Hundreds of protesters are marching through the centre of Manchester, calling for the Tories to be kicked out of power, as the party gathers in the city for its annual conference.
Waving placards and chanting “Oh Jeremy Corbyn”, the People’s Assembly took to the streets in protest at austerity.
Public and Commercial Services Union boss Mark Serwotka called for a general strike on public sector pay to “bring the Tories down”, saying Tory policies were “literally killing people”.
Conservative cuts to health and safety regulations preceded the Grenfell Tower fire disaster, he told the crowd.
“David Cameron told us he has slayed the health and safety monster, but we now know they slayed men and women and children as they slept in their houses,” he said.
Smoke bombs were thrown at an anti-Tory demonstration near the Conservative conference.
Demonstrators, some wearing masks to hide their identity, chanted “Let us out!” after police refused to let a van join the march route because it did not have security clearance.
About 25 police officers lined up to block the road and stood silently as the chants continued.
The stand off came as People’s Assembly march made its way through the centre of Manchester.
Police vans and mounted officers were sent to Liverpool Road as the protesters refused to move, and a force helicopter hovered overhead.
The noisy demonstration ended with speeches, drowned out by the police helicopter overhead and steel bands amongst the crowd, at Piccadilly Gardens.
Thousands spilled into the square carrying banners and flags, many from mainstream left groups including the Labour Party and Unite and the PCS unions, but also from groups including the Socialist Workers Party and the Communist Party.
The vast majority protested peacefully but one small group, clad all in black and covering their faces with masks, jeered at police lining the march route taunting, “go and catch some criminals”.
Police will remain on patrol as night falls and protesters disperse across the city centre, with 12,000 Tory delegates visiting the conference centre.