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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| UK anti-austerity demonstrations – as it happened | UK anti-austerity demonstrations – as it happened |
| (6 days later) | |
| 5.24pm BST | 5.24pm BST |
| 17:24 | 17:24 |
| That’s all from me, so thanks for following along. | That’s all from me, so thanks for following along. |
| 5.24pm BST | 5.24pm BST |
| 17:24 | 17:24 |
| Summary of the day's protest | Summary of the day's protest |
| The march, organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, began at the Bank of England at midday. | The march, organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, began at the Bank of England at midday. |
| Tens of thousands of people then marched through London to Parliament Square. The organisers have claimed up to 250,000 people took part, but it’s impossible to be sure. | Tens of thousands of people then marched through London to Parliament Square. The organisers have claimed up to 250,000 people took part, but it’s impossible to be sure. |
| Last night, the police cracked down on known activists. 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. | Last night, the police cracked down on known activists. 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 number of celebrities and politicians joined the march: Russell Brand, Green MP Caroline Lucas, Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn, singer Charlotte Church, and many others. | A number of celebrities and politicians joined the march: Russell Brand, Green MP Caroline Lucas, Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn, singer Charlotte Church, and many others. |
| The event was mostly very peaceful. There were a handful of fires and smoke bombs set off, but no reports yet of any serious violence. | The event was mostly very peaceful. There were a handful of fires and smoke bombs set off, but no reports yet of any serious violence. |
| At one point, a group of masked marchers broke off from the main demonstration and crossed the Thames into south London. | At one point, a group of masked marchers broke off from the main demonstration and crossed the Thames into south London. |
| The rally culminated in Parliament Square, where dozens of speakers slammed the government and austerity. Among those who spoke were Unite union boss Len McCluskey, Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, Corbyn, commentator and activist Owen Jones, and lastly, Russell Brand. | The rally culminated in Parliament Square, where dozens of speakers slammed the government and austerity. Among those who spoke were Unite union boss Len McCluskey, Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, Corbyn, commentator and activist Owen Jones, and lastly, Russell Brand. |
| 5.06pm BST | 5.06pm BST |
| 17:06 | 17:06 |
| With all the speakers now finished, the crowd are now enjoying some live music from the stage. | With all the speakers now finished, the crowd are now enjoying some live music from the stage. |
| 5.00pm BST | 5.00pm BST |
| 17:00 | 17:00 |
| While those speeches were taking place, some of the protesters have set fire to something in Parliament Square and the police have moved in. | While those speeches were taking place, some of the protesters have set fire to something in Parliament Square and the police have moved in. |
| Protesters chant anti capitalist slogans at police #EndAusterityNow #JuneDemo as Russell Brand speaks pic.twitter.com/n41UqD6wEi | Protesters chant anti capitalist slogans at police #EndAusterityNow #JuneDemo as Russell Brand speaks pic.twitter.com/n41UqD6wEi |
| Here’s a video on YouTube which shows police officers trying, and mostly failing, to put out the bonfire started earlier by some of the protesters: | Here’s a video on YouTube which shows police officers trying, and mostly failing, to put out the bonfire started earlier by some of the protesters: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.12pm BST | at 5.12pm BST |
| 4.57pm BST | 4.57pm BST |
| 16:57 | 16:57 |
| More Brand: | More Brand: |
| It wasn’t always like this. I remember growing up with strong unions and social responsibility. | It wasn’t always like this. I remember growing up with strong unions and social responsibility. |
| We need to learn to talk to one another and recognise that our time on this earth is fragile and temporary. If we don’t build systems on the idea of love and togetherness the alternative is unconscionable. | We need to learn to talk to one another and recognise that our time on this earth is fragile and temporary. If we don’t build systems on the idea of love and togetherness the alternative is unconscionable. |
| 4.55pm BST | 4.55pm BST |
| 16:55 | 16:55 |
| Russell Brand talks to the crowds from the stage | Russell Brand talks to the crowds from the stage |
| Now Russell Brand is talking. In between some banter with the woman doing the simultaneous sign language translation, he has told the crowd he’s inspired by the numbers who have turned out. | Now Russell Brand is talking. In between some banter with the woman doing the simultaneous sign language translation, he has told the crowd he’s inspired by the numbers who have turned out. |
| I’m inspired to see such incredible numbers in this square after the results of the election. | I’m inspired to see such incredible numbers in this square after the results of the election. |
| My personal feelings about this movement are very, very deep. Without a welfare state my mum would have died of cancer several times. | My personal feelings about this movement are very, very deep. Without a welfare state my mum would have died of cancer several times. |
| I am personally a product of the welfare state because I signed on for eight years while I learned to be a comedian. | I am personally a product of the welfare state because I signed on for eight years while I learned to be a comedian. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.58pm BST | at 4.58pm BST |
| 4.49pm BST | 4.49pm BST |
| 16:49 | 16:49 |
| Next up is the comedian Mark Steel. He says that he hopes any Conservatives who thought the argument on austerity was finished after they won the election are watching this march. | Next up is the comedian Mark Steel. He says that he hopes any Conservatives who thought the argument on austerity was finished after they won the election are watching this march. |
| I hope every one of them now is looking at this and thinking, oh, this is not the end of it. | I hope every one of them now is looking at this and thinking, oh, this is not the end of it. |
| A passing mention of Iain Duncan-Smith later in his speech brings loud boos from the crowd. | A passing mention of Iain Duncan-Smith later in his speech brings loud boos from the crowd. |
| Labour have bought the argument that austerity is necessary too, Steel says. But in reality, it is utterly bankrupt he argues. | Labour have bought the argument that austerity is necessary too, Steel says. But in reality, it is utterly bankrupt he argues. |
| It is a squalid, filthy, decrepit attitude that says a tiny number of people at the top of society have every right to take the money and then to say to the poor ‘You have too much’. | It is a squalid, filthy, decrepit attitude that says a tiny number of people at the top of society have every right to take the money and then to say to the poor ‘You have too much’. |
| 4.41pm BST | 4.41pm BST |
| 16:41 | 16:41 |
| Corbyn has just wrapped up his speech. Here’s a flavour of his closing remarks: | Corbyn has just wrapped up his speech. Here’s a flavour of his closing remarks: |
| Let’s go forward with confidence and optimism. This is a movement, it’s absolutely not about ambitious individuals. | Let’s go forward with confidence and optimism. This is a movement, it’s absolutely not about ambitious individuals. |
| It’s a social movement of all of us that can change our society into something good rather than something that is cruel and divided. | It’s a social movement of all of us that can change our society into something good rather than something that is cruel and divided. |
| 4.38pm BST | 4.38pm BST |
| 16:38 | 16:38 |
| Jeremy Corbyn has just taken to the stage in Parliament Square. He’s here, taking a break from the campaign to become Labour’s new leader, alongside fellow Labour MP Diane Abbott, who is running to be London Mayor. | Jeremy Corbyn has just taken to the stage in Parliament Square. He’s here, taking a break from the campaign to become Labour’s new leader, alongside fellow Labour MP Diane Abbott, who is running to be London Mayor. |
| @M_McGuinness_SF chats to @HackneyAbbott with @jeremycorbyn phoning to tell his friends at #EndAusrerityNow rally pic.twitter.com/EBqvLVUniL | @M_McGuinness_SF chats to @HackneyAbbott with @jeremycorbyn phoning to tell his friends at #EndAusrerityNow rally pic.twitter.com/EBqvLVUniL |
| 4.26pm BST | 4.26pm BST |
| 16:26 | 16:26 |
| This is the scene from earlier in Liverpool, where the considerably smaller anti-austerity march there ended earlier this afternoon with some actors putting on a free play. | This is the scene from earlier in Liverpool, where the considerably smaller anti-austerity march there ended earlier this afternoon with some actors putting on a free play. |
| The People Vs The Predators. Liverpool/ #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/vSB0QIAM7C | The People Vs The Predators. Liverpool/ #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/vSB0QIAM7C |
| In Derby Square: | In Derby Square: |
| Heading back to the office now but the stage is set for the News from Nowhere performers #AusterityMarch #liverpool pic.twitter.com/m9rrMqdpvs | Heading back to the office now but the stage is set for the News from Nowhere performers #AusterityMarch #liverpool pic.twitter.com/m9rrMqdpvs |
| 4.19pm BST | 4.19pm BST |
| 16:19 | 16:19 |
| Meanwhile, back in London, thousands of protesters are still listening to speeches in Parliament Square. | Meanwhile, back in London, thousands of protesters are still listening to speeches in Parliament Square. |
