Parties condemn English Defence League
8 October 2009
Manchester City Council has passed a cross-party motion condemning the English Defence League's (EDL) proposed demonstration in the city centre this weekend.
Deputy Leader Jim Battle said: "Manchester has spoken with one voice on this - we don't want the EDL here.
"That's why we felt it was so important to explore options with the Home Secretary to see if it could be prevented. While we welcome the Home Secretary's strong condemnation of the EDL, we also accept that they cannot be stopped from coming to a city where they are not wanted.
"We are now working closely with the police to ensure that the protest passes off with the minimum of disruption to shoppers, traders, residents and visitors to the city this weekend.
"The EDL seeks to vilify, insult and provoke one community and that is something a united, welcoming city like Manchester cannot accept. Traders, faith groups and the council have all spoken together and our priority now is to deal with them.
"I am confident that the police will deal effectively with any disorder, but I would urge all manchester residents to be restrained and not rise to their bait.
"Everyone has the right to protest. But we also have the right to ignore this protest, which is what I strongly recommend we should all do."
