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Anti-austerity demonstrations - live UK anti-austerity demonstrations
(35 minutes later)
12.14pm BST12:14
Green party leader Natalie Bennett has been addressing the crowds from the stage on Sise Lane. She said:
I do wonder is there anyone here from the IMF? I thought not, but the IMF said George Osborne’s austerity is a bad policy. This is utterly the wrong direction for Britain.
Austerity is making the poor pay for the greed and the fraud of the bankers and we are not going to take it anymore.
12.10pm BST12:10
What’s the most imaginative placard you’ve seen? I quite like these ones:
these Mean Girls-themed placards made by @leahfrancis93 for the #EndAusterityNow protest today are so fetch. pic.twitter.com/9qJRNsDnMt
12.03pm BST12:03
Here is some early footage from the march, which has just started moving.
March about to begin #endausteritynow https://t.co/iTj39vOlxl
11.56am BST11:56
Anti-nuclear activists are among those taking part today. Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said mass mobilisation was key to persuading the new Government not to renew the Trident nuclear weapons.
And Lindsey German, convenor of the Stop The War Coalition, said: “I will be marching because I am fed up with all the main parties saying they are going to promote austerity. They have made the rich richer and the poor poorer and they’re going to continue.”
11.48am BST11:4811.48am BST11:48
Russell Brand is at the demo talking to fellow protestors and filming segments on his mobile phone. He was asked to comment for the Guardian but said; “I’m not working really”.Russell Brand is at the demo talking to fellow protestors and filming segments on his mobile phone. He was asked to comment for the Guardian but said; “I’m not working really”.
11.40am BST11:4011.40am BST11:40
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas has tweeted about attending the demonstration.Green Party MP Caroline Lucas has tweeted about attending the demonstration.
On way to #EndAusterityNow demo to protest Govt ideological attack on poor - if need £, then #RobinHoodTax, scrap Trident, stop tax dodgingOn way to #EndAusterityNow demo to protest Govt ideological attack on poor - if need £, then #RobinHoodTax, scrap Trident, stop tax dodging
76% didn't vote for this Govt - Osborne has no mandate for austerity. He wants to shrink state not cut deficit #EndAusterityNow #JuneDemo76% didn't vote for this Govt - Osborne has no mandate for austerity. He wants to shrink state not cut deficit #EndAusterityNow #JuneDemo
11.32am BST11:3211.32am BST11:32
More from Guardian journalist Damien Gayle who’s at the protest (I’ll be including lines from Damien when and where I get them):More from Guardian journalist Damien Gayle who’s at the protest (I’ll be including lines from Damien when and where I get them):
Early arrivals are already gathering outside the Bank of England for the People’s Assembly End Austerity Now march.Early arrivals are already gathering outside the Bank of England for the People’s Assembly End Austerity Now march.
There are several hundred here, carrying placards proclaiming “Get the Tories out” and “End austerity now”.There are several hundred here, carrying placards proclaiming “Get the Tories out” and “End austerity now”.
Police of various units are also milling around, dressed variously in bright yellow hi-viz vests, blue liaison officer tabards and the grim black overalls of the riot squad.Police of various units are also milling around, dressed variously in bright yellow hi-viz vests, blue liaison officer tabards and the grim black overalls of the riot squad.
But as yet the mood is good natured. Pascale Mitchell, a school librarian and carer from Bermondsey, south London, was outside the bank with her 15-year-old daughter.But as yet the mood is good natured. Pascale Mitchell, a school librarian and carer from Bermondsey, south London, was outside the bank with her 15-year-old daughter.
She said: “Today I’m joining this hostoric march because I believe in doing the right thing. I support compassion, dignity, kindness, no despair, fair distribution of resources, no sanctions and equality for all mankind.”She said: “Today I’m joining this hostoric march because I believe in doing the right thing. I support compassion, dignity, kindness, no despair, fair distribution of resources, no sanctions and equality for all mankind.”
She added: “People are already losing their lives, committing suicide, not being able to eat. I had had to donate to a friend because he got her her benefits sanctioned and she had to go to a food bank. I’m physically seeing the impact around me and it’s only going to get worse.”She added: “People are already losing their lives, committing suicide, not being able to eat. I had had to donate to a friend because he got her her benefits sanctioned and she had to go to a food bank. I’m physically seeing the impact around me and it’s only going to get worse.”
Updated at 11.42am BSTUpdated at 11.42am BST
11.29am BST11:2911.29am BST11:29
The first pictures are coming in from the demo.The first pictures are coming in from the demo.
