This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-12864353
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Thousands in London march against spending cuts | Thousands in London march against spending cuts |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people are marching in London in protest at the coalition government's spending cuts. | Thousands of people are marching in London in protest at the coalition government's spending cuts. |
| The Trades Union Congress says more than 200,000 people have joined the march, more than it had expected, but police are not estimating numbers. | The Trades Union Congress says more than 200,000 people have joined the march, more than it had expected, but police are not estimating numbers. |
| BBC correspondents say the atmosphere is largely "good natured and friendly", with isolated scuffles in the West End. There has been one arrest. | |
| Ministers say the cuts are necessary to get the public finances in order. | Ministers say the cuts are necessary to get the public finances in order. |
| Marchers set off from Victoria Embankment to Hyde Park, where TUC general secretary Brendan Barber addressed the crowds. | |
| "We are here to send a message to the government that we are strong and united," he said. | "We are here to send a message to the government that we are strong and united," he said. |
| "We will fight the savage cuts and we will not let them destroy peoples' services, jobs and lives." | |
| A very small group of protesters, maybe three to four hundred people, stopped outside Top Shop. | A very small group of protesters, maybe three to four hundred people, stopped outside Top Shop. |
| The police are being careful to communicate with people on the ground using social media, knowing many are young. One update is that there are no kettles so far. | The police are being careful to communicate with people on the ground using social media, knowing many are young. One update is that there are no kettles so far. |
| Protesters are very worried they will get caught within police cordons - so there is a bit of a game of cat and mouse. | Protesters are very worried they will get caught within police cordons - so there is a bit of a game of cat and mouse. |
| Lots of these protests are very fast-moving. We walk miles with these protesters as they try to keep out of police cordons. | Lots of these protests are very fast-moving. We walk miles with these protesters as they try to keep out of police cordons. |
| We saw some scuffles with police. Watching all the time are shoppers - this is Saturday afternoon. It is not a violent atmosphere, but it's certainly a lively atmosphere. | We saw some scuffles with police. Watching all the time are shoppers - this is Saturday afternoon. It is not a violent atmosphere, but it's certainly a lively atmosphere. |
| He was followed by Labour leader Ed Miliband, who said: "The Tories said I should not come and speak today. But I am proud to stand with you. There is an alternative." | He was followed by Labour leader Ed Miliband, who said: "The Tories said I should not come and speak today. But I am proud to stand with you. There is an alternative." |
| BBC political reporter Brian Wheeler, in central London, said there were lots of families and older people, and the atmosphere was good-natured but the anger was real. | BBC political reporter Brian Wheeler, in central London, said there were lots of families and older people, and the atmosphere was good-natured but the anger was real. |
| "The noise in Whitehall was deafening as thousands of protesters banged drums, blew whistles and shouted anti-cut slogans, slowly making their way towards Trafalgar Square. | "The noise in Whitehall was deafening as thousands of protesters banged drums, blew whistles and shouted anti-cut slogans, slowly making their way towards Trafalgar Square. |
| "The crowds were booing as they went past Number 10, but the demonstration was good-natured and friendly. | "The crowds were booing as they went past Number 10, but the demonstration was 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." | "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." |
| Demonstrator Christine Nugent, a university research fellow, said: "The size and scale of it, and the range of people here, is great." | Demonstrator Christine Nugent, a university research fellow, said: "The size and scale of it, and the range of people here, is great." |
| The veteran of anti-Margaret Thatcher demonstrations in the 1980s said protesters came from all walks of life, adding: "There are a lot of trade unionists here, but it's not just the usual suspects." | The veteran of anti-Margaret Thatcher demonstrations in the 1980s said protesters came from all walks of life, adding: "There are a lot of trade unionists here, but it's not just the usual suspects." |
| Soon after 1330 GMT, a small group splintered off from the main protest and broke through a thin police line to head up Regent's Street to Oxford Circus where scuffles broke out and Top Shop was attacked, reported BBC correspondent Tom Symonds. | Soon after 1330 GMT, a small group splintered off from the main protest and broke through a thin police line to head up Regent's Street to Oxford Circus where scuffles broke out and Top Shop was attacked, reported BBC correspondent Tom Symonds. |
| Many were wearing black, with their faces covered by masks and they were carrying flags. Some let off flares and fireworks were heard. | Many were wearing black, with their faces covered by masks and they were carrying flags. Some let off flares and fireworks were heard. |
| The police said light bulbs containing ammonia were thrown at officers. | The police said light bulbs containing ammonia were thrown at officers. |
| Earlier, the largest union involved, Unite, said so many of its members had wanted to take part that it could not find enough coaches or trains to ferry them to London. | Earlier, the largest union involved, Unite, said so many of its members had 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 to the BBC, 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 to the BBC, 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. |
| '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. |
| 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. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |