Boris Johnson has said most Mancunians would support his view that Brexit must be delivered - as thousands of protesters gathered outside conference calling for it to be ‘rejected’.
As Tory party conference kicks off at Manchester Central, a banner on its exterior reading ‘Get Brexit done’ will overlook the huge planned rally in support of the EU this afternoon.
Asked during a visit to North Manchester General Hospital whether that was appropriate in a city that voted 60.4pc to remain, he defended the move.
“I think most people, whether they voted leave or remain, want to get Brexit done,” he said.
“I think there’s a pretty strong public support for that. And we want to get it done because it’s the democratic thing to do.
“Because of the opportunities that Brexit will bring and the freedoms that we will have to do things differently and in a more innovative way to control our immigration system, to control our trade policy and really be much more adventurous.
“But also, I think people are fed up with it and they want to move on.
“They’ve had quite a lot of Brexit over the last three and a half years and it’s time for a dynamic domestic agenda.”
He was speaking as thousands of people gathered in the centre of the city under the banner ‘Reject Brexit’, in a march likely to be audible to those inside the convention centre.
That rally - which follows a separate anti-austerity march - was due to leave Whitworth Park at 2pm, headed pase Conservative conference to end up at Castlefield bowl.
