Hundreds of Britain First protesters set off flares in Birmingham

Hundreds of Britain First supporters set off flares as they marched through Birmingham and carried Union and St George Flags yesterday.

Chants of ‘Engerland’ were heard from the crowd, which was met with fierce resistance by a counter-protest in Victoria Square.

There was a furious reaction from counter-protesters as the far-right march passed behind the police line with Union and St George flags flying high.

They were turned away from heading up Pinfold Street towards Victoria Square and returned to the Hill Street area.

Paul Golding, the Party leader of Britain First,claimed Birmingham was ‘our city’ and said he wanted ‘millions of foreigners deported’.

He said that people ‘want their country back’ and ‘had had enough of being treated like second-class citizens’.

Opposition came from a number of groups and members of the public who gathered in Victoria Square.

Some carried placards saying Britain First supporters were dressing their racism up as patriotism.

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Burton, who led the operation, thanked the public for their patience in the city centre.

‘We have balanced the rights and concerns of the community with the need to facilitate protest, and those who came to protest have been able to exercise that right,’ she said.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said Britain First was ‘not welcome’ in Birmingham, because residents did not share their ‘divisive and dangerous rhetoric’.

The joint leaders of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Better Birmingham Independents said in a statement: ‘Birmingham’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and we are proud to be a place where people from all backgrounds, cultures and faiths live and work side by side.’

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