ARRESTS AFTER OPPOSITION TO PLANNED UKIP PROTEST

SEVERAL people were arrested following a protest by UKIP in Liverpool city centre yesterday, which was met by a counter-protest by antifascist demonstrators.

- By PATRICK EDRICH & DAN HAYGARTH

UKIP supporters gathered at St George's Place, for a “Liverpool mass deportations’ march”.

In an update put out on its social media, the party said its plan was to “reclaim Liverpool from the far-left and send a message to the government”.

A counter protest organised by Stand Up to Racism was planned to gather at St George's Hall to “oppose fascist UKIP in Liverpool”.

The UKIP march was due to finish by Liverpool Women’s Hospital in Toxteth.

City leaders said the timing and route of the rally raised “serious questions about intent and impact” as it would have passed the African Caribbean Centre on Slavery Remembrance Day.