Cambridge: Council Statement On EDL Demo

23 February 2013, 10:52 | Updated: 23 February 2013, 11:13

Political leaders of Cambridgeshire County Council have released a statement about today's English Defence League demonstration in Cambridge.

More than 400 officers from six forces are being bought to Cambridge to police a demonstration by The English Defence League and counter-protest by Unite Against Facism.

The EDL are meeting on Christ's Pieces from 2pm, when speeches will be made during an assembly.

Unite Against Facism campaigners, along with Cambridge MP Julian Huppert and East Euro MEP Richard Howitt, are marching from Petersfield around Cambridge at around 1pm.

Ahead of the demonstrations, political leaders at Cambridgeshire County Council have released the following statement: "“We celebrate the diverse communities that live and work in Cambridge and the County. 

The social, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity plays a vital role in making Cambridgeshire a great place to call home.

In this light, now and just like last time, an EDL demonstration is simply out of place in Cambridge.

As political leaders, we place value on the rights of people with different views from ours to voice their opinions.

But we also attach massive importance to residents and visitors being able to go about their business without concern and free from intimidation.

We were really pleased to see last time Cambridgeshire ignored this demonstration and by doing so residents showed how out of touch such protests are with our communities.

Once again we call upon communities to deliver another powerful message by simply going about their activities as normal.

We've worked closely with the Police and City Council to plan for the event. 

Cambridge will be open for business and residents should continue to enjoy everything the city has to offer." 

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Nick Clarke, Conservative Group and Leader of the Council;

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Kilian Bourke, Leader, Liberal Democrat Group;

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Paul Sales, Leader, Labour Group;

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Peter Reeve, Leader, UKIP Group;

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Ken Churchill, Leader, Conservative Non-Aligned.