Thousands sign up for anti-austerity march in London to protest towards Labour’s cuts

Thousands of folks marched via central London on Saturday calling for an finish to public provider and welfare cuts, within the first large anti-austerity march beneath Keir Starmer’s Labour govt.

The marketing campaign workforce People’s Assembly, which organised the demonstration, referred to as at the govt to “tax the rich and their hidden wealth to fund public services”.

The People’s Assembly mentioned it was once bringing in combination industry unionists, well being, incapacity, housing and welfare campaigners with neighborhood organisations beneath the slogan: No More Austerity 2.0.

Writer Kate Hardie, 57, was once amongst the ones marching to Whitehall. She had voted for Labour in each election since she was once 18, together with ultimate yr, however mentioned she is going to not give a boost to the birthday celebration beneath Starmer.

“I worry about the fact that this government is making cuts that are unnecessary. People are really suffering because of it,” she mentioned.

She has buddies who’re disabled, who have been “devastated” when cuts to private independence bills (Pip) have been introduced. “It isn’t just about my friends, because if we only vote for the people that we know, we’re in trouble,” she added.

Hardie was once additionally dismayed over the high minister’s broadly criticised “island of strangers” speech, which was once likened to the rhetoric of Enoch Powell.

“There’s the problem of cuts and a problem with rising hate in this country and around the world,” she mentioned. “It’s not just financial, it’s also ideological and about how we treat each other.”

She thinks the federal government’s present means will endure little fruit electorally. “Why would you go and see a tribute band if you can get the real thing? It’s not gonna work, it’s ridiculous.”

Daniel Kebede, the overall secretary of the National Education Union, mentioned: “People are very disappointed in this government. Whether it has been cuts to winter fuel, the two-child benefit cap still being in place, we haven’t seen enough investment.

“We appreciate that the government have a tight fiscal window to operate in, but we think they need to tax the wealthy more and start investing in communities.”

He mentioned the “commitment to roll out free school meals to all families in receipt of universal credit” was once welcome however referred to as at the govt to “go much further much faster because the only person who is benefiting from cuts to communities is Nigel Farage”.

Holding an indication calling for landlords to be taxed – together with herself, Corinne Richeux, 57, who runs an NGO based totally in China, mentioned: “I’m really worried about the state of the country and I don’t think British people can take austerity any more. We need a real radical change of direction and we need to tax the rich to make it happen.

“I think that many rich people would support more taxation. I think it’s cowardly of the Labour government to pander to the rich when the people are really struggling.”

She mentioned she “was shocked when the first thing they did was to start slashing benefits”.

“I kind of hoped that he was keeping his cards close his chest and that he was planning on taxing the rich when he got into office. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so bad.”

Labour-run councils have been additionally a goal of complaint. Helen Davies, 59, a social employee, chanted in give a boost to of bin staff in Birmingham, who’ve been placing since January.

On central govt, she mentioned: “It’s not what we expect from a Labour government. The social inequalities are being driven harder, there has to be a positive alternative to that.”