First sight on leaving station for @pplsassembly demo. Massive teachers' union balloon thingy #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/lSY6D2fLALFirst sight on leaving station for @pplsassembly demo. Massive teachers' union balloon thingy #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/lSY6D2fLAL
Housing is a right not a privilege #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/3SYwye7dtNHousing is a right not a privilege #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/3SYwye7dtN
Greens assembling! #EndAusterityNow #JuneDemo pic.twitter.com/JZYuYoE5uSGreens assembling! #EndAusterityNow #JuneDemo pic.twitter.com/JZYuYoE5uS
11.29am BST11:2911.29am BST11:29
Fairbairn also indicated he was backing Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership bid. Corbyn is the only Labour leadership hopeful who will be speaking at the demo. “We would like the whole Labour party to be there obviously. But Jeremy is the only candidate who takes a principled anti-austerity, anti-war stance consistently,” he said.Fairbairn also indicated he was backing Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership bid. Corbyn is the only Labour leadership hopeful who will be speaking at the demo. “We would like the whole Labour party to be there obviously. But Jeremy is the only candidate who takes a principled anti-austerity, anti-war stance consistently,” he said.
The Guardian’s Seumas Milne has previously written about why Corbyn’s leadership ballot must be welcome. “By providing a rallying point for those who want opposition to austerity and endless war, his candidacy should at least halt the mainstream candidates’ stampede to the right – which is taking them further away from the voters they need to win back,” he wrote.The Guardian’s Seumas Milne has previously written about why Corbyn’s leadership ballot must be welcome. “By providing a rallying point for those who want opposition to austerity and endless war, his candidacy should at least halt the mainstream candidates’ stampede to the right – which is taking them further away from the voters they need to win back,” he wrote.
11.29am BST11:2911.29am BST11:29
Last week, the People’s Assembly (the umbrella group of activists behind the march) criticised Labour leadership hopefuls Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall for their no show at the rally. Sam Fairbairn, the group’s national secretary, said the politicians had failed to grasp the level of public anger at budget cuts. He said:Last week, the People’s Assembly (the umbrella group of activists behind the march) criticised Labour leadership hopefuls Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall for their no show at the rally. Sam Fairbairn, the group’s national secretary, said the politicians had failed to grasp the level of public anger at budget cuts. He said:
We don’t want to get involved in internal Labour debates, but its definitely timid of them not to show up. This is why Labour lost the election, because they didn’t take a hard enough line against austerity. Contrary to what the Blairites are saying about [former Labour leader Ed] Miliband being too leftwing, I think the opposite really.We don’t want to get involved in internal Labour debates, but its definitely timid of them not to show up. This is why Labour lost the election, because they didn’t take a hard enough line against austerity. Contrary to what the Blairites are saying about [former Labour leader Ed] Miliband being too leftwing, I think the opposite really.
Fairbairn also speculated that Burnham, Cooper and Kendall did not want to be accused of double standards, having signed up to Labour’s pre-election budget responsibility lock to eliminate the budget deficit.Fairbairn also speculated that Burnham, Cooper and Kendall did not want to be accused of double standards, having signed up to Labour’s pre-election budget responsibility lock to eliminate the budget deficit.
From their own point of view it might sound very hypocritical to attend a rally calling for no cuts when they have signed up to austerity. And even if they wanted to they would be nervous about how they would be received on the demonstration.From their own point of view it might sound very hypocritical to attend a rally calling for no cuts when they have signed up to austerity. And even if they wanted to they would be nervous about how they would be received on the demonstration.
For a long time the Labour party has taken a bad line on austerity. But we work with lots of Labour party members across the country who still hold to those founding principles of the Labour party.For a long time the Labour party has taken a bad line on austerity. But we work with lots of Labour party members across the country who still hold to those founding principles of the Labour party.
A spokesman for Andy Burham’s team suggested all the candidates would be tied up at a leadership hustings debate in Stevenage, which started at 11.30 this morning. Though this would give the candidates time to make the roughly 45-minute journey to Parliament Square in time for the planned afternoon speeches at the end of the march.A spokesman for Andy Burham’s team suggested all the candidates would be tied up at a leadership hustings debate in Stevenage, which started at 11.30 this morning. Though this would give the candidates time to make the roughly 45-minute journey to Parliament Square in time for the planned afternoon speeches at the end of the march.
