Tory conf. faces huge protest rally

Tens of thousands of British protesters are to hold a rally outside the Conservative Party conference in Manchester as it kicks off in the city on Sunday.

Some 30,000 demonstrators are set to take part in the march for the “Alternative-jobs, growth, justice” called by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to protest the Conservative-led coalition government’s attack on the pensions and public services.

This comes as the police have implemented special security measures near the venue of the Tory annual conference in Manchester and pledged a “robust” response to anyone who will cause trouble.

“This event poses a number of security challenges to the city of Manchester, and we have had to put in place a significant policing operation to help meet these challenges,” said Greater Manchester Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.

“However, anyone wishing to usurp or upstage this event with any violent disorder will be swiftly and robustly dealt with by the police,” Hopkins added.

He also warned all protesters that the police “will simply not tolerate” anyone whom the officers decide is causing “opportunistic” disorder.

The TUC has called for a massive rally after the march where union bosses including PCS leader Mark Serwotka, RMT leader Bob Crow and Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey would address the protesters.