Moment cheeky protester flips cap from policeman’s head as UKIP rally in Manchester turns ugly

Hundreds of anti-racism protesters were seen clashing with police after a UKIP rally in Manchester calling for mass deportation edged on violence. 

Footage from the ugly scenes, taken on Saturday afternoon, showed a woman being struck in her face by a police officer – while one brazen demonstrator shoved a cap from a policeman’s head – as they attempted to push back the vocal crowd.

Scores of officers from Greater Manchester Police tried to keep the counter protest, organised by Greater Manchester Stand Up To Racism, away from newly-inaugurated UKIP leader Nick Tenconi and his supporters.

The 40-year-old politician had announced earlier this month on social media that he would visit Manchester as part of a ‘crusade to make Britain great again’. 

Inviting ‘patriots’ to join him in a ‘clear message to the establishment that we want mass-deportations now’, his post added: ‘We are taking our country back one city at a time.’

Video from the scene showed one officer urging his colleagues to ‘keep the line’ as the protesters at one point pushed back against the police rather than keep marching, causing disruption to the streets of Manchester city centre. 

Other footage showed one officer scuffling with a counter-protester before kicking him and bringing him to the ground. 

As the counter-protesters were pushed back, Mr Tenconi could be seen walking along with flare-holding supporters in Piccadilly Gardens with a megaphone and declaring: ‘Detain and deport all illegal invaders – and detain and deport all Islamists.’

One brazen demonstrator shoved a cap from a policeman’s head as hundreds of anti-racism protesters clashed with police in Manchester

Police officers were forced to push the counter protesters back at a UKIP rally in Manchester calling for mass deportation 

A short while later he addressed the crowd again and told his supporters: ‘It isn’t fascist to want to know who is entering your country.’

The crowd cheered along Mr Tenconi, who describes himself as a ‘Defender of Christianity and Conservative values’, while holding up a large purple banner stating: ‘Mass deportations now!’

He went on to describe his party’s mission as a ‘crusade’ and said: ‘We as a nation have forgotten who we are. We lack belief, the West has denied its Christian roots. Well a tree without roots dies.’

Mr Tenconi ended his speech with a rallying cry and said: ‘We’re taking our country back’. 

Meanwhile a short distance away, Stand Up To Racism supporters marched along and chanted: ‘Say It loud and say it clear, refugees are welcome here.’

Some held LGBTQ and Palestinian flags, while others held up banners stating ‘stop the far right’.

By the end of the afternoon, as demonstrators dispersed from the area after 4pm, both sides claimed success over their opposition.

UKIP, formerly led by Nigel Farage, declared on their social media: ‘Today we reclaimed Manchester from the far-left. The people want mass-deportations.’

Scores of officers from Greater Manchester Police tried to keep the Stand Up To Racism counter protest away from newly-inaugurated UKIP leader Nick Tenconi and his supporters

Footage from the ugly scenes, taken on Saturday afternoon, showed a woman being struck in her face by a police officer

Newly-inaugurated UKIP leader Nick Tenconi, who describes himself as a ‘Defender of Christianity and Conservative values’ is seen with supporters holding up crosses

As the counter-protesters were pushed back, Mr Tenconi could be seen walking along with flare-holding supporters in Piccadilly Gardens with a megaphone and declaring: ‘Detain and deport all illegal invaders – and detain and deport all Islamists’

The crowd cheered along Mr Tenconi, who describes himself as a ‘Defender of Christianity and Conservative values’, while holding up a large purple banner stating: ‘Mass deportations now!’

One officer was seen scuffling with a counter-protester before kicking him and bringing him to the ground

By the end of the afternoon, both sides claimed their supporters had outnumbered their opposition. Pictured: A police officer tussles with a counter protester

Meanwhile Stand Up To Racism claimed their supporters outnumbered those present for UKIP.

A post on X said: ‘Anti-fascists in Manchester have outnumbered fascist Nick Tenconi and his far right mates by 4 to 1.

‘Wherever the far right take to the streets, we’ll be there opposing them.’

MailOnline has contacted Greater Manchester Police, Stand Up To Racism and UKIP for comment.