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Two people were arrested as hundreds of protesters descended on Downing Street to "defy Tory rule" after Boris Johnson's election victory.

A heavy police presence was seen close to the Cenotaph in Whitehall, which was cordoned off as clashes broke out on Friday evening.

Scotland Yard confirmed that two people were arrested, one on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and another for suspected affray.

Demonstrators carrying placards with the slogans No to Boris Johnson, No to Racism and Defy Tory Rule cried out ‘Oh Jeremy Corbyn’ and let off red smoke flares during angry protests.

Election protests in London - In pictures 22 show all Election protests in London - In pictures 1/22 Police tried to set up a cordon. AP 2/22 People were letting off red flares. AP 3/22 Police take away a protester during an anti-Boris Johnson demonstration AP 4/22 Protesters demonstrate at Downing Street . REUTERS 5/22 "Defy Tory Rule" AP 6/22 People scuffle with police in Trafalgar Square. AP 7/22 "Dykes for Democracy" AP 8/22 "No to Boris Johnson" REUTERS 9/22 Women demonstrate at Downing Street. REUTERS 10/22 People scuffle with police during an anti-Boris Johnson demonstration. AP 11/22 Police flank a protester. AP 12/22 AP 13/22 AP 14/22 AP 15/22 AP 16/22 AP 17/22 AP 18/22 AP 19/22 AP 20/22 AP 21/22 AP 22/22 AP 1/22 Police tried to set up a cordon. AP 2/22 People were letting off red flares. AP 3/22 Police take away a protester during an anti-Boris Johnson demonstration AP 4/22 Protesters demonstrate at Downing Street . REUTERS 5/22 "Defy Tory Rule" AP 6/22 People scuffle with police in Trafalgar Square. AP 7/22 "Dykes for Democracy" AP 8/22 "No to Boris Johnson" REUTERS 9/22 Women demonstrate at Downing Street. REUTERS 10/22 People scuffle with police during an anti-Boris Johnson demonstration. AP 11/22 Police flank a protester. AP 12/22 AP 13/22 AP 14/22 AP 15/22 AP 16/22 AP 17/22 AP 18/22 AP 19/22 AP 20/22 AP 21/22 AP 22/22 AP

They travelled down Whitehall before moving towards Millbank and Horseferry Road, shouting “the people, united, we will never be defeated”.

Police were overheard shouting “box them in” as they tried to contain the crowds with a cordon.

Protesters hammered on a bus trapped in the cordon and shouted “free the bus” and “this is our bus”, before chanting the children’s song The Wheels On The Bus.

They pounded the window of a number 11 double decker bus as it was forced to stop its journey towards Victoria.

A handful linked arms briefly to block the exit to the bus while shouting “whose bus, our bus”.

Visibly frustrated passengers on board were eventually allowed to leave, while protesters tried to board and remonstrated with police amid demands to “free the driver”.

Crowds later began to disperse as rain started but the cordons remained in place.

It comes after the Tories won a 80-seat majority in a historic election which saw Labour suffer its worst election since 1935.

The opposition party has been plunged into a bitter civil war after the general election, with leader Jeremy Corbyn pressed to quit quickly after losing 59 seats in the party’s worst result since 1935.

A spokesman for Transport for London said Whitehall was closed both ways from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square.

The road later reopened as the demonstration progressed northbound onto Haymarket, TfL said in a tweet.

One video showed a flare being set off as police reportedly separated a group of anti-Tory and pro-Brexit protesters.

One witness said Whitehall had "descended into chaos".

Protesters were also pictured gathering in Glasgow against the newly-elected Prime Minister.

However, people on social media questioned the protests, with one person writing: "I didn't vote blue, but why are people protesting saying 'Boris Out' less than a day after polling closed?

"Protest against the electorate. They kept him there. You only respect democracy if you get the result you want?"

Another wrote: "Interesting that there is a 'Stop Boris' protest happening in London at the moment.

"It seems there is an element of the socialist movement that doesn't subscribe to democracy unless it suits them."