11.29am BST11:2911.29am BST11:29
There were reports last night that police have cracked down on activists previously linked to direct action protests in lieu of this afternoon’s demonstration. Sources told the Guardian that at least three activists arrested on suspicion of offences at earlier demonstrations have been handed fresh bail conditions forbidding them from attending the march. A fourth activist was arrested on suspicion of offences at an anti-gentrification protest in Brixton in April and released on bail under similar conditions. A fifth attended a police station voluntarily and was not arrested.There were reports last night that police have cracked down on activists previously linked to direct action protests in lieu of this afternoon’s demonstration. Sources told the Guardian that at least three activists arrested on suspicion of offences at earlier demonstrations have been handed fresh bail conditions forbidding them from attending the march. A fourth activist was arrested on suspicion of offences at an anti-gentrification protest in Brixton in April and released on bail under similar conditions. A fifth attended a police station voluntarily and was not arrested.
Critics have accused the police of staging a politically motivated crackdown. Lisa McKenzie, an activist with Class War, an anarchist group, said:Critics have accused the police of staging a politically motivated crackdown. Lisa McKenzie, an activist with Class War, an anarchist group, said:
There seems to be a massive crackdown. There is some sort of political motivation behind all of this. This is not the Met police; they haven’t got the brains. I think there’s a political motivation to stop this wave of direct action going on all across the city.There seems to be a massive crackdown. There is some sort of political motivation behind all of this. This is not the Met police; they haven’t got the brains. I think there’s a political motivation to stop this wave of direct action going on all across the city.
And a spokesman for Liberty, the human rights group, added:And a spokesman for Liberty, the human rights group, added:
We have seen bail conditions abused by the police in the past to impede the right to protest of people neither charged nor convicted of a related criminal offence. The whole question of lengthy police bail when used as a restriction on protest and even on journalism needs urgent parliamentary attention.We have seen bail conditions abused by the police in the past to impede the right to protest of people neither charged nor convicted of a related criminal offence. The whole question of lengthy police bail when used as a restriction on protest and even on journalism needs urgent parliamentary attention.
11.29am BST11:2911.29am BST11:29
The Met Police have issued a map of this afternoon’s road closures, which you can see below.The Met Police have issued a map of this afternoon’s road closures, which you can see below.
On Sat 20/06, the @pplsassembly will hold a national demo against austerity. Plan ahead & seek other routes #JuneDemo pic.twitter.com/zTpwUoVR6iOn Sat 20/06, the @pplsassembly will hold a national demo against austerity. Plan ahead & seek other routes #JuneDemo pic.twitter.com/zTpwUoVR6i
A google map of the protest route is also available here.A google map of the protest route is also available here.
11.29am BST11:2911.29am BST11:29
The Guardian’s own Damien Gayle will be on the frontline of the protest today. Here are some words from him about what we can expect.The Guardian’s own Damien Gayle will be on the frontline of the protest today. Here are some words from him about what we can expect.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in central London today for the biggest anti-austerity march yet this year.Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in central London today for the biggest anti-austerity march yet this year.
The protest, called by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, will gather outside the Bank of England at midday before marching through central London to a rally in Parliament Square.The protest, called by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, will gather outside the Bank of England at midday before marching through central London to a rally in Parliament Square.
Police have closed roads and are expecting “substantial numbers of people” along the route, which runs from Queen Victoria Street and along New Bridge Street, Fleet Street, The Strand and Whitehall.Police have closed roads and are expecting “substantial numbers of people” along the route, which runs from Queen Victoria Street and along New Bridge Street, Fleet Street, The Strand and Whitehall.
Protesters will be venting their anger at big spending cuts and privatisations planned by the Conservative government. They fear a plan to bring the national budget into surplus will have devastating effects on public services.Protesters will be venting their anger at big spending cuts and privatisations planned by the Conservative government. They fear a plan to bring the national budget into surplus will have devastating effects on public services.
The government’s proposed measures are expected to include £12bn in cuts to welfare, a dismantling of human rights laws, limits on strike action and pro-business reform of public services including schools and healthcare.The government’s proposed measures are expected to include £12bn in cuts to welfare, a dismantling of human rights laws, limits on strike action and pro-business reform of public services including schools and healthcare.
The leftwinger and Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn is to make a keynote address, but the party’s other contenders – Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall – have indicated they do not plan to attend.The leftwinger and Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn is to make a keynote address, but the party’s other contenders – Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall – have indicated they do not plan to attend.
