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Budget prompts hundreds to join anti-austerity demo despite protest ban Hundreds join budget-day anti-austerity protest despite ban
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of anti-austerity protesters have gathered in Parliament Square in London – defying an official ban on their protest to argue that George Osborne’s budget will perpetuate a divisive and unfair economic policy. Hundreds of anti-austerity protesters have gathered in Parliament Square in London, defying an official ban on their protest to argue that George Osborne’s budget will perpetuate a divisive and unfair economic policy.
Related: A pure and uncut Osborne delivered a budget that sucked up all around himRelated: A pure and uncut Osborne delivered a budget that sucked up all around him
Organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, a loose coalition of activist groups and trade unions, the event on Wednesday evening, called Austerity Kills, featured a mass “die in” by protesters who lay on the grass of the square and the release of dozens of black helium-filled balloons.Organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, a loose coalition of activist groups and trade unions, the event on Wednesday evening, called Austerity Kills, featured a mass “die in” by protesters who lay on the grass of the square and the release of dozens of black helium-filled balloons.
Speakers addressing the crowd included the Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn, Natalie Bennett, the leader of the Green party, and representatives from trade unions, environmental groups, and the London branch of the ruling Greek anti-austerity party, Syriza. Speakers addressing the crowd included the Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn, Natalie Bennett, the leader of the Green party, and representatives from trade unions, environmental groups and the London branch of Greece’s ruling party Syriza.
The police presence was generally low key, despite the fact that the event was taking place without the permission of Westminster council, a necessity under laws limiting protests near parliament. The same laws meant the speakers were unable to use amplification, and had to shout above the traffic noise. The police presence was generally low key, despite the fact that the event was taking place without the permission of Westminster council, a necessity under laws limiting protests near parliament. The same laws meant the speakers were unable to use amplification and had to shout above the traffic noise.
The protest had been generally good natured and was slowly winding down when police intervened to confiscate speakers being used to play Greek music, to which a handful of activists were dancing arm in arm.The protest had been generally good natured and was slowly winding down when police intervened to confiscate speakers being used to play Greek music, to which a handful of activists were dancing arm in arm.
The police action was under the laws banning amplification in the square, but prompted dozens of angered protesters to march into the road, blocking traffic. There they were penned in by mounted police amid an uneasy standoff. Dozens of angered protesters marched into the road, blocking traffic. There they were penned in by mounted police amid an uneasy standoff.
Sam Fairbairn, from the People’s Assembly, said the group had negotiated with the council, but to no avail. “We met with police yesterday and they said that if the council instructs them to, they may well press charges against me, as the organiser of the protest,” he said.Sam Fairbairn, from the People’s Assembly, said the group had negotiated with the council, but to no avail. “We met with police yesterday and they said that if the council instructs them to, they may well press charges against me, as the organiser of the protest,” he said.
Placards on show demonstrated the various allegiances of those taking part, including those from the Stop the War group and Socialist Workers, as well as various unions and Labour members. Placards on show demonstrated the various allegiances of those taking part, including Stop the War and Socialist Workers.
One long-time Labour activist, Graham Bash, was busy handing out leaflets encouraging people to sign up to the party so they can vote for Corbyn to become leader. “He can win,” Bash said. “If any of the others win it won’t really be the Labour party anymore. He’s the real face of Labour.” Graham Bash, a long-time Labour activist, was busy handing out leaflets encouraging people to sign up to the party so they could vote for Corbyn to become leader. “He can win,” Bash said. “If any of the others win it won’t really be the Labour party any more. He’s the real face of Labour.”
Bash explained why he had decided to join the protest: “It’s the first fully Conservative budget for 19 years, even though the last five years have been mainly Conservative. I’ve been a Labour member for 46 years and this government is as bad as any I can remember.” Bash explained why he had decided to join the protest. “It’s the first fully Conservative budget for 19 years, even though the last five years have been mainly Conservative. I’ve been a Labour member for 46 years and this government is as bad as any I can remember,” he said.
Some placards carried the slogan “63% did not vote for this budget”, a reference to the share of the vote in May which carried David Cameron’s government to a majority. Fairbairn reiterated this point: “If you look at the number of people who didn’t vote because Westminster politics didn’t connect with them at all, that’s millions of people. Some placards carried the slogan “63% did not vote for this budget”, a reference to the share of the vote in May that carried David Cameron’s government to a majority. Fairbairn reiterated this point: “If you look at the number of people who didn’t vote because Westminster politics didn’t connect with them at all, that’s millions of people.
“Since when have people not been able to protest against what their government is doing? If you go down the route of thinking, now they’ve got a slim majority in parliament it means they face no opposition, that’s a very dangerous situation. Protest has always formed an important part of democracy in Britain.”“Since when have people not been able to protest against what their government is doing? If you go down the route of thinking, now they’ve got a slim majority in parliament it means they face no opposition, that’s a very dangerous situation. Protest has always formed an important part of democracy in Britain.”
He added: “Austerity hasn’t been working. It didn’t lead to a recovery – last year the deficit actually rose. We don’t think austerity is going to help, it runs the risk of forcing us back into recession, and it’s only going to hurt the poorest in society.”He added: “Austerity hasn’t been working. It didn’t lead to a recovery – last year the deficit actually rose. We don’t think austerity is going to help, it runs the risk of forcing us back into recession, and it’s only going to hurt the poorest in society.”