GLASGOW City Council will not be able to stop a Hope Over Fear rally in Glasgow’s George Square on September 19.

A spokesman told The National there is no “practical action” it could take to stop independence supporters assembling and that “public order is a matter for the police”.

Hope Over Fear’s initial request for permission to use the square was rejected by the council at the start of the week. The council said it turned down the group’s application and an application by a pro-Union group for the same day, after taking advice from police.

Yesterday, the recently formed Stand Up For The Union group confirmed to The National that it was behind the latter application.

It had claimed that 3,000 people would attend its event to commemorate the first anniversary of the “sovereign will of the people voting to remain in the UK”.

Yesterday Stand Up For The Union refused to rule out also assembling in George Square on September 19.

When asked by The National if it would still go ahead with the rally, Fraser Irvine from the group said: “I wouldn’t like to answer the question due to the nature of your newspaper.”

Irvine, whose Facebook page contains links to the English Def- ence League, said the group was considering “a number of dates”.

John Park from Hope Over Fear said: “It’s quite clear that Glasgow City Council has shot itself in the foot with this unfair decision.”

He continued: “Hope Over Fear has a tremendous track record in organising these family friendly gatherings and I now anticipate many more people joining us to demonstrate our democratic right to gather in this public space and defy these bullies from Glasgow City Council.”

A spokesman for the city council said: “Two applications to use the square were made for same date and after receiving police advice of a risk of disorder if both events went ahead, we declined to give permission to use the square to either organisation. Both applicants are fully entitled to request the use of the square at an alternative time.

“The council fully respects the right to peaceful assembly and protest. The reason permission is required to use George Square for events is to ensure that a public space owned by the council is managed in a safe, appropriate manner and with respect to others who may wish to use the square.

“If people wish to assemble in George Square then there is no practical action we can take to stop this. Public order is a matter for the police.”

Superintendent Alan Murray from Police Scotland’s Greater Glasgow Division said: “The police do have legislative powers for dealing with assemblies and parades in certain circumstances.

“However, these are used sparingly and only when necessary, and any actions we do take are always fully cognisant of an individual’s right to take part in lawful and peaceful protest.

“Our advice to persons attending any event would always be to stay within the law, be considerate of others and avoid any actions that might compromise their own or any other person’s safety.

“Police Scotland made some initial observations regarding the potential issues that could arise from holding more than one event in George Square on the same day.

“The issue is not about either event taking place. Instead, concerns arose from both events being held on the same day in the same place. Nevertheless, the decision on whether or not to grant permission for events within George Square falls to Glasgow City Council.”

Last year 20 people were arrested after trouble in George Square on September 19. There was violence after pro-Union backers came to the civic square, which had been a focal point for

Glaswegian Yes supporters during the referendum campaign.

Mounted police were drafted in after the Unionist demonstrators let off flares and goaded the Yes supporters.

Pubs around the square locked in customers for their own safety.

Glasgow Queen Street train station was closed on police orders from 8pm onwards.