Star date: 29th September 2017

BRING OUT THE DOGS – THE TORIES ARE COMING TO TOWN!

With the unpopularity of the Conservative Government growing by the day, measures were being put in place this morning to protect the Party's conference delegates, including sniffer dogs, the TAU riot police and huge barricades.

Meanwhile, two massive protests will happen on Sunday; the Tories Out! People's Assembly demonstration, and the national #StopBrexit march. And there's a big Take Back Manchester Festival going off throughout the Conference.

Full details here...

Workmen and police were busy this morning preparing Manchester city centre for the arrival of thousands of delegates at the Conservative Party Conference...

All around the Manchester Central venue (aka GMex), concrete bollards were in place, sniffer dogs were out, TAU riot vans were parked up and huge wire mesh fencing was installed to protect Tories from angry protesters.

Last time the Tories had their conference in the city, Boris Johnson actually got hit by some lightweight plastic balls thrown by disabled campaigners as he entered the venue, while Jeremy Hunt was ear-blasted by a big brass protest tuba. The authorities are determined that no such scenes will occur this year.

This Sunday, 1st October, there are two huge demonstrations happening at the same time to usher in the Tories...

The People's Assembly Against Austerity is holding a national demonstration beginning at noon at the Castlefield Arena on Liverpool Road in Manchester, expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people marching under the banner of 'No More Austerity; Scrap The Pay Cap and For Decent Health, Homes, Jobs and Education'.*

Meanwhile, at the same time there is a national #StopBrexit March**, where thousands of people are also expected to protest against leaving the EU. This march starts from All Saints Park on Oxford Road, Manchester, and is scheduled to set off at 1:30pm.

"It's essential that the Conservative Party and the rest of the world know that we want to stop Brexit" state the organisers "So please come dressed in blue, with yellow accessories, and EU flags, banners and placards. And bring drums, whistles, horns and claxons to make some noise... Make no mistake: this is a #StopBrexit demonstration."

The People's Assembly has a huge Take Back Manchester Festival backing up daily protests by an array of campaigns throughout the Tory Conference. Its HQ is a big Tories Out marquee in Piccadilly Gardens, where there will be public meetings and stalls throughout the duration of the Tories' stay in Manchester.

The events start tonight, Friday 29th September with a public rally on Public Sector Pay at Friends Meeting House, 6pm-8pm, with speakers from PCS, NTU, UNISON and the FBU (details here)

Tomorrow, Saturday 30th, sees six events including an Unwelcome the Tories Flash Mob at Piccadilly Station (6pm-7pm), a Saturday Night Live Event with Maxine Peake, Brian Eno, Mark Serwotka (PCS), Barbara Nice and Owen Jones at the Dancehouse Theatre 7:45pm (tickets £10/£5), and a Fuck The Tories Pre-Protest Party at Partisan Collective (19 Cheetham Hill Road, M4 4FY tickets £5/£2.50/£10).

There's also public meetings and talks throughout the day with subjects ranging from Donald Trump to Fighting Unemployment, Poverty and Austerity. For full details on all events see the People's Assembly website – click here

...And to bring reality home to the Tories there's also a Homeless Kitchen on Wednesday October 4th 2pm, outside the Midland Hotel, organised by Manchester Party Protest. For further details see the Facebook event page – click here

* For full details of the People's Assembly march see the Facebook event page - click here

** For full details on the #StopBrexit march see the Facebook event page - click here