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UK news live: hundreds of BLM and counter-protesters gather in London UK news live: BLM counter-protesters clash with police as thousands gather in London
(32 minutes later)
Home secretary advises people not to attend protests during coronavirus crisis. Follow the latest updatesHome secretary advises people not to attend protests during coronavirus crisis. Follow the latest updates
Police on horseback are now pushing demonstrators back from the other end of Parliament Square, near the boarded-up statues of Nelson Mandela and Gandhi, PA Media reports. These are from Hope Not Hate
From the BBC’s Dominic Casciani
In Parliament Square, several thousand mainly white protesters milled around, many of them drinking. Many police present were equipped with riot gear, but they carried their helmets rather than wearing them.
The atmosphere was rowdy, with rumours of the arrival of “Anteefa” met with a surge towards the Victoria Street corner of the square and a face-off with police.
Protesters hurled cans and a smoke canister at mounted police, who were initially pushed back but then advanced again to regain their previous positions. The incident passed without serious violence erupting, but police began strengthening their positions around the square.
One protester told the Guardian that Antifa counter-protesters had made appearances a couple of times already at the demonstration. Protesters could be overheard asking each other: “where are Antifa?” and speculating over whether antifascist counter-protesters would arrive.
Earlier, on Parliament Street, at the opposite corner of the square, hundreds standing at a police line chanted “En-ger-land” and sang God Save the Queen. They broke into applause when a parade of veterans arrived, passing behind the police line carrying a flag with regimental colours.
In the square, several statues, including those of Winston Churchill and Gandhi, had been boarded off. On the statue of Churchill, someone had stuck up a poster with a silhouette of a second world war soldier and a message that read: “Do not destroy our history. Keep our history and learn from it so the same mistakes don’t happen again.”
According to Hope Not Hate, a press photographer suffered a broken nose in a confrontation with some protesters. Video on the antiracist group’s Twitter feed showed him being led away by police. The Guardian chose not to engage directly with protesters and ask for interviews.
The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, hascondemned those “who seem intent on causing violence and division” and called scenes of violence against police officers “completely unacceptable”.
Police on horseback are pushing demonstrators back from the other end of Parliament Square, near the boarded-up statues of Nelson Mandela and Gandhi, PA Media reports.
Many of the protesters began running towards the other end of the square.Many of the protesters began running towards the other end of the square.
Several bottles and cans were thrown at the officers, with a device emitting dark smoke into the crowd.Some of the demonstrators are now blocking others in their group from the police horses. Several bottles and cans were thrown at the officers, and a device emitted dark smoke into the crowd. Some of the demonstrators are blocking others in their group from the police horses.
From LBC’s Matthew ThompsonFrom LBC’s Matthew Thompson
From JOE’s Oli DugmoreFrom JOE’s Oli Dugmore
This is from Dan SabbaghThis is from Dan Sabbagh
The home secretary Priti Patel has called acts of violence towards the police by counter-protesters “unacceptable thuggery” and said perpetrators “should expect to feel the full force of the law”. The home secretary, Priti Patel, has called acts of violence towards the police by counter-protesters “unacceptable thuggery” and said perpetrators “should expect to feel the full force of the law”.
The video shows counter-protestors drinking alcohol, chanting “England, England, England” and throwing glass bottles at police officers blockading Whitehall. Video footage shows counter-protesters drinking alcohol, chanting “England, England, England” and throwing glass bottles at officers blockading Whitehall.
The BBC’s Dominic Casciani reports that the Met police have imposed a Section 60 power, which allows officers greater use of stop and search powers. The BBC’s Dominic Casciani reports that the Met police have imposed a Section 60 power, which allows officers greater use of stop-and-search powers.
Police on horseback and with shields and helmets have arrived at the counter-protest in London, PA Media reports.Police on horseback and with shields and helmets have arrived at the counter-protest in London, PA Media reports.
Around 100 protesters have returned to the barrier manned by officers near the Cenotaph, chanting Lee Rigby’s name and singing the national anthem.Around 100 protesters have returned to the barrier manned by officers near the Cenotaph, chanting Lee Rigby’s name and singing the national anthem.
Cans and glass bottles, including a large vodka bottle, have been thrown towards officers.Cans and glass bottles, including a large vodka bottle, have been thrown towards officers.
Demonstrators have gathered in Newcastle city centre in a second show of solidarity with the global Black Lives Matter movement.Demonstrators have gathered in Newcastle city centre in a second show of solidarity with the global Black Lives Matter movement.
Activists from Stand Up To Racism North East urged protesters to observe physical distancing and wear face coverings during the demonstration.Activists from Stand Up To Racism North East urged protesters to observe physical distancing and wear face coverings during the demonstration.
A counter-protest by Defenders of Newcastle also gathered in the city centre, where there is a heavy police presence this afternoon.A counter-protest by Defenders of Newcastle also gathered in the city centre, where there is a heavy police presence this afternoon.
At Hyde Park on Saturday morning it looked as if most Black Lives Matter protesters had heeded calls to stay away from central London, with just a few antifascists present and two stalls run by the Socialist party selling news papers.At Hyde Park on Saturday morning it looked as if most Black Lives Matter protesters had heeded calls to stay away from central London, with just a few antifascists present and two stalls run by the Socialist party selling news papers.
