This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46495595

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Rival marches ahead of Brexit vote Rival marches ahead of Brexit vote
(35 minutes later)
A UKIP-organised march in support of Brexit which controversial activist Tommy Robinson is attending is taking place in London. Thousands of people have taken to the streets in London to march in a UKIP-organised rally and a counter-protest march.
Meanwhile counter-protest against the former English Defence League leader, who was recently appointed as an adviser to UKIP, is also under way. A UKIP spokesman said "quite a few thousand" supporters turned up to their "Brexit Betrayal" march alongside controversial activist Tommy Robinson.
Anti-fascist groups and Labour-backed campaigners are taking part. Marching in opposition were anti-fascist groups and Labour-backed campaigners.
Scotland Yard has imposed restrictions on both marches and urged people to protest peacefully. A spokeswoman said 15,000 turned up to oppose Mr Robinson's rally.
UKIP predicted its "Brexit Betrayal" march would be "the largest pro-Brexit event of the year", with party leader Gerard Batten telling supporters it was the "only pro-Brexit rally to be held before the vote next week". Laura Parker of Labour grassroots group Momentum claimed their counter-demonstration "vastly" outnumbered UKIP's "nearly five to one".
Mr Robinson's appointment as an adviser to Mr Batten prompted a number of people to resign from the party, including former leader Nigel Farage. She said: "Even with the UKIP machine in tow, he [Robinson] only managed to bring a few thousand supporters out on the streets while we mobilised nearly 15,000 to march against his racism and bigotry."
John McDonnell, Labour shadow chancellor, urged people to join the rally against Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Police have not provided an estimate of crowd sizes.
Unite Against Fascism and grassroots group Momentum are also marching against Mr Robinson. At the scene
'Fundamental right' By Richard Galpin
Scotland Yard said it had imposed conditions - which include the marches sticking to planned routes and limits the time they take place - based on current intelligence. Despite fears there could be clashes between the pro and anti-Brexiteers today, the marches which streamed through the streets of central London passed off peacefully.
Mr Robinson and his supporters met outside the Dorchester hotel on Park Lane before marching along a specified route to Parliament Street. Thousands of people took part on both sides of the divide, making their feelings known ahead of the key vote in parliament due to take place on Tuesday.
Police barriers are separating them from the counter-protesters, who gathered outside the BBC's Portland Place headquarters ahead of marching to Whitehall. Those marching under the UKIP banner called for Theresa May's Brexit deal to be dumped.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor of the Metropolitan Police said: "The right to protest is a fundamental right in our democratic society, but this right must be balanced against the right of people to go about their day without fear of violence, disorder or disruption." One demonstrator carried an effigy of the prime minister describing her as a traitor, while another held a model scaffold and hangman's noose.
He said police would "adopt a robust arrest policy on anyone who attends and is intent on violence and disorder". Later in a rally close to parliament and Downing Street, the UKIP leader Gerrard Batten said it had been an achievement to get the far-right activist Tommy Robinson involved in the demonstration.
Mr Robinson who denies claims he is a racist and fascist, joined the front of the march saying it was "a beautiful day."
Scotland Yard imposed restrictions on both marches and urged people to protest peacefully.
Mr Robinson and his supporters gathered outside the Houses of Parliament where they were addressed by UKIP leader Gerard Batten.
The former English Defence League leader was recently appointed as an adviser to Mr Batten, prompting a number of people to resign from the party, including former leader Nigel Farage,
Mr Batten told the crowd: "If Parliament does not take Britain out of the European Union it will be the biggest constitutional crisis since the English Civil War.
"In 1642 the king put himself in opposition to parliament. Parliament won and the king lost his head."
Weyman Bennett, of Stand Up To Racism and one of the counter-protest organisers, said: "I believe that the majority of people in this country reject fascism and racism.
"There's deep concern in Britain about the growth of the far right in this country, under the guise of Tommy Robinson and UKIP."
He added: "We are excited about the amount of women organisers, Muslim groups and trade unions that have come out.
UKIP had earlier predicted its "Brexit Betrayal" march would be "the largest pro-Brexit event of the year", with party leader Gerard Batten telling supporters it was the "only pro-Brexit rally to be held before the vote next week".
Labour's shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, had urged people to join the rally against Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Scotland Yard said it had imposed conditions - which include the marches sticking to planned routes and limits on the time they could take place.
Mr Robinson and his supporters met outside the Dorchester hotel on Park Lane before marching along a pre-determined route to Westminster.
Police barriers separated them from the counter-protesters, who had gathered outside the BBC's Portland Place headquarters prior to marching to Whitehall.