Britain First supporters and counter protesters have been separated by barriers in Manchester as the far-right party holds a march through the city.
Hundreds of supporters of the anti-immigration party are part of the march on Saturday, along with a smaller number of counter protesters.
GMP said three people have been arrested, earlier saying that two of the arrests were separate incidents involving counter protesters.
“One was for failing to provide details after requesting they removed their face covering. Another was for police assault”. the force said.
Organisers of the march, advertised by them as a St George’s Day parade, have agreed a route with police, starting at 1.15pm and travelling across central Manchester.
According to a Manchester Evening News reporter, demonstrators from both sides were separated by barriers at St Peter’s Square.
In a joint statement, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, his deputy Kate Green and city council leader Bev Craig said: "There is no place in Greater Manchester for anyone coming here to sow division and incite fear, hatred, or violence.”
Key Points
- Hundreds of police officers on duty for far-right protest
- What have Manchester Police said about today's march?
- Leader of Manchester city council urges communities to 'reject hate'
- Who are Britain First? The far-right political party
- Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham: 'There is no place in Greater Manchester for any form of racism or hate'
Vast majority of protesters leave St Peter's Square as march mostly peaceful
16:37 , Holly BancroftThe vast majority of protesters and counter-protesters have now left St Peter’s Square in Manchester after an event that went ahead peacefully.
Greater Manchester Police said that “officers have worked with city centre partners to minimise the impact on locals, businesses and visitors”.
Police said three arrests took place during the day, with two counter-protesters arrested.
Pictured: Increased police presence in Manchester for Britain First rally
15:55 , Holly Bancroft
Majority of group dispersed after speeches end, police say
15:27 , Dan HaygarthThe force has made three arrests in total.
The Britain First speeches have ended & the majority of the group has already dispersed.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) April 18, 2026
Officers continue to safely facilitate the counter-protest group that remains in St. Peter’s Square.
Today’s police operation has resulted in just three arrests so far. pic.twitter.com/208L8s46Dm
'Breakaway group' make way down side of Manchester Town Hall, police say
14:42 , Dan HaygarthA small breakaway group of protesters had made their way down the side of the Town Hall.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) April 18, 2026
Officers were met with resistance as they moved them away from the nearby counter group & some force was required.
Officers are working hard to maintain safety & order.
Counter protesters attempted to break lines, police say
14:35 , Dan HaygarthIn a further update, GMP said: Earlier, counter-protesters had attempted to break police lines and attempted to throw punches.
“PAVA spray was deployed as a tactic instead of using further additional force. There are no reports of any members of the public being injured.”
Two arrests made, GMP says
14:31 , Dan HaygarthThe force said: “So far two arrests have been made. Both were separate incidents involving counter-protesters. One was for failing to provide details after requesting they removed their face covering. Another was for police assault.”
Pictures show Britain First supporters on march
14:28 , Dan Haygarth
Scuffle between police and counter-protesters in Piccadilly Gardens
14:16 , Dan HaygarthA video posted by Manchester Stand up to Racism appears to show scuffles between police and counter demonstrators in Piccadilly Gardens.
According to a Manchester Evening News reporter on the ground, Britain First supporters and most counter protesters were being separated by barriers at St Peter’s Square.
March has made it to St Peter's Square
13:58 , Dan Haygarth“Static demos” are taking place in St Peter’s Square, GMP has said.
The protest march & the counter-protestors are in St. Peter’s Sq for the static demos. There are hundreds present on either side.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) April 18, 2026
Several speeches are due to take place in the protest group. They are expected to last around an hour. pic.twitter.com/qu8gQasTXW
'Vast majority of both sides causing no issues', Greater Manchester Police says
13:49 , Holly BancroftGreater Manchester Police has said that “the vast majority of both sides are causing no issues” as Britain First protesters continue to move towards St. Peter’s Square as planned.
A reporter on the ground for Manchester Evening News has estimated that the turn out is “in the hundreds not thousands”.
Small group of counter protesters pictured
13:34 , Holly BancroftA group of counter protesters have been moved away from tram tracks to minimise travel disruption in Manchester. Greater Manchester Police have shared an aerial photo of the small group surrounded by police officers.
Leader of Manchester city council Cllr Bev Craig called for people to “stand united in the face of division” ahead of the march and urged Mancunians who want to celebrate St George’s Day to get involved in an annual parade on 26 April.
Britain First march sets off from Store Street
13:29 , Holly BancroftGreater Manchester police have shared an aerial photo of the Britain First march as it leaves from its Store Street starting point.
The marchers are heading towards St Peter’s Square where speeches will take place.
Police have said that they have “significant resources in place to keep people safe and reduce the wide impact in the city”.
Some tram services suspended in Manchester due to protest
13:20 , Holly BancroftTrams across the city of Manchester have been suspended due to Britain First’s protest.
In an update on social media, authorities at Manchester’s tram network said that the Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street and St Peter’s Square stops have been closed.
Due to a planned protest in the city centre, there will be no cross-city tram services until further notice. Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street & St Peter's Square stops are closed.
— Bee Network (@BeeNetwork) April 18, 2026
Tram service changes are in place please view them here: https://t.co/TJSZKcZoLX pic.twitter.com/Ni7yf6VyjZ
First pictures from Britain First march in Manchester
13:11 , Holly BancroftLeader of Britain First, Paul Golding, a man with a conviction for hate crime, has been pictured at the march in Manchester.
Golding was found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment in 2018 after an incident in which Britain First’s then-deputy leader Jayda Fransen shouted at the owners of a Pizza takeaway shop and banged on the windows of the shop, accusing them of being “paedophile foreigners”. They filmed the abuse and had targeted innocent members of the public, a court heard.
