Thousands took to the streets to protest against the Tories arriving in Manchester (Picture: Reuters/Henry Nicholls)

Another Boris Johnson blimp is set to fly high as thousands take to the streets of Manchester to protest against the Conservative Party Conference.

A six-metre tall, yellow-haired blimp of the prime minister was inflated on Sunday afternoon at Castlefield Bowl, ahead of a Reject Brexit – Defend Our Democracy event.

The giant inflatable depicted the PM in blue underpants with red hearts, with the word ‘Nigel’ on them, and a T-shirt showing a £350 million bus.

Chants of ‘Tories out’ and ‘Boris Johnson, shame on you’ echoed through the city as protesters made their way to Deansgate, where the rally was set to be held.




A second protest held by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, also called on Mancunians to join the rally and listen to a series of talks about the NHS, climate change and the housing crisis.

The Boris blimp was inflated at Castlefield Bowl as part of the Reject Brexit Defend our Democracy protest (Picture: PA)

Protesters got creative with their costumes (Picture: Reuters)

Angela Rayner was one of thousands marching down Deansgate (Picture: Reuters)

Marchers and drummers took to the streets amid chants of ‘Tories out’ (Picture: AFP)

Activists first gathered on Oxford Road at around midday for a Shut Down the Tories event, holding placards saying ‘Tories out’ and ‘Defy Tory rule’.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner was among those leading the march, holding a banner saying ‘No More Austerity’.

Marchers banged drums, blew whistles and chanted as they made their way through the city, pausing as they passed near Manchester Central, where the conference is being held.

Roads through the city were closed by police as the march took place and mounted officers led the demonstrators.

The blimp was being inflated this morning (Picture: PA)

Marchers went out in the rain to chant in the streets (Picture: AFP)

Chants of ‘Shame on you Boris Johnson’ could be heard through the city (Picture: Reuters)

It’s not the first time the Boris blimp has flown high in the sky (Picture: PA)

Tens of thousands were expected to show up (Picture: Reuters)

Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry, of Greater Manchester Police, predicted tens of thousands of people would show up to the protests like in previous years.

The Conservative Party Conference kicked off in the city today, with MPs setting out their domestic policy pledges for the next general election.

MPs laid out their proposals, as Mr Johnson continued to duck questions over his links with American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri, who received £126,000 in public funding while he was Mayor of London.

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