A Cabinet minister has urged counter-protesters to stay at home instead of adding to the “strain” on Britain’s police forces.

Far-Right demonstrators were vastly outnumbered by activists on Wednesday as anticipated unrest across the country failed to materialise.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Paymaster General, was asked by Sky News about Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, urging Labour MPs not to promote counter-demonstrations.

“I think when people actually went out to peacefully protest in line with the law, they are doing so in line with a fine British tradition.

“But I think what the Home Secretary is entirely right about, and I would echo having spoken to police officers yesterday about the strain that they are under, the hours that they are working, I certainly don’t think it helps for politicians to be encouraging even more people out on our streets...

“Nonetheless, we should make that distinction between that tradition of British peaceful protests, which is very much part of our politics, and the violent thuggery.”

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