Latest news with #PeoplesAssembly
Russia Today
7 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Thousands rally in London demanding ‘Welfare Not Warfare' (VIDEOS)
Thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday to protest the UK government's deepening militarization at the expense of public welfare. The demonstration, organized by the People's Assembly, began at midday at Portland Place and moved toward Whitehall, with participants chanting and holding placards that read 'Tax the Rich,' 'Nurses Not Nukes,' and 'Welfare Not Warfare.' Trade unionists, campaigners, and activists from across the country rallied under the slogan 'No to Austerity 2.0,' calling on the Labour government to abandon fiscal policies that cut support services while escalating defense spending. 'Scrapping winter fuel payments, keeping the Tory two-child benefit cap, cutting disability support, and slashing foreign aid—while boosting defense spending—are not 'tough choices,' they are political choices,' a spokesperson for the People's Assembly said. Thousands on the streets in London with @pplsassembly against welfare cuts. Welfare not warfare! #welfarenorwarfare# Demonstrators condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer's 'battle-ready, armor-clad' rhetoric, accusing him of using the language of conflict to silence criticism of his economic agenda. 'His war-mongering talk of war-readiness and a new era of threat are a cynical attempt to deflect any criticisms of his policy of cuts and austerity,' one campaign leaflet read. 'His call for everyone to be part of the defense of the country is an attempt to label anyone who opposes his obscene militarism and austerity as unpatriotic.' 'We will not and never will accept a government that is more interested in arms sales than in looking after the poor in its own country,' Martin Cavanagh, President of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), told the crowd. #WelfareNotWarfare#TaxtheRichPeople's Assembly March today in London Angela Grant, President of the DWP group, said people were 'dying because they do not have food in their bellies,' while military budgets rise and the NHS continues to be underfunded. Labour leader Keir Starmer unveiled the Strategic Defense Review on Monday, committing to increase military spending to 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The government's plan includes expanded production of warplanes, long-range missiles, and its nuclear-powered submarine fleet. All the crimes in your name,Labour Party Shame Shame!Anti Austerity March London today Defense Secretary John Healey said last week that the UK was 'sending a message to Moscow' by allocating billions of pounds for new munitions factories and long-range strike capabilities. In addition, London has pledged to deliver 100,000 drones to Ukraine by April 2026. A government statement confirmed that £350 million from a wider £4.5 billion Ukraine support package would be used for new drone shipments.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Thousands rally in London demanding ‘Welfare Not Warfare' (VIDEO)
Thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday to protest the UK government's deepening militarization at the expense of public welfare. The demonstration, organized by the People's Assembly, began at midday at Portland Place and moved toward Whitehall, with participants chanting and holding placards that read 'Tax the Rich,' 'Nurses Not Nukes,' and 'Welfare Not Warfare.' Trade unionists, campaigners, and activists from across the country rallied under the slogan 'No to Austerity 2.0,' calling on the Labour government to abandon fiscal policies that cut support services while escalating defense spending. 'Scrapping winter fuel payments, keeping the Tory two-child benefit cap, cutting disability support, and slashing foreign aid—while boosting defense spending—are not 'tough choices,' they are political choices,' a spokesperson for the People's Assembly said. Thousands on the streets in London with @pplsassembly against welfare cuts. Welfare not warfare! #welfarenorwarfare# Demonstrators condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer's 'battle-ready, armor-clad' rhetoric, accusing him of using the language of conflict to silence criticism of his economic agenda. 'His war-mongering talk of war-readiness and a new era of threat are a cynical attempt to deflect any criticisms of his policy of cuts and austerity,' one campaign leaflet read. 'His call for everyone to be part of the defense of the country is an attempt to label anyone who opposes his obscene militarism and austerity as unpatriotic.' 'We will not and never will accept a government that is more interested in arms sales than in looking after the poor in its own country,' Martin Cavanagh, President of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), told the crowd. #WelfareNotWarfare#TaxtheRichPeople's Assembly March today in London Angela Grant, President of the DWP group, said people were 'dying because they do not have food in their bellies,' while military budgets rise and the NHS continues to be underfunded. Labour leader Keir Starmer unveiled the Strategic Defense Review on Monday, committing to increase military spending to 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The government's plan includes expanded production of warplanes, long-range missiles, and its nuclear-powered submarine fleet. All the crimes in your name,Labour Party Shame Shame!Anti Austerity March London today Defense Secretary John Healey said last week that the UK was 'sending a message to Moscow' by allocating billions of pounds for new munitions factories and long-range strike capabilities. In addition, London has pledged to deliver 100,000 drones to Ukraine by April 2026. A government statement confirmed that £350 million from a wider £4.5 billion Ukraine support package would be used for new drone shipments.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Thousands join anti-austerity march in London to protest against Labour's cuts
Thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday calling for an end to public service and welfare cuts, in the first big anti-austerity march under Keir Starmer's Labour government. The campaign group People's Assembly, which organised the demonstration, called on the government to 'tax the rich and their hidden wealth to fund public services'. The People's Assembly said it was bringing together trade unionists, health, disability, housing and welfare campaigners with community organisations under the slogan: No More Austerity 2.0. Writer Kate Hardie, 57, was among those marching to Whitehall. She had voted for Labour in every election since she was 18, including last year, but said she will no longer support the party under Starmer. 'I worry about the fact that this government is making cuts that are unnecessary. People are really suffering because of it,' she said. She has friends who are disabled, who were 'devastated' when cuts to personal independence payments (Pip) were announced. 'It isn't just about my friends, because if we only vote for the people that we know, we're in trouble,' she added. Hardie was also dismayed over the prime minister's widely criticised 'island of strangers' speech, which was likened to the rhetoric of Enoch Powell. 'There's the problem of cuts and a problem with rising hate in this country and around the world,' she said. 'It's not just financial, it's also ideological and about how we treat each other.' She thinks the government's current approach will bear little fruit electorally. 'Why would you go and see a tribute band if you can get the real thing? It's not gonna work, it's ridiculous.' Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, said: 'People are very disappointed in this government. Whether it has been cuts to winter fuel, the two-child benefit cap still being in place, we haven't seen enough investment. 'We appreciate that the government have a tight fiscal window to operate in, but we think they need to tax the wealthy more and start investing in communities.' He said the 'commitment to roll out free school meals to all families in receipt of universal credit' was welcome but called on the government to 'go much further much faster because the only person who is benefiting from cuts to communities is Nigel Farage'. Holding a sign calling for landlords to be taxed – including herself, Corinne Richeux, 57, who runs an NGO based in China, said: 'I'm really worried about the state of the country and I don't think British people can take austerity any more. We need a real radical change of direction and we need to tax the rich to make it happen. 'I think that many rich people would support more taxation. I think it's cowardly of the Labour government to pander to the rich when the people are really struggling.' She said she 'was shocked when the first thing they did was to start slashing benefits'. 'I kind of hoped that he was keeping his cards close his chest and that he was planning on taxing the rich when he got into office. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so bad.' Labour-run councils were also a target of criticism. Helen Davies, 59, a social worker, chanted in support of bin workers in Birmingham, who have been striking since January. On central government, she said: 'It's not what we expect from a Labour government. The social inequalities are being driven harder, there has to be a positive alternative to that.'
-holds-a-banner-as-he-takes-part-in-the-No-More-Austerity-2-0-march.jpeg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Jeremy Corbyn amongst thousands at rally to protest Labour ‘austerity'
Thousands protested in central London against government spending cuts and welfare reforms, organised by The People's Assembly and attended by former Labour leader and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn. Organisers, including The People's Assembly, criticised the government for implementing spending cuts that disproportionately affect vulnerable members of society. Various organisations, such as the National Education Union, Green Party, and RMT union, participated in the march from Portland Place to Whitehall. Protesters held signs with slogans like 'Tax the rich, stop the cuts – welfare not warfare' and 'Nurses not nukes'. A People's Assembly spokesperson stated that adherence to 'fiscal rules' traps the UK in a public service funding crisis, advocating for taxing the rich to fund public services and investment.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Anti-austerity demonstration sees thousands protest Labour spending cuts in London
Thousands have gathered in central London to protest government spending cuts and welfare reforms, in a demonstration organised to send a message to ministers. The People's Assembly, the campaign group behind the event, anticipated a large turnout of trade unionists, campaigners, and activists. Among those on the slate to address the rally in Whitehall were MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott. Organisers have criticised the government for implementing spending cuts that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society. Representatives from various organisations, including the National Education Union, Revolutionary Communist Party, Green Party, and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, were present at the march's starting point in Portland Place. The march commenced towards Whitehall shortly before 1pm, with a significant crowd participating. Many of the protesters were holding placards that read 'Tax the rich, stop the cuts – welfare not warfare'. Other signs being held aloft said 'Nurses not nukes' and 'Cut war, not welfare'. A People's Assembly spokesperson said: 'The adherence to 'fiscal rules' traps us in a public service funding crisis, increasing poverty, worsening mental health and freezing public sector pay. 'Scrapping winter fuel payments, keeping the Tory two-child benefit cap, abandoning Waspi women, cutting £5 billion of welfare by limiting Pip and universal credit eligibility, and slashing UK foreign aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP, while increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, are presented as 'tough choices'. 'Real tough choices would be for a Labour government to tax the rich and their hidden wealth, to fund public services, fair pay, investment in communities and the NHS.' The People's Assembly said it is bringing together trade unionists, health, disability, housing, and welfare campaigners with community organisations under the slogan: No to Austerity2.0. There will be also be speeches from trade union leaders, disability rights activists, anti-poverty campaigners and groups calling for more investment in the NHS and other public services. The spokesperson added: 'We face a growing threat from the far right, fuelled by racism, division and failed politics. We need to see people's lives improve, we need to see the vulnerable cared for and an end to child poverty. 'On June 7, we march for education, for our NHS, for welfare, for refugees, against hate, and for a society in which our children can flourish.'
