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| Thousands in London march against spending cuts | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people from across the country are marching in London in protest at the coalition government's spending cuts. | |
| The Trades Union Congress predicts more than 100,000 people will join the march, to be policed by 4,500 police. | The Trades Union Congress predicts more than 100,000 people will join the march, to be policed by 4,500 police. |
| The TUC said it was deploying more than 1,000 stewards to ensure the event remained "family friendly". | The TUC said it was deploying more than 1,000 stewards to ensure the event remained "family friendly". |
| Ministers say the cuts are necessary to fix the public finances and critics must come up with an alternative. | Ministers say the cuts are necessary to fix the public finances and critics must come up with an alternative. |
| More than 600 coaches were provided to take people to London on Saturday morning, and marchers set off at 1145 GMT from Victoria Embankment. | More than 600 coaches were provided to take people to London on Saturday morning, and marchers set off at 1145 GMT from Victoria Embankment. |
| They are walking to Hyde Park for a rally from 1330 GMT where speakers will include Labour leader Ed Miliband. | They are walking to Hyde Park for a rally from 1330 GMT where speakers will include Labour leader Ed Miliband. |
| BBC political correspondent Brian Wheeler, in central London, said the atmosphere among the protesters was quite amiable. | |
| "The noise in Whitehall is deafening as thousands of protesters bang drums, blow whistles and shout anti-cut slogans, slowly making their way towards Trafalgar Square. | |
| "The crowds were booing as they went past Number 10, but the demonstration is good-natured and friendly. | |
| "There are hundreds of trade union banners, but we have also spoken to public sector workers who have come to make their voices heard." | |
| One of those protesting was Peter Keats, 54, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, who works for Jobcentre Plus. | One of those protesting was Peter Keats, 54, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, who works for Jobcentre Plus. |
| He said: "Personally, I think it's wrong the way we are hitting the poor. | He said: "Personally, I think it's wrong the way we are hitting the poor. |
| "I'm not so much worried about myself but the customers I deal with are vulnerable and I'm worried about them and I'm worried about the kids of this country." | "I'm not so much worried about myself but the customers I deal with are vulnerable and I'm worried about them and I'm worried about the kids of this country." |
| Unison general secretary Dave Prentis joined the marchers gathering on Victoria Embankment. | Unison general secretary Dave Prentis joined the marchers gathering on Victoria Embankment. |
| "It's going to be an absolutely incredible demonstration of ordinary working people, and ordinary families, saying this coaliton has got to stop cutting jobs and public services," he said. | "It's going to be an absolutely incredible demonstration of ordinary working people, and ordinary families, saying this coaliton has got to stop cutting jobs and public services," he said. |
| The largest union involved, Unite, said so many of its members wanted to take part that it could not find enough coaches or trains to ferry them to London. | The largest union involved, Unite, said so many of its members wanted to take part that it could not find enough coaches or trains to ferry them to London. |
| Its general secretary Len McCluskey said the scale of the deficit had been exaggerated. | Its general secretary Len McCluskey said the scale of the deficit had been exaggerated. |
| Outlining his economic plan, he said: "Our alternative is to concentrate on economic growth through tax fairness so, for example, if the government was brave enough, it would tackle the tax avoidance that robs the British taxpayer of a minimum of £25bn a year." | Outlining his economic plan, he said: "Our alternative is to concentrate on economic growth through tax fairness so, for example, if the government was brave enough, it would tackle the tax avoidance that robs the British taxpayer of a minimum of £25bn a year." |
| Education Secretary Michael Gove said he could understand the disquiet and anger. | Education Secretary Michael Gove said he could understand the disquiet and anger. |
| "But the difficulty that we have as the government inheriting a terrible economic mess is that we have to take steps to bring the public finances back into balance," he said. | "But the difficulty that we have as the government inheriting a terrible economic mess is that we have to take steps to bring the public finances back into balance," he said. |
| Mr Miliband is attending the march but is yet to sketch out an alternative, he added. | Mr Miliband is attending the march but is yet to sketch out an alternative, he added. |
| On Friday, the Labour leader said that "the voices of the mainstream majority" would be making themselves heard. | On Friday, the Labour leader said that "the voices of the mainstream majority" would be making themselves heard. |
| "I think the government will be making a great mistake if they somehow dismiss all of the people on that march as troublemakers, or just 'the same old people'. They are not," he added. | "I think the government will be making a great mistake if they somehow dismiss all of the people on that march as troublemakers, or just 'the same old people'. They are not," he added. |
| There are some concerns about disorder at the event, and a number of groups have been using the internet to call for the occupation of buildings in the West End. | There are some concerns about disorder at the event, and a number of groups have been using the internet to call for the occupation of buildings in the West End. |
| The Metropolitan Police said it planned to station officers at certain sites thought likely be at risk, such as the Treasury and the entrance to Downing Street. | The Metropolitan Police said it planned to station officers at certain sites thought likely be at risk, such as the Treasury and the entrance to Downing Street. |
| It has also written to businesses asking them to step up their security and to clear away any loose equipment such as ladders and dustbins that could be used as weapons. | It has also written to businesses asking them to step up their security and to clear away any loose equipment such as ladders and dustbins that could be used as weapons. |
| 'Kettling' concerns | 'Kettling' concerns |
| The TUC has said months of planning and close co-operation with the police would ensure the march would be peaceful. | The TUC has said months of planning and close co-operation with the police would ensure the march would be peaceful. |
| It is urging people not to join feeder marches and to stagger their arrival and departure times. | It is urging people not to join feeder marches and to stagger their arrival and departure times. |
| Both the police and the TUC will be sending information and advice to protesters during the march via Twitter. | Both the police and the TUC will be sending information and advice to protesters during the march via Twitter. |
| In a report published on Friday, Parliament's Joint Human Rights Committee praised the Met and the TUC for their close liaison. | In a report published on Friday, Parliament's Joint Human Rights Committee praised the Met and the TUC for their close liaison. |
| But it said it was concerned about the possible use of containment - or "kettling" - on peaceful demonstrators, and expressed surprise that neither the police nor the organisers had raised issues around the technique in their planning. | But it said it was concerned about the possible use of containment - or "kettling" - on peaceful demonstrators, and expressed surprise that neither the police nor the organisers had raised issues around the technique in their planning. |
| The Met will for the first time allow observers from human rights group Liberty into its control room for the event. | The Met will for the first time allow observers from human rights group Liberty into its control room for the event. |
| Met Police commander Bob Broadhurst said he hoped for a peaceful demonstration, but added: "We might end up in some form of containment. We would hope we can keep that for as few people as possible and for as little time as possible." | Met Police commander Bob Broadhurst said he hoped for a peaceful demonstration, but added: "We might end up in some form of containment. We would hope we can keep that for as few people as possible and for as little time as possible." |
| Are you planning to take part in the march against spending cuts? What do you think the rally will achieve? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below. | Are you planning to take part in the march against spending cuts? What do you think the rally will achieve? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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