English Defence League plan march through Manchester city centre next month

Hundreds of far right activists have so far signed up for the rally on Saturday, March 7, branded with the slogan ‘there is no surrender’

The English Defence League are set to march through Manchester city centre next month.

Around 500 far right activists have so far signed up for the rally on Saturday, March 7, branded with the slogan ‘there is no surrender’.

Anti-fascist opponents have described the event as an ‘insult to everyone’ - and are trying to marshall counter-demonstrators.

It comes after five people were arrested during a march by EDL splinter group North West Infidels over the weekend, which saw demonstrators march through the centre of Oldham.

Two of the arrests were for breach of the peace, two for racially aggravated public order offences and one for anti-social behaviour.

The latest EDL plans for Manchester have been met with short shrift by the council.

City centre spokesman Pat Karney said: “Their sole intention is to bring division and hatred to the streets of Manchester. Manchester people are too sensible and won’t fall for these shenanigans.

“They have been to Manchester twice before so we will be working closely with police to minimise any disruption to the city.”

The last time the EDL organised a rally in Manchester was two years ago, prompting fears of violence and major disruption.

Some 700 supporters - opposed by around 350 anti-fascists - flocked to Albert Square for a tense stand-off that cost police £50,000 to secure and led to 15 arrests.

But it was relatively calm compared to their previous major rally in Piccadilly Gardens in 2009, which brought the city centre to a standstill and saw more than 40 arrests - costing the police around £800,000.

On that occasion there were more anti-fascist counter-demonstrators than EDL supporters themselves, leading some to accuse Unite Against Facism of simply ratcheting up tensions.

But in a statement ahead of March 7 - backed by a string of local trade unionists, as well as north west Labour MEP Julie Ward - the group said there was ‘no place’ for the EDL in Manchester’s multiracial, multicultural and multi-faith community’ and called its rally an ‘insult to everyone’.

It urges the public to help block fascim through ‘broad-based inclusive campaigns’ - and calls for a ‘united protest’ against the EDL at next month’s event.