World News: Protesters Kick Against New UK Government’s Austerity Plan

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, World News Saturday, June 20th, 2015

Tens of thousands of anti-austerity protesters massed outside Britain’s parliament on Saturday to demonstrate against the newly re-elected Conservative government’s plans for further public spending cuts.

Holding banners saying “End Austerity Now” and “Defy Tory Rule”, protesters had marched from the Bank of England in the heart of London’s financial district, in a rally which organizers said drew several hundred thousand people.

Police declined to estimate numbers for the event, which featured speeches from celebrities such as singer Charlotte Church and comedian Russell Brand as well as trade unionists and Labour Party leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn.

One marcher carried a placard showing Prime Minister David Cameron peeking out of a garbage can — suggesting this was where his policies belonged too — while another pictured him with devil’s horns.

A small number of protesters let off red-colored smoke bombs in a mostly good-natured march.

Britain’s Conservatives unexpectedly won an outright majority in a national election last month after five years when they had led a coalition focused on cutting public spending to narrow Britain’s large budget deficit.

Since winning the election, finance minister George Osborne has said he wants government departments to make extra cuts this year and to commit future governments to run budget surpluses during normal economic times.

Reuters