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Anti-austerity activists plan protest against Tory conference in Manchester Anti-austerity activists protest against Tory conference in Manchester
(about 4 hours later)
Thousands of protesters are expected to march past the Conservative party conference venue in Manchester, in an anti-austerity demonstration organised by the TUC and the People’s Assembly. Thousands of protesters are gathering for a march past the Conservative party conference venue in Manchester, in an anti-austerity demonstration organised by the TUC and the People’s Assembly.
The marchers will assemble at All Saints park on Oxford Road, making their way past the “ring of steel” of fences and airport-style security which protects Manchester Central and the Midland hotel, the conference centres. Singer Billy Bragg warmed up the growing crowd with a set on stage, changing the lyrics to his best-known songs to add topical references such as “take the money from Trident and spend it on the NHS” and “these Tory cuts will get me the sack”.
Jeremy Corbyn, the new Labour leader, has urged protesters to “take part in no personal attacks” and focus on policy. A variety of slogans featured on mass-produced and homemade placards, including Cut War Not Welfare, Don’t Bomb Syria, No Cuts and Divine Discontent, Divine Disobedience.
Several costumes and banners featured images of pigs, poking fun at the prime minister, David Cameron, over allegations made in a biography about a student ritual.
Len McCluskey, Unite’s general secretary, told the rally the protest was “sending a very clear message to this Tory government” that it faced a fightback.
“If they think a fluke victory in which 75% of the electorate did not vote for them gave them a mandate to continue their cuts, then they’ve got another think coming,” McCluskey said. “If they think they are going to have a smooth ride over the next five years, they’ve got another think coming.
“There will be hundreds of thousands of people hounding them, snapping at them and resisting them.”
The fight would be easier because in Jeremy Corbyn, Labour has a leader “who will stand shoulder to shoulder with us”, he said.
The marchers are making their way past the “ring of steel” of fences and airport-style security that protects Manchester Central and the Midland hotel, the conference centres.
Corbyn has urged protesters to “take part in no personal attacks” and focus on policy.
Ahead of Tory Conference I urge all activists to focus on policy & to take no part in personal attacks https://t.co/8UaTNpBgsrAhead of Tory Conference I urge all activists to focus on policy & to take no part in personal attacks https://t.co/8UaTNpBgsr
But compering an event in the city on Saturday evening, former The Word presenter Terry Christian said he hoped to inspire the crowd to “get in the mood to cause some trouble”. Referencing one of Manchester’s late legends, he went on: “If the late Tony Wilson were here he would say: ‘What the fuck are that lot doing in Manchester?’”But compering an event in the city on Saturday evening, former The Word presenter Terry Christian said he hoped to inspire the crowd to “get in the mood to cause some trouble”. Referencing one of Manchester’s late legends, he went on: “If the late Tony Wilson were here he would say: ‘What the fuck are that lot doing in Manchester?’”
The choir sang the lines “Do one you Tory scum” at Take Back Manchester, an evening of comedy and music dedicated to making the Conservative party unwelcome ahead of its conference.The choir sang the lines “Do one you Tory scum” at Take Back Manchester, an evening of comedy and music dedicated to making the Conservative party unwelcome ahead of its conference.
To underline the message, protesters formed an “unwelcoming committee” at Piccadilly station on Saturday, greeting delegates with a banner saying “Tories Not Welcome Go Home”.To underline the message, protesters formed an “unwelcoming committee” at Piccadilly station on Saturday, greeting delegates with a banner saying “Tories Not Welcome Go Home”.
Down at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester’s main square, two people were taken to hospital on Saturday after an anti-Tory rave. Greater Manchester police shut down the rave on Sunday morning after the party had been going for 48 hours. Two people were arrested for obstructing police officers. Down at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester’s main square, two people were taken to hospital on Saturday after an anti-Tory rave. Greater Manchester police shut down the party on Sunday morning after it had been going for 48 hours. Two people were arrested for obstructing police officers.
One act on the bill at Christian’s event at the Dance House was Smiths cover band the Iain Duncan Smiths, who went down a storm with songs including Girlfriend in a Coma (She’s Fit for Work), which have adapted Morrissey’s lyrics for the Atos generation: “I think we will have to find her a placement at Poundland or if not maybe a menial role at the local job centre, prop her up at a desk/ Do you know yet if she’ll pull through and if not when is her expiry due?” One act on the bill at Christian’s event at the Dance House was Smiths cover band the Iain Duncan Smiths, who went down a storm with songs including Girlfriend in a Coma (She’s Fit for Work). The band adapted Morrissey’s lyrics to say: “I think we will have to find her a placement at Poundland or if not maybe a menial role at the local job centre, prop her up at a desk/ Do you know yet if she’ll pull through and if not when is her expiry due?”
The Iain Duncan Smiths turned out to be a one-man band fronted by football writer Jonny Abrams. “The other members were cut due to austerity,” he explained. The band was formed several months ago but was added to Saturday’s bill after Abrams modified Big Mouth Strikes Again to the inevitable Pig’s Mouth Strikes Again.The Iain Duncan Smiths turned out to be a one-man band fronted by football writer Jonny Abrams. “The other members were cut due to austerity,” he explained. The band was formed several months ago but was added to Saturday’s bill after Abrams modified Big Mouth Strikes Again to the inevitable Pig’s Mouth Strikes Again.
Greater Manchester police have been given extra funding from the Home Office to police Sunday’s event, which is expected to bring the city – already gridlocked due to tram works, a sinkhole on the Mancunian Way flyover and many conference-related road closures – to a standstill.Greater Manchester police have been given extra funding from the Home Office to police Sunday’s event, which is expected to bring the city – already gridlocked due to tram works, a sinkhole on the Mancunian Way flyover and many conference-related road closures – to a standstill.
Billy Bragg, who is expected to address Sunday’s rally, said the purpose of the protests was “to remind the Conservatives that they may have won the election but they didn’t really win the hearts and minds of British people”. Bragg said the purpose of the protests was “to remind the Conservatives that they may have won the election but they didn’t really win the hearts and minds of British people”.