The Britain First march is taking place in Manchester city centre
14:06, 21 Feb 2026Updated 14:30, 21 Feb 2026
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Fighting has broken out in Manchester city centre as protesters clash with police during a Britain First march.
The Manchester Evening News witnessed a fight breaking out in Piccadilly Gardens between demonstrators. Punches were thrown between men. Further fighting also broke out in Bloom Street, as the rally made its way through Manchester city centre.
It comes as far-right group Britain First protesters have gathered in Piccadilly to take park in a ‘march for remigration and mass deportations’.
Follow live updates from the march here
Protesters and police in Manchester city centre(Image: MEN)
Meanwhile several counter-protests, including Resist Britain First – a coalition of Greater Manchester campaign groups – and Stand Up To Racism Manchester, are also taking place in the city centre. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also addressed the group earlier today.
Protesters clash with police in Manchester city centre(Image: Joel Goodman)
Police have issued a 10-hour dispersal order on the city centre, giving officers extra powers to remove people from the area, while the demonstrations take place. GMP say it aims to ‘prevent anti-social behaviour, crime, harassment, alarm, or distress’.
READ MORE: In pictures: Britain First and counter protests in Manchester city centre
In video and pictures from Piccadilly Gardens, protesters can be seen fighting with police. During our reporter’s Facebook Live documenting the march, another fight appeared to break out with police running towards the incident. Watch it here.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
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Three arrests have been made so far amid the Britain First rally and counter-demonstrations in the city centre, a GMP spokesperson confirmed.
Demonstrators in Manchester city centre(Image: MEN)
The arrests were for breach of dispersal order, assault on an emergency worker and breach of peace.