The leader of Liverpool Council has condemned plans for a UKIP march in the city.
A rally for the far-right group is set to take place on Saturday, March 21 under the banner of ‘Walk with Jesus’, starting from the steps of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Spiritual leaders have already come out against the planned demonstration, which has not been given permission by the cathedral to begin from its premises.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (March 17), Cllr Liam Robinson admitted the local authority found UKIP’s upcoming plans to march through the city ‘troubling’.
Although the council and Merseyside Police cannot ban the march, which falls under Home Office jurisdiction, the latter are taking measures to ensure public safety.
Cllr Robinson said: “We respect the principle of free speech, but we will never accept attempts to intimidate or divide our communities.
“Liverpool has always stood against racism, extremism and hate in all their forms, and we will continue to do so.”
UKIP previously attempted to hold a demo in Liverpool last August, when 11 people were arrested as an anti-migrant protest clashed with Stand Up to Racism.