Tens of thousands of people attended Saturdays anti austerity march in London, carrying banners with slogans, expletive-filled placards and pig effigies!
Protesters travelled from across the UK, with hundreds arriving by coaches to voice their outrage at the cuts imposed on public services by David Cameron and his government and calling on ‘Dodgy Dave’ to resign.
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The Guardian reports: “No ifs, no buts, no public sector cuts, and “Dodgy Dave get out, we know what you’re all about” were among the chants demonstrators bellowed as they marched from the University of Central London to rally in Trafalgar Square.
The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, told the crowd a Labour government would end austerity.
“We will halt the privatisation of our NHS and make it public once again,” he said.
“And for all those people desperately waiting for a home, I can give this promise. We will build the hundreds of thousands of council homes that will end homelessness.”
The Hayes and Harlington MP also said his party would scrap the work capability assessments affecting the disabled.
“The Panama revelations demonstrate that they have been robbing us for generations now,” he added. “We will make the rich and corporations pay their way in society.”
Unite’s general secretary, Len McCluskey, pulled out a Panama hat during his speech, in a reference to the recent tax scandal, and said: “The only thing I have from Panama, Mr Cameron, is a hat.”
He added: “The establishment shames our democracy. It is up to all of us to work together and send a clear message – that we will fight, fight, fight for a better tomorrow.”
The Green party leader, Natalie Bennett, told the crowd: “We want all of the Tories out, not just David Cameron. We have a vision of a different kind of society. A society that works for the common good.”
In a video message played to the demonstrators, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The austerity we are in is a political choice, not an economic necessity.”
Thousands have taken to the streets in London today for the @pplsassembly March for Health, Homes, Jobs & Educationhttps://t.co/byfR1oYXPC
— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) April 16, 2016
Corbyn said he could not attend the rally as he was campaigning in Liverpool for local elections on 5 May.
Beneath Nelson’s Column, the swelling crowd, estimated by some at 50,000-strong, carried banners with messages including: “Get the Tory Twats Out” and “Cut War Not Welfare.”
Others made references to pigs, and some protesters wore pig masks, in an allusion to disputed claims that as a student the prime minister once placed his penis in a dead pig’s mouth.
Massive turn out on the streets today! People have #4Demands – health, homes, jobs, education. @pplsassembly pic.twitter.com/5Mx7vnJ6Er
— UK Uncut (@UKuncut) April 16, 2016
It is unlikely that the event will attract much media attention however!
People have taken to social media pointing out out the lack of coverage of the demonstration on mainstream media, in particular public service broadcaster, the BBC.
Dear @BBCNews . This is the mass anti-austerity protest you pretend isn’t happening today. #4Demands@pplsassemblypic.twitter.com/3H9Ygit632
— Kevin Pascoe (@KevinPascoe) April 16, 2016
@angreebindii You r being subjected to exctly th same typeof bias we havhad&still hv reScotland, frm ALLmedia& official ukgov project fear!
— Hetty Wilson (@woodengravhetty) April 16, 2016
Niamh Harris