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Hundreds of demonstrators joined together today to march on Downing Street to protest an alliance between the Conservatives and the DUP.

Activists marched from Parliament Square to Downing Street waving placards and chanting: “DUP, go away, anti-women, anti-gay.”

Talks are continuing between the Conservatives and DUP over a “confidence and supply” arrangement to help get Government legislation through the Commons.

Today’s march was billed as a ‘women’s march’ and was specifically in support of the right to access abortion in Northern Ireland.

March organiser Rhiannon Lockley said: “In the UK, Northern Irish women have the most obstacles to accessing abortion, having to navigate costly and impractical trips to the mainland.

“A deal with the DUP endorses this treatment and sets back the fight to end it.

“We march in solidarity with the women of Northern Ireland.”

Protesters joining the rally were also encouraged to wear red “in protest at all the blood which has been shed under austerity”.

Many young women joined the march, as they believe an alliance with the DUP would set the government back, in terms of women’s and LGBT rights.

Jennifer Smith, 19, from London, said: “I feel so bad for the women of Northern Ireland, we should have been paying attention to this for a long time. We should have been protesting for these women.

“It’s sad that it took this affecting us in England for us to take notice. “

Women from Northern Ireland that live in England also attended the march.

Many said they were glad that people were talking about Northern Ireland but wished it wasn’t under these circumstances.

(Image: EPA/PETE MACLAINE)

Lucy Morrow lives on the border between Co Derry and Co Donegal. She flew over to London for today’s march.

She said: “The DUP been around forever, and I think people in Northern Ireland just accepted that this is the situation.

“I think this protest is important just to show the people from back home who would vote DUP, simply because they’re not Sinn Fein, that there are other options, more moderate parties.

“We need a better solution in Northern Ireland. Its just scary how the Northern Irish moderate parties were just wiped out in the last election. It’s a two party state.”

Erin O’Donnell, from Derry, lives in London. She is a long-time SDLP voter, and was shocked that the SDLP and UUP were wiped out in the last Westminster election.

She added: “I never thought I’d ever be marching in London over the DUP.

“It’s great that people are remembering that we’re a part of the UK, but it’s a shame it's like this.

“Especially as the moderate parties just seemed to vanish in the most recent election – we need more of a balance in Stormont.“

(Image: EPA/PETE MACLAINE)

Kelly Temple of Abortion Rights UK spoke to the crowds outside Downing Street.

The group have been campaigning for the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.

She said: “Between 2015/16 only 16 legal abortions were carried out in Northern Ireland. That means that the majority of women either have to travel and pay upwards of £600 for their treatment or buy illegal abortion pills online.

“Women in Northern Ireland today are being prosecuted for accessing the right to abortion unless they have money and can make arrangements to travel.

(Image: EPA/PETE MACLAINE)

“We believe women and pregnant people in Northern Ireland deserve the same right as the rest of us in the UK."

The protest was peaceful, though police were called to move activists away from Downing Street as they were blocking the road.

Prime Minister May began talks with the 10 DUP MPs after the General Election left her eight seats shy of a majority.

The DUP has made it clear it will only cut a deal if it delivers benefits for Northern Ireland such as further investment in health and education.