THE organisers of a pro-Union march and rally in Glasgow have been mocked after estimating thousands of people would turn out for the event.
The Glasgow City Council website's future processions section had shown the British Together team thought 5000 people would head to George Square for the event.
But the march, which has had organisational assistance from and been advertised by the Orange Order, did not appear to have met its target.
Live webcam footage of George Square showed the event as it happened, and viewers were quick to point out the estimated figure had been a little off-base.
"Blink and you've missed it. Only took a couple of minutes for the square to empty," remarked one Twitter user.
Blink and you've missed it. Only took a couple of minutes for the square to empty. Looks like the fabled silent majority are also the invisible majority! 😂#ItsTime #DissolveTheUnion pic.twitter.com/PYk99y4YNh
— IndyBlone (@rufusmama66) May 18, 2019
Another said the event must have been a "little bit embarassing" for British Together.
Not quite what Maintain the Union were hoping for, lol! This was their moment to show the world the strength of feeling for the Union in Scotland with their big march and rally. Just a little bit embarrassing for them, bless. 🤭 pic.twitter.com/kvoLkwjBLz
— Northern Libertatem (@thelosthighway2) May 18, 2019
On Facebook, a livestream by Unionist group A Force For Good showed participants standing in the drizzle in the square listening to a speech from the British Together chairman.
During his address, the chairman told attendees that George Square is a "truly Unionist square" due to its links with King George and said independence supporters had "ruined this city".
He continued: "This square should be used for the gathering place in any future independence campaign, any future referendum, this should be the focal point for the Unionist people.
“This is your square, this is the square of the Union, this is the square of King George. Be proud to be here. Don’t let the nationalists take it over the way they done the last time and ruined this city.”
The event faced scrutiny earlier this month as the British Together organisers were accused of trying to "disguise" their links to the Orange Order.
The Order "assisted with arrangements" and provided stewards for the march and rally, but in the official Orange Order monthly magazine the Orange Touch, organisers said no colours were to be worn and stated it was "NOT an Orange event".
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