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| Anti-austerity protest: Tens of thousands travel to London to demonstrate against Conservative government's austerity measures | Anti-austerity protest: Tens of thousands travel to London to demonstrate against Conservative government's austerity measures |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands are marching through London protesting against the Conservative government’s austerity measures today. | Tens of thousands are marching through London protesting against the Conservative government’s austerity measures today. |
| The march, organised and co-ordinated by The People’s Assembly, is anticipated by some to be the largest protest against the Government since the general election and is expected to attract celebrities, sitting MPs and well-known activists. | The march, organised and co-ordinated by The People’s Assembly, is anticipated by some to be the largest protest against the Government since the general election and is expected to attract celebrities, sitting MPs and well-known activists. |
| Social media was buzzing with images and messages of support as people from all over the country travelled to march from Victoria Street to Parliament Square from 1pm today. | Social media was buzzing with images and messages of support as people from all over the country travelled to march from Victoria Street to Parliament Square from 1pm today. |
| Warrington's anti-austerity squad... We're coming London! #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/mu7wcQXsFJ | Warrington's anti-austerity squad... We're coming London! #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/mu7wcQXsFJ |
| On our way to that London from the NorthEast for the @PplsAssembly #EndAusterityNow demonstration. #J20 #JuneDemo pic.twitter.com/oZFdn9EnZu | On our way to that London from the NorthEast for the @PplsAssembly #EndAusterityNow demonstration. #J20 #JuneDemo pic.twitter.com/oZFdn9EnZu |
| Our stewards @GreenPoolie and @MilitantBarb on the #EndAusterityNow coach in #Hartlepool. Next stop: #Middlesbrough pic.twitter.com/xoKdGIebqM | Our stewards @GreenPoolie and @MilitantBarb on the #EndAusterityNow coach in #Hartlepool. Next stop: #Middlesbrough pic.twitter.com/xoKdGIebqM |
| Off to London for #EndAusterityNow @pplsassembly March... Because we need to look after each other and the planet, otherwise we are screwed | Off to London for #EndAusterityNow @pplsassembly March... Because we need to look after each other and the planet, otherwise we are screwed |
| More and more coaches arriving near bank! pic.twitter.com/pacG43jlTT | More and more coaches arriving near bank! pic.twitter.com/pacG43jlTT |
| “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 the People's Assembly. | “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 the People's Assembly. |
| He added: "We will not rest until austerity is history, our services are back in public hands and the needs of the majority are put first." | He added: "We will not rest until austerity is history, our services are back in public hands and the needs of the majority are put first." |
| The march is intended to highlight how homelessness, inequality and child poverty have increased in the past five years. The New Policy Institute (NPI) estimates as much as 29 per cent of children have fallen into poverty after housing costs. | The march is intended to highlight how homelessness, inequality and child poverty have increased in the past five years. The New Policy Institute (NPI) estimates as much as 29 per cent of children have fallen into poverty after housing costs. |
| Among those better known faces attending are comedian and activist Russell Brand, Guardian journalist Owen Jones, singer Charlotte Church, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, Green MP Caroline Lucas, and Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn. | Among those better known faces attending are comedian and activist Russell Brand, Guardian journalist Owen Jones, singer Charlotte Church, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, Green MP Caroline Lucas, and Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Looking forward to upbeat, positive #EndAusterityNow demo for social justice. Let's treat it as a launchpad to organising in our communities | Looking forward to upbeat, positive #EndAusterityNow demo for social justice. Let's treat it as a launchpad to organising in our communities |
| With Cathy from PCS "no to austerity" let's have a beautiful day of community action @pcs_union pic.twitter.com/S6loPcyeFp | With Cathy from PCS "no to austerity" let's have a beautiful day of community action @pcs_union pic.twitter.com/S6loPcyeFp |
| On way to #EndAusterityNow demo to protest Govt ideological attack on poor - if need £, then #RobinHoodTax, scrap Trident, stop tax dodging | On way to #EndAusterityNow demo to protest Govt ideological attack on poor - if need £, then #RobinHoodTax, scrap Trident, stop tax dodging |
| Green MP Ms Lucas, who held onto her Brighton seat at the last general election, has spoken to packed crowds in Parliament Sqaure: "This Government is continuing to punish the poor for an economic crisis they didn't cause.” | |
| She will add: "It's time for all of us who oppose the Government's self-defeating austerity programme to work together. That means more protests.” | She will add: "It's time for all of us who oppose the Government's self-defeating austerity programme to work together. That means more protests.” |
| Her comments were supported by the General Secretary of Unite. "If they think that they won the war of austerity on May the 7th, they better think again," he told the crowd. | |
| Mr McCluskey added that the "battle ahead" would "define the generations yet to come." | |
| Also present on stage was deputy first minister of Ireland Martin McGuinness. He told the crowd that despite being a government minister it was "David Cameron's cabinet of millionaires" that "are the real spongers." | |
| Anti-nuclear campaigners also joined the protest. Lindsey German, from the Stop The War Coalition, told the Evening Standard earlier today: "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." | “They have made the rich richer and the poor poorer and they're going to continue." |
| Protest organisers have described the march's mood as like a "festival" and despite the huge turnout, the mood appears peaceful if determined. Humour has been provided throughout the day by some protesters' banners. | |
| #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/43510Dr1DU | |
| A statement from the Metropolitan police, who will work with the City of London Police, British Transport Police and Transport for London to facilitate the march, commented an “appropriate and proportionate policing plan is in place.” | A statement from the Metropolitan police, who will work with the City of London Police, British Transport Police and Transport for London to facilitate the march, commented an “appropriate and proportionate policing plan is in place.” |