Union leaders, including Len McClusky from the Unite union, the Labour party’s biggest financial backers, will also be among the speakers, as will Russell Brand, Charlotte Church, and comedian Shappi Khorsandi.Union leaders, including Len McClusky from the Unite union, the Labour party’s biggest financial backers, will also be among the speakers, as will Russell Brand, Charlotte Church, and comedian Shappi Khorsandi.
The protest is bringing together a range of causes which have self-organised into 40 blocs, ranging from cannabis campaigners to teachers to squatters. Some are travelling from as far away as Yorkshire and Teesside for the demonstration.The protest is bringing together a range of causes which have self-organised into 40 blocs, ranging from cannabis campaigners to teachers to squatters. Some are travelling from as far away as Yorkshire and Teesside for the demonstration.
Organisers are expecting at least 100,000 and say numbers could reach as many as 250,000. The Facebook event page for the protest has around 66,000 people indicating they will attend.Organisers are expecting at least 100,000 and say numbers could reach as many as 250,000. The Facebook event page for the protest has around 66,000 people indicating they will attend.
The protest is the latest in a wave of demonstrations following the surprise Conservative majority following the May general election. The first, a day after the results came in, descended into violence outside Downing Street that resulted in 15 arrest. A second, weeks later, saw a UKIP MP, Douglas Carswell, surrounded by demonstrators chanting “fascist scum”.The protest is the latest in a wave of demonstrations following the surprise Conservative majority following the May general election. The first, a day after the results came in, descended into violence outside Downing Street that resulted in 15 arrest. A second, weeks later, saw a UKIP MP, Douglas Carswell, surrounded by demonstrators chanting “fascist scum”.
Today’s protest is expected to be peaceful, despite stories in the last edition of the Mail on Sunday accusing activists of a “riot plot” to turn the demonstration into “a rampage”.Today’s protest is expected to be peaceful, despite stories in the last edition of the Mail on Sunday accusing activists of a “riot plot” to turn the demonstration into “a rampage”.
The Metropolitan police said it has been organising with People’s Assembly and will deploy liaison teams throughout the day. “We will be facilitating peaceful protest and are working with the organisers to ensure this happens,” the force said.The Metropolitan police said it has been organising with People’s Assembly and will deploy liaison teams throughout the day. “We will be facilitating peaceful protest and are working with the organisers to ensure this happens,” the force said.
However, if recent demonstrations are anything to go by, it is likely that large numbers of riot police will be on standby.However, if recent demonstrations are anything to go by, it is likely that large numbers of riot police will be on standby.
11.29am BST11:2911.29am BST11:29
Nadia KhomamiNadia Khomami
Good morning, and welcome to the Guardian’s anti-austerity demo live blog. Whether you’re snuggling on the sofa in your PJs or out on the streets of Westminster exercising your right to protest, stay with us as we attempt to keep you up to date with all the news from what is expected to be the biggest march of its kind in four years.Good morning, and welcome to the Guardian’s anti-austerity demo live blog. Whether you’re snuggling on the sofa in your PJs or out on the streets of Westminster exercising your right to protest, stay with us as we attempt to keep you up to date with all the news from what is expected to be the biggest march of its kind in four years.
The End Austerity Now rally has been organised by The People’s Assembly and is supported by various unions and campaign groups. It aims to highlight the damage caused by government cuts and privatisation across the country, while also sparking a debate about how to protect the welfare state and develop an alternative to the current political and economic status quo.The End Austerity Now rally has been organised by The People’s Assembly and is supported by various unions and campaign groups. It aims to highlight the damage caused by government cuts and privatisation across the country, while also sparking a debate about how to protect the welfare state and develop an alternative to the current political and economic status quo.
Tens of thousands are down to attend the march. A similar one is taking place in Glasgow. If you’re one of the demonstrators and think there’s something we should covering, or if you’re a bystander who sees something noteworthy, don’t feel shy to email me on nadia.khomami@theguardian.com or tweet me @nadiakhomami. You can also contribute your stories to Guardian Witness.Tens of thousands are down to attend the march. A similar one is taking place in Glasgow. If you’re one of the demonstrators and think there’s something we should covering, or if you’re a bystander who sees something noteworthy, don’t feel shy to email me on nadia.khomami@theguardian.com or tweet me @nadiakhomami. You can also contribute your stories to Guardian Witness.
The hashtags being used for the event are #EndAusterityNow and #JuneDemo.The hashtags being used for the event are #EndAusterityNow and #JuneDemo.
Updated at 11.33am BSTUpdated at 11.33am BST