Who are Britain First? The far-right political party
12:48 , Holly BancroftBritain First is a far-right group led by Paul Golding, a man with convictions for a terror offence and hate crimes.
Britain First activists have been known to carry out “Christian patrols” and “mosque invasions” in which members stormed into Islamic places of worship. They have also targeted hotels temporarily housing asylum seekers and confronted staff and residents with cameras.
After numerous failed attempts, Britain First re-registered as a political party in 2021. The Finsbury Park terror attacker, Darren Osborne, who drove a van into a crowd of Muslims near a London mosque, killing Makram Ali, 51, and injuring nine others, read Britain First posts before his attempted massacre of worshippers.
Neo-Nazi Thomas Mair repeatedly shouted the group’s name while murdering Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.
Britain First is among the organisations perpetuating the idea of a cultural “war against Islam”. Leader Paul Golding called on people to join Saturday’s march in Manchester by claiming that “Britain is facing extinction”, saying that “invaders are entering our country”.
He said the march was a celebration of “English nationhood”.
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham: 'There is no place in Greater Manchester for any form of racism or hate'
12:31 , Holly BancroftMayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has said that people do not have a right to travel to the city to “incite fear, intimidation and violence” ahead of Britain First’s St George’s Day march.
Speaking in a social media video on Friday, Mr Burnham said: “There is no place in Greater Manchester for any form of racism or hate. There never has been and there never will be. People have a right to demonstrate but they do not have a right to travel to our city region and incite fear, intimidation, and violence in our communities.
“We have a proud tradition of communities working together, supporting each other, that is what Greater Manchester is all about. Greater Manchester police have assured me that they will be taking every possible step to ensure that demonstrations planned for this weekend are carried out in a lawful manner. Anything that crosses the line into unlawfulness will be dealt with swiftly and firmly.
“As a city region, we will do everything within our power to minimise disruption to the public and, of course, to keep people safe at all times.”
We have a proud tradition of communities working together and supporting one another.
— Mayor of Greater Manchester (@MayorofGM) April 17, 2026
That is what Greater Manchester is all about.
A message from the Mayor ahead of demonstrations planned in the city centre this weekend. pic.twitter.com/9lb3zQ0y0v
Pictured: Counter-protesters gather in Manchester
12:10 , Holly BancroftCrowds have gathered in Manchester to challenge Britain First’s St George’s Day march on Saturday.
Counter-protesters were pictured holding signs condemning fascism and saying refugees are welcome in Manchester.
Leader of Manchester city council urges communities to 'reject hate'
11:02 , Holly BancroftThe leader of Manchester city council has said that “racism and hatred have no place” in the city ahead of Britain First’s march on Saturday.
Cllr Bev Craig said: “Britain First have announced their intention to hold a national demonstration in Manchester. And once again, we have a clear message for them: racism and hatred have no place here.
“Manchester celebrates its traditions by coming together, and it’s disappointing this group are trying to hijack St George’s Day. I urge Mancunians who want to celebrate St George's Day in Manchester to get involved in our annual parade on the 26 April or by joining in the Council funded events across the city. We can celebrate our traditions while celebrating all that is good about modern Manchester. Rejecting hatred and coming together like we do best.
“We are asking for everyone to stand united in the face of division, celebrating the fact that we have more in common than our differences. Let’s come together with a clear message that there is no room for hatred in our city.”
The council have also created posters and images for residents to share in protest at the divisive march.
What happened at the last Britain First march?
10:22 , Holly BancroftSaturday’s demonstration by Britain First and their supporters is not the first march by the organisation in Manchester this year.
The far-right group organised a march in February this year, with supporters gathered outside Piccadilly Station, while counter-demonstrations were held in the city centre.
Manchester police arrested 11 men, although two were later de-arrested. They were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a breach of the peace, suspicion of assaulting emergency workers, on suspicion of assault and on suspicion of public order offences.
In full: Hundreds of police officers on duty for far-right protest
10:15 , Holly BancroftHundreds of police officers will be on duty across Manchester city centre this Saturday as a far-right Britain First march is anticipated to draw significant counter-protests.
Police chiefs have confirmed a substantial presence to manage the event, which is expected to involve around 1,000 supporters of the anti-immigration party and a similar number of counter-demonstrators.
While facilitating the right to protest, authorities emphasised their priority is to keep Manchester “open for business”, aiming to minimise disruption for the 120,000 visitors typically seen on a Saturday.
Enhanced police powers are in effect for the city centre. These include the authority to issue dispersal orders, allowing arrests for non-compliance, and expanded stop and search capabilities, which permit officers to request the removal of face coverings.
Read the full story here:
Hundreds of police officers drafted in for Britain First protest in Manchester
What have Manchester Police said about today's march?
10:10 , Holly BancroftPolice have warned locals that they should except a larger police presence in Manchester city centre on Saturday. They have assured visitors and businesses that significant resources are in place to make sure people can continue their day with as minimal impact as possible.
Rick Jackson, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "The public should expect to see a large police presence in the city centre on Saturday as part of our policing operation focused on keeping people safe and minimising the wider impact during the planned protest and counterprotests.
"Disruption should be expected but we are working with partners in the city centre to mitigate this.
"We'll have significant resources in place to facilitate protest and to ensure our local communities, businesses and visitors to Manchester can go about their day safely and with as minimal impact as possible.
"Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their right to protest can do so safely, while intervening when behaviour crosses the line into criminality."
