Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the protests outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester, what steps they are taking to protect (1) British citizens protesting peacefully in the UK against the government of China, and (2) Chinese protestors living in the UK.

Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights set out that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. This government will support these rights, including the right of individuals to engage in peaceful protest.

It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law.

The management of demonstrations is an operational matter for the police. In certain circumstances, the police have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect those who want to exercise their rights peacefully.