The 50,000 protesters who descended on Manchester for the Conservative Party Conference have been praised by the police for their ‘peaceful’ behaviour.
Police had to deal with one of the biggest protests ever witnessed in Manchester and only made two arrests for low level offences.
The Trade Union Conference event targeted the Tory conference which takes place today at Manchester Central as participants rally against the privatisation of the NHS.
Chief Superintendent John O’Hare said: “This was the largest protest Greater Manchester Police have had to manage and I would like to thank those who attended for behaving in a peaceful and lawful manner.
“It was clear the intentions of the organisers and those who were involved in the march wanted to protest peacefully as is their democratic right to do so.”
Demonstrators started with a march from Liverpool Road proceeding to Whitworth Park where the rally finished.
Protesters were highlighting the impact of huge job losses and spending cuts as well as the selling-off of the most lucrative parts of the NHS to private healthcare companies.
Due to the shear mass of the crowds Metrolink services were out of action and a replacement Bus service has to be put in place.
Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey said: “David Cameron has lied about the NHS and continues to hoodwink us about the scale and pace of NHS privatisation
“We must make certain that the NHS is at the top of the political agenda at the next general election. Maintaining the NHS will always be a difficult task; there will always be new challenges.
“In 2010, he told the people of Britain that the NHS was safe in the Tories’ hands.”
Picture courtesy of Mark Ramsay, with thanks.
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