The London Antifascist Assembly (LARAF), a group that has rallied to oppose nearly all rightwing mobilisations in London in recent years, became the latest group to call off its protest late on Friday night, and encouraged its supporters to attend local BLM protests instead.The London Antifascist Assembly (LARAF), a group that has rallied to oppose nearly all rightwing mobilisations in London in recent years, became the latest group to call off its protest late on Friday night, and encouraged its supporters to attend local BLM protests instead.
The decision to call off the rally came after a crackdown by the Metropolitan police on would-be protesters. Officers visited some people at their homes by police, the Guardian was told. Three protesters affiliated with green anarchist groups were arrested at Friday’s BLM rally in Hyde Park and police also raided a squatted anarchist social centre in Islington on Friday night, according to the anarchist newspaper Freedom.The decision to call off the rally came after a crackdown by the Metropolitan police on would-be protesters. Officers visited some people at their homes by police, the Guardian was told. Three protesters affiliated with green anarchist groups were arrested at Friday’s BLM rally in Hyde Park and police also raided a squatted anarchist social centre in Islington on Friday night, according to the anarchist newspaper Freedom.
Daisy, 26, from Pimlico, passed demonstrators in Parliament Square as she went for a run at around 10.30am and said many were already drinking alcohol.
There were also reports of drinking and bottles being thrown at police by far-right groups in Whitehall.
She told PA:
This is from JOE’s Oli Dugmore
A counter-protest is underway in central London as the official Black Lives Matter march was called off.
These are from the Guardians’ Dan Sabbagh in Whitehall
The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, has waded into the debate about the role of statues and monuments in public history.
In a letter sent to MPs, peers and councillors, Dowden said heritage should be used to educate people about all aspects of Britain’s morally complex past “rather than air brushing history”.
He said he had spoken to Heritage England to ensure its approach remained against removing ‘contested heritage’.
This is from Huck magazine
And here are some more pictures from the scene in Whitehall.
As several hundred demonstrators block roads around Parliament Square, police officers are encouraging them to move back on to the pavements, PA Media reports.
A demonstrator from south London, who gave her name as Victoria, was in the square with a banner reading “All lives matter”.
Discussing controversial statues, she told PA:
Other police officers remain in a line blocking access to the Cenotaph on Whitehall, with some holding shields.
Starting today, single adult households in England are able to form a “support bubble” with another household.
Here is a handy guide to the new rules put together by PA.
Who is covered by the new arrangements?Adults living alone or single parents living with children under the age of 18.
What will they be able to do that they could not before?They can form a bubble with one other household which means they will effectively be treated as a single household for the purpose of the lockdown rules.That means they can visit each other indoors in their homes – staying overnight if they wish – and they will not have to observe the 2-metre social-distancing rule.
Who might benefit?Older people living alone could form a bubble with the household of an adult son or daughter, enabling them to visit and even hug their grandchildren for the first time since lockdown.
Single parents could pair up with their own parents, allowing them to share childcare duties and reuniting grandparents and grandchildren.
Couples who do not live together will be able to visit and to stay with each other.
If one half of a couple shares a flat or house with one or more other people, they can see their partner as long as they live alone, but if their partner also shares a home they cannot see each other.
And if several people share a flat or house and all have partners who live alone, only one will be able to see their partner, which could lead to some interesting conversations. This will affect large numbers of young people living in towns and cities.
What about households where both grandparents are still living - can they now visit their children and grandchildren?
At this stage only if their son or daughter is the only adult in the other household in the bubble. And if the grandparents have two or more children who live alone, they will have to choose between them.
Downing Street has acknowledged not everyone will benefit from the change, although officials have hinted at a further loosening of the rules if the coronavirus outbreak continues to decline.
Can households form more than one bubble?No. The arrangement must be exclusive with no switching of bubble partners.
Will people have to formally register these bubble arrangements?No, it will be taken on trust. No 10 says the public has shown “great responsibility” in following the social distancing rules so far.
Is there any limit on the distance between households in a bubble?No, although officials are suggesting people should try to “stay local” where possible.
What about vulnerable people who are shielding due to their age or health problems?At the moment, officials say it is too soon for them to be able to join support bubbles.
What about parents who are separated but who currently share childcare, with the children moving between the two households?That will continue. If the parents are the only adult in the household they can form a bubble with another household – meaning the children could potentially be in two bubbles, one for each parent.
What happens if someone in a bubble develops coronavirus symptoms?All members of both households in the bubble must self-isolate for 14 days.
Does this apply only to England?A scheme in Northern Ireland has also been brought in from Saturday. This is for a person who lives alone, and can visit someone else’s private dwelling, including staying one or more nights. If they have a child or children living with them they do not qualify. This will be be reviewed on Monday.
Here are some more videos from the Queen’s socially distanced birthday ceremony, which was held at Windsor in place of Trooping the Colour.
Several hundred people are now gathered in central London, with many centred around the Cenotaph, PA Media reports.
A large crowd of demonstrators are on Whitehall singing the national anthem. Several were seen wearing military-style hats or jackets.
A line of police officers has advanced, blocking more protesters from accessing the Cenotaph.