BOLTON trade unionists are set to welcome Boris Johnson with an anti-austerity protest when he arrives in Manchester for his first Conservative conference as Prime Minister.

They plan a large demonstration outside the city's central convention complex on September 29 when the gathering starts.

Bernie Gallagher, branch secretary of Bolton Unison said, “Over the past nine years we have seen £175 million in government cuts to services in Bolton.

"Children’s centres have shut. Libraries have closed. Street cleaning and refuse collection have been scaled back.

" Highways budgets can no longer cope. Lots of other services have been affected.

"Vital services for children and vulnerable adults are stretched to the limit.

"Boris Johnson has promised tax breaks for some of the UKs biggest earners but the rest of us will continue to suffer.

"We will travel to Manchester to give Boris Johnson and his friends a clear message that we demand an end to the politics of austerity”.

Jo Pitchford, president of Bolton GMB, said. “This year is the 200th anniversary of Peterloo in Manchester on the very site of the Conservative conference. For these reasons we are fully supporting the lobby."

A Conservative party spokesman said: “The only way to bring the change people voted for in the referendum is to get Brexit out of the way by October 31.

“Only Boris Johnson and the Conservatives can get the best deal for Britain that keeps our economy strong and moves the country beyond Brexit."