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| Tory conference protest banner on Salford bridge denounced by MPs | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MPs from both the main parties have denounced a banner that appeared on a footbridge in Salford prior to the Conservative party conference in Manchester. | |
| One Conservative MP said the party’s conferencewas being targeted by “fascists” after pictures circulated on social media of a banner reading: “Hang the Tories.” | |
| Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, and local Labour MPs aso criticised the banner, which was strung across a footbridge with two human effigies dangling by their necks below. | |
| Greater Manchester police issued a statement saying that they were made aware of a banner over a bridge in Salford early on Saturday and officers had attended and removed it at 9.10am, although added that “the two mannequins were not at the scene” when they had arrived. | Greater Manchester police issued a statement saying that they were made aware of a banner over a bridge in Salford early on Saturday and officers had attended and removed it at 9.10am, although added that “the two mannequins were not at the scene” when they had arrived. |
| “Following removal of the banner, police received a number of calls regarding the banner after people had seen the images which were on social media,” the statement continued. “We would like to reassure the public that any instances of inappropriate behaviour or material will be dealt with swiftly by our officers.” | “Following removal of the banner, police received a number of calls regarding the banner after people had seen the images which were on social media,” the statement continued. “We would like to reassure the public that any instances of inappropriate behaviour or material will be dealt with swiftly by our officers.” |
| Theresa May’s party is facing a weekend of protests in Manchester, with a national anti-austerity demonstration expected to attract thousands on Sunday and a cross-party pro-European rally due to be addressed by the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Vince Cable, and a Tory ex-minister, Stephen Dorrell. | Theresa May’s party is facing a weekend of protests in Manchester, with a national anti-austerity demonstration expected to attract thousands on Sunday and a cross-party pro-European rally due to be addressed by the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Vince Cable, and a Tory ex-minister, Stephen Dorrell. |
| Delegates arriving at Manchester Piccadilly station on Saturday evening for the conference at the Manchester Central Convention Complex were greeted by an “unwelcome party” protest led by a choir singing anti-Tory songs. | Delegates arriving at Manchester Piccadilly station on Saturday evening for the conference at the Manchester Central Convention Complex were greeted by an “unwelcome party” protest led by a choir singing anti-Tory songs. |
| It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the banner, which was ironically described as “charming” by Conservative MP Michael Fabricant. “What a charming welcome to Manchester and the Conservative party conference,” said Fabricant. “These aren’t protesters, they’re fascists.” | It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the banner, which was ironically described as “charming” by Conservative MP Michael Fabricant. “What a charming welcome to Manchester and the Conservative party conference,” said Fabricant. “These aren’t protesters, they’re fascists.” |
| Burnham, Labour’s MP for Manchester Central, Lucy Powell, and MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, Angela Rayner, were quick to distance the party from the “hang the Tories” message. Burnham said of the banner: “This is just wrong. We will always protect the right to protest but never to threaten, abuse or incite violence. It should come down.” | Burnham, Labour’s MP for Manchester Central, Lucy Powell, and MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, Angela Rayner, were quick to distance the party from the “hang the Tories” message. Burnham said of the banner: “This is just wrong. We will always protect the right to protest but never to threaten, abuse or incite violence. It should come down.” |
| Powell said: “On behalf of our city and my constituency, we’re sorry about this. We disagree with and are angry with your policies but we wish you no harm.” | Powell said: “On behalf of our city and my constituency, we’re sorry about this. We disagree with and are angry with your policies but we wish you no harm.” |
| The shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, said: “This is disgusting and not the Manchester I know and love. Those [who] do this let Manchester down.” | The shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, said: “This is disgusting and not the Manchester I know and love. Those [who] do this let Manchester down.” |
| There is no suggestion that the banner was linked to the protests being organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, which is due to include speeches from Maxine Peake, the actress, and Brian Eno, the musician, as well as a march outside the conference centre. | There is no suggestion that the banner was linked to the protests being organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, which is due to include speeches from Maxine Peake, the actress, and Brian Eno, the musician, as well as a march outside the conference centre. |
| About 30 members of the Leeds-based leftwing Commoners’ Choir travelled to Manchester to take part in a “flash mob” protest at Piccadilly station. They waved “Tories out” placards as they sang songs with lyrics including: “People often ask me what it is that makes me tick – it’s Boris Johnson’s head upon a stick” and “You’re nowhere if you believe Theresa May” – a reference to the PM’s attack on “citizens of nowhere”. | About 30 members of the Leeds-based leftwing Commoners’ Choir travelled to Manchester to take part in a “flash mob” protest at Piccadilly station. They waved “Tories out” placards as they sang songs with lyrics including: “People often ask me what it is that makes me tick – it’s Boris Johnson’s head upon a stick” and “You’re nowhere if you believe Theresa May” – a reference to the PM’s attack on “citizens of nowhere”. |
| The choir’s songwriter, Boff Whalley, said: “It’s meant in fun but we’re trying to get a serious message across with a memorable tune.” | The choir’s songwriter, Boff Whalley, said: “It’s meant in fun but we’re trying to get a serious message across with a memorable tune.” |
| Speaking before Sunday’s pro-European rally, Cable said: “It is vital that we keep up the pressure on the government. The Conservatives are driving Britain over a cliff edge towards a reckless, extreme Brexit.” | Speaking before Sunday’s pro-European rally, Cable said: “It is vital that we keep up the pressure on the government. The Conservatives are driving Britain over a cliff edge towards a reckless, extreme Brexit.” |
| Dorrell, a former health secretary and chair of the European Movement UK, said: “Democracy is a process, not an event. A healthy democracy is a dialogue in which all voices should be heard. And it must allow the voters to change their mind.” | Dorrell, a former health secretary and chair of the European Movement UK, said: “Democracy is a process, not an event. A healthy democracy is a dialogue in which all voices should be heard. And it must allow the voters to change their mind.” |