| Filed now for the Observer. This is the view from the #EndAusterityNow press pen pic.twitter.com/jKFSdkLTge | Filed now for the Observer. This is the view from the #EndAusterityNow press pen pic.twitter.com/jKFSdkLTge |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.27pm BST | at 4.27pm BST |
| 4.18pm BST | 4.18pm BST |
| 16:18 | 16:18 |
| At the Glasgow rally, Scottish trade union leaders have said they will ignore any new laws passed by the government which limit strikes or union funding. | At the Glasgow rally, Scottish trade union leaders have said they will ignore any new laws passed by the government which limit strikes or union funding. |
| Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and Pat Rafferty, Scottish Secretary of Unite, told the hundreds of protesters that “bad laws” are there to be broken. | Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and Pat Rafferty, Scottish Secretary of Unite, told the hundreds of protesters that “bad laws” are there to be broken. |
| The Tories have pledged to introduce new legislation which will require 50% of potential workers to vote for a strike, rather than just a majority of those who do vote. Earlier this week, the boss of Unison warned the government that it would fail in this attempt. | The Tories have pledged to introduce new legislation which will require 50% of potential workers to vote for a strike, rather than just a majority of those who do vote. Earlier this week, the boss of Unison warned the government that it would fail in this attempt. |
| 4.02pm BST | 4.02pm BST |
| 16:02 | 16:02 |
| Nadia Khomami | Nadia Khomami |
| That’s it from me for today. I’m handing over to my colleague Tim Wyatt, who will continue to keep you up to date with all the happenings in Parliament Square. Thanks for the comments. | That’s it from me for today. I’m handing over to my colleague Tim Wyatt, who will continue to keep you up to date with all the happenings in Parliament Square. Thanks for the comments. |
| 3.58pm BST | 3.58pm BST |
| 15:58 | 15:58 |
| And here are some of your pictures from Glasgow: | And here are some of your pictures from Glasgow: |
| Anti-austerity demonstrator | Anti-austerity demonstrator |
| George Square demo | George Square demo |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Leopold1904 | By Leopold1904 |
| 20 June 2015, 15:45 | 20 June 2015, 15:45 |
| The politest message of the day | The politest message of the day |
| George Square demo | George Square demo |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Leopold1904 | By Leopold1904 |
| 20 June 2015, 15:48 | 20 June 2015, 15:48 |
| Global Justice Glasgow | Global Justice Glasgow |
| George Square demo | George Square demo |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Leopold1904 | By Leopold1904 |
| 20 June 2015, 15:47 | 20 June 2015, 15:47 |
| 3.53pm BST | 3.53pm BST |
| 15:53 | 15:53 |
| We have more of your Guardian Witness contributions. | We have more of your Guardian Witness contributions. |
| The crowds outside parliament | The crowds outside parliament |
| Caroline Lucas takes the stage and is welcomed by thunderous applause | Caroline Lucas takes the stage and is welcomed by thunderous applause |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By James Kneen | By James Kneen |
| 20 June 2015, 15:41 | 20 June 2015, 15:41 |
| Labour Candidate Spotted | Labour Candidate Spotted |
| Not sure where the rest of them are.... | Not sure where the rest of them are.... |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Guilli | By Guilli |
| 20 June 2015, 14:20 | 20 June 2015, 14:20 |
| Ellen and Nick the NUT | Ellen and Nick the NUT |
| Rochdale branch. Standing up for what is right | Rochdale branch. Standing up for what is right |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Beryl Brooke-Bond | By Beryl Brooke-Bond |
| 20 June 2015, 14:57 | 20 June 2015, 14:57 |
| sisters uncut bloc | sisters uncut bloc |
| Sisters Uncut bloc marching against life-threatening cuts to domestic violence services | Sisters Uncut bloc marching against life-threatening cuts to domestic violence services |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By gajungarr2 | By gajungarr2 |
| 20 June 2015, 14:39 | 20 June 2015, 14:39 |
| The crowds outside parliament | The crowds outside parliament |
| Caroline Lucas takes the stage and is welcomed by thunderous applause | Caroline Lucas takes the stage and is welcomed by thunderous applause |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By James Kneen | By James Kneen |
| 20 June 2015, 15:41 | 20 June 2015, 15:41 |
| Save legal aid!! | Save legal aid!! |
| Wilson solicitors LLP and others campaign against legal aid cuts | Wilson solicitors LLP and others campaign against legal aid cuts |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Sam Chammings | By Sam Chammings |
| 20 June 2015, 15:21 | 20 June 2015, 15:21 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.54pm BST | at 3.54pm BST |