Sun 21 June 2015
Photo: The demonstration was billed by organisers as the biggest in years. (AFP: Justin Tallis)
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Tens of thousands of demonstrators have staged an anti-austerity march in London in the first major public protest since Conservative prime minister David Cameron was re-elected.
Opposition politicians, trade union bosses and celebrities, including singer Charlotte Church and comedian Russell Brand, were among the crowds marching through the capital's financial district.
The End Austerity Now demonstration — billed by organisers as the biggest in years — was to finish outside the Houses of Parliament, while a similar march took place in Glasgow.
Organisers claimed as many as 250,000 people had joined the march.
While police would not put a figure on attendance, they said there had been no arrests and no violence, although a series of flares were let off.
Protesters called for the halting and reversal of spending cuts imposed by the previous coalition government and further measures proposed by finance minister George Osborne.
"We have seen a huge impact on our work at primary school," said Sian Bloor, 45, a teacher from Trafford near Manchester.
"I regularly bring clothes and shoes for children and biscuits for their breakfast just so they get something to eat.
"You can see how children are being affected by the cuts."
Green Party leader Sharar Ali said the turnout was "fantastic".
"We're showing solidarity with all the groups, political organisations or those with no political affiliation to say loud and clear, enough is enough," Mr Ali said.
"This government has been implementing programs and policies which have made the poor poorest whilst making the rich richest."
Placard-waving protesters marched from the Bank of England and filed past the nearby Royal Exchange, as the sound of drummers filled the air, creating a festival atmosphere.
A wide variety of campaigners were at the rally, including those opposed to the Trident nuclear program, hunting, tuition fees, fracking, along with various trade unions.
"It will be the start of a campaign of protest, strikes, direct action and civil disobedience up and down the country," said Sam Fairbairn of organisers the People's Assembly.
"We will not rest until austerity is history, our services are back in public hands and the needs of the majority are put first."
Cameron to push ahead for plans of 'brighter future'
Mr Cameron clinched an unexpected election victory on May 7 that gave his centre-right Conservative Party an outright majority in parliament for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The victory was widely seen as an endorsement of the Conservatives' austerity program and was likely to see a continuation of cuts to public spending as they seek to curb a budget deficit of nearly £90 billion ($184 billion).
The Conservatives had already implemented cutbacks in public services and welfare spending during the previous coalition administration with the centrist Liberal Democrats.
Organisers of the protests were seeking to highlight the impact of previous cutbacks on public services, the state-run National Health Service (NHS), welfare and education.
They also warned over the effects of new austerity measures that Mr Osborne was expected to unveil in a new budget on July 8.
The coalition's austerity policies included around £20 billion of cuts to welfare, which would be reduced by another £12 billion over the next five years.
As the march took place, Mr Cameron vowed "not to waste a second in delivering our manifesto commitments" on his Facebook page.
"We will keep working through our plan to create more security and opportunity in our country - and, with your help, we can secure a brighter future for everyone in Britain," he wrote.
Photo: Thousands gathered to protest against UK PM David Cameron's proposed austerity measures. (Reuters: Peter Nicholls)
ABC/AFP
From other news sites:
- The Sydney Morning Herald: Protesters rally against austerity in London, Glasgow
- The Independent (UK): Anti-austerity protest: 'David Cameron is a robot made of ham' and other brilliant banners from the march
- Yahoo!7 News: Thousands join London anti-austerity march
- Al Jazeera: Thousands join anti-austerity march in London
- Sky News (UK): Thousands March In Anti-Austerity Protests
