
Smoke bombs were thrown and demonstrators - many wearing masks to hide their identity - chanted "Let us out!" after police refused to allow a van join the march route because it did not have security clearance.
Police vans and mounted officers were later sent to Liverpool Road as the protesters refused to move, and a force helicopter hovered overhead.
After about an hour, police searched the van and allowed it to be driven off.
Extra police were drafted into the area today to help police keep the marchers away from the conference.
Snipers guarded the parade on rootftop too in case violence erupted, but the march was said to be mostly peaceful and no arrests were made.
One banner read: "Tories have blood on their hands".
And another showed Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg with an arrow through his head.
Some activists chanted: "Build a bonfire, build a bonfire, with Theresa at the top, put Boris in the middle and we'll burn the f****** lot".
Public and Commercial Services Union boss Mark Serwotka called for a general strike on public sector pay to "bring the Tories down", saying Tory policies were "literally killing people".
The Communist Party said it was giving Theresa May "notice to pack her bags and quit" and claimed "mass action will drive the Government out".
Stephen Pennells, 63, from Manchester, turned up dressed as International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.
He said: "I'm here to draw attention to the fact the Government is having its strings pulled by big business."
It came after police removed a “Hang The Tories” banner secured to a bridge in Salford yesterday.
Manchester Labour MP Lucy Powell condemned the sentiments along with mayor Andy Burnham.
And fellow MP Wes Streeting tweeted: "There really is no justification for throwing objects at people attending Conservative Party conference. None whatsoever.”
It came as Jeremy Corbyn found the time to tweet about the violence in Catalonia – but couldn’t bring himself to tweet about the targeting of Tories in Manchester.
The Labour leader instead calling on Theresa May to intervene with the Spanish government over a police crackdown against Catalonia's unofficial independence referendum.
He wrote: I urge Theresa May to appeal directly to Rajoy to end police violence in Catalonia and find political solution to this constitutional crisis."
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