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Day of Rage protests - live updates: Hundreds march on Downing Street demanding Theresa May quits

Follows slimmed-down Queen's Speech as Tories struggle to secure majority needed to pass legislation

Benjamin Kentish,Maya Oppenheim
Wednesday 21 June 2017 18:18 BST
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Queen's Speech in 90 seconds

Hundreds of protesters are marching from west London to Parliament calling for Theresa May to resign over her handling of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The demonstration comes as the Queen delivered the 2017 Queen's Speech, which Conservative sources have told The Independent could be Theresa May's first and last as Prime Minister.

As the Prime Minister struggles to cobble together a parliamentary majority, there was no mention of many of the Tories’ key manifesto pledges.

Plans to axe universal free school meals, scrap the triple lock on pensions and lift the ban on new grammar schools now all seem likely to be ditched.

Instead, the speech focused on Brexit, with the Prime Minister under mounting pressure to abandon her plans for a hard Brexit that could result in Britain leaving the EU without a trade deal.

Other measures include new laws to improve protections of domestic violence, protect private renters from irresponsible landlords, tackle extremist ideologies, and protect people's online data.

The Government will also act to reduce motor insurance premiums and lower energy prices. The National Living Wage will be raised.

The speech included no mention of Donald Trump's scheduled state visit, fuelling reports that it may not happen. The US President is reported to be concerned about public protests in the UK should he visit.

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Thousands to march on Downing Street in bid to 'bring down' Theresa May's government

Queen's Speech scaled back as Theresa May's legislative agenda unveiled amid uncertainty

Tory-DUP deal thrown into fresh doubt as deputy PM Damian Green says agreement only a 'possibility'

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It's kicking off again at the Day of Rage protest, having initially calmed down slightly. Police appear to have arrested at least one person and are now being shouted at by an angry crowd.  

Kristin Hugo21 June 2017 16:36
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That's it for today's live coverage.

Here are a few highlights from today's Day of Rage march and the state opening of Parliament: 

- The Day of Rage march ended in a few scuffles in front of Downing Street. Protesters shouted "Theresa May has got to go" and demanded justice for victims of Grenfell Tower. However, attendance numbers were not as high as anticipated. 

- Theresa May apologised for the Government response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, saying: "The support for the families on the ground in the initial hours was not good enough."

- The Queen delivered 2017's speech to officially open Parliament but the address did not mention many of the Tories’ key manifesto pledges including plans to axe universal free school meals, scrap the triple lock on pensions and lift the ban on new grammar schools.

Steve Anderson21 June 2017 20:22

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