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Hundreds gather for anti-cuts demonstration in Dundee

Deputy Leader of the SNP Stewart Hosie addresses the anti-austerity rally in the City Square.
Deputy Leader of the SNP Stewart Hosie addresses the anti-austerity rally in the City Square.

Hundreds of people braved near-freezing temperatures to join an anti-cuts demonstration in Dundee city centre.

Protesters waving banners, including one calling for “class war”, marched from Hilltown Park to City Square.

Accompanied by bagpipes, the group chanted “fight back” and “Independence now”, before gathering to hear a number of speakers, including Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie.

He told the crowd: “We are here today for two reasons.

“To oppose an austerity agenda which has failed and to call for the maximum powers for Scotland to begin to put things right.”

The Scottish Unemployed Works Network, who organised the demonstration along with the Scottish National Party (SNP), had hoped that up to 3000 protesters would attend the event on Saturday.

Many of those attended the protest because of the high number of unemployed people that they believe have been victimised by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Courier recently revealed that Dundee had the highest number of sanctions being issued by the DWP in the country a means by which benefits are withheld if claimants fail to attend job interviews on time, for instance.

Mr Hosie, who was recently elected as the deputy leader of the SNP, added: “We need powers in Scotland to change the DWP sanctions regime which is causing so much misery to so many people.”

SNP councillor Jimmy Black was one of those who attended the meeting.

He told The Courier: “We are here to draw attention to the difficulties caused by the austerity that the coalition government has imposed.

“In particular, we are focusing on people who have been sanctioned for benefit rules, such as turning up late for an appointment.

“This does not need to be the way. People should not be having to use food banks to feed their children because they have lost their benefits.”Victim of ‘sanctions city’A six-hour commute each day began to take its toll on Victor Gowans.

Unable to continue and eager to improve his quality of life, the 52-year-oldDundonian applied for a new job only to find himself the victim of tough new sanctions.

Arriving at his interview 10 minutes late meant his Jobseeker’s Allowance was cut off and he has been forced to live on just £30 a week and is now homeless.

Victor is just one of the people campaigners say are suffering because of the new rules with Dundee dubbed as “sanctions city”.

Speaking of how easy it was to get into serious difficulties, Victor who has been homeless for four months and is relying on family and friends for handouts said: “Even though I turned up at the appointment later, I was told I was to be sanctioned and the money I received to live on cut by more than half.

“I had been working at the Amazon factory inDunfermline but I had to spend six hours a day on a bus going back andforward.

“I began work at 7pm and had to get a bus in Dundee at 4pm to get to work in time.I finished at 5.30am and then had to take another three-hour bus journey back to Dundee.”