Thousands of people have marched on central London’s streets in a national demonstration against the Government’s cuts.
Slogans such as Cameron Must Go – Tories Out! and demands for decent health, homes, jobs and education were brandished in the protest organised by the People’s Assembly.
On Saturday the march began by the University of Central London before weaving its way through the streets for a rally in Trafalgar Square.
Union heads and political leaders addressed the crowd, thought to be in the region of 150,000, after they packed out the London landmark.
To a roar of applause, Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: “As a Labour government when we get into power we will end austerity.
“We will halt the privatisation of our NHS and make it public once again.
“And for all those people desperately waiting for a home – I can give this promise, we will build the hundreds of thousands of council homes that will end homelessness.”
The Hayes and Harlington MP also said his party would scrap the work capability assessments affecting the disabled.
He added: “The Panama revelations demonstrate that they have been robbing us for generations now,” he added.
“We will make the rich and corporations pay their way in society.”
In light of the Panama leaks, the crowds were also calling for the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron.
Unite union general secretary Len McCluskey pulled out a Panama hat during his speech in relation to the recent scandal and said: “The only thing I have from Panama, Mr Cameron, is a hat.”
He added: “The establishment shames our democracy. It is up to all of us to work together and send a clear message – that we will fight, fight, fight for a better tomorrow.”
Green Party leader Natalie Bennett told the hordes of people “we want all of the Tories out, not just David Cameron”.
She added: “We have a vision of a different kind of society. A society that works for the common good.”
In a video message played to the demonstrators, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The austerity we are in is a political choice, not an economic necessity.”
Some of the unions and groups who attended the march and rally included the National Union of Teachers, Stop the War Coalition, the National Union of Students and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
People’s Assembly national secretary Sam Fairbairn said: “If the Government can bail out the banks in a couple of days, then they can provide health, homes, jobs and education for everyone.”
He added: “They (the Tories) are stealing money from us all saying ‘we are in this together’. That is why we are saying Cameron must go.”
He said the crowd at the rally “represents a growing movement” and “a section of society united against what the Government is trying to do”.
