Demonstrations against the fractious election campaign run by Donald Trump took place across the UK as he was inaugurated as the 45th US president.

Lily Allen joined protesters demonstrating outside the US embassy in London, where about 2,000 people took part in a march and rally. And at least 1,500 are thought to have attended demonstrations in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester, as well as other towns and cities around the country.

Allen sang Rufus Wainwright’s Going to a Town as protesters, politicians and trades unionists voiced their opposition to Trump. They accused him of being a threat to minorities and urged people to stand up to sexism, racism, homophobia and bigotry at the Stand Up to Racism demonstration.

Coinciding with the protests in the US, some of which saw violence, around 1,000 people are thought to have attended a similar protest in Glasgow and another 500 in Manchester.

And more than 200 banner-drops were expected to happen around the world, in cities including Brussels, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Toronto, Sydney and San Diego.



Nona Hurkmans, a spokesman for the organiser Bridges Not Walls, said: “On Trump’s inauguration day, we’re taking action to show our support for groups under attack – here in the UK, across Europe and in the USA – and to reject the rise of a dangerous and divisive far right politics.”

A Women’s March on London is due to take place in the centre of the capital on Saturday afternoon. Other demonstrations are planned in Liverpool, Belfast and Cardiff, as well as Leeds, Southampton and York. And yet more due to take place in smaller towns, such as Bangor, Barnstaple and Lancaster, as well as Shipley and St Austell.

In Edinburgh on Friday, hundreds of protesters marched from the foot of North Bridge to the US consulate. Protesters had banners that read: “Love Trumps Hate”, “No to racism, no to Trump” and “Hey Donald, I hope you step on a lego”. Hundreds of people chanted slogans, such as “Donald Trump go to hell – take the KKK as well” and “Donald Trump, go away – sexist, racist, anti-gay”.



Earlier in the day, banners were draped from bridges across the world urging Trump to abandon his “politics of hate”. Nine bridges in London were adorned with the messages, while others were hung in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff and Belfast.

Trump claims strong links to Scotland and last visited in June 2016, during the US election campaign. His mother Mary Anne MacLeod was born and brought up on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, before emigrating to New York. And Trump has set up businesses in Scotland.

The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, congratulated Trump on taking office, but warned: “There are great global challenges to be faced and I wish his administration well in dealing with them.



“The ties of family, friendship and business that bind our countries are very deep and long-standing.

“We share fundamental values of equality, tolerance and human rights, and I hope to see these values upheld during the new President’s term in office.

“Scotland and the United States will continue to co-operate in those areas where we share common interests and goals, and when appropriate we will also look to have constructive dialogue on issues where our views differ.”