McDonnell: Austerity is wrecking our society
Demonstrators took part in an anti-austerity march in London yesterday.
Organisers The People’s Assembly Against Austerity, is calling for a General Election.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who addressed demonstrators, said eight years of austerity was “tearing apart the very social fabric” of the country.
Mr McDonnell read a message from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to the crowd.
He said: “We need a general election now to bring about the fairer, more equal society we all want to live in and we stand ready to take power.”
National organiser of the demo, Ramona McCartney, said the protest was an attempt to “take back the political space taken up by Brexit”.
Ms McCartney said protesters also wanted to show “solidarity with the left and working class in France by wearing the yellow vests today”.
France has seen weeks of nationwide anti-austerity demonstrations by the “gilets jaune” movement.
Many in London wore yellow vests with slogans such as “Britain is Broken” written on the back.
Some protesters travelled from France to join the march.
Erick Simon, 57, from Normandy, said: “European countries must join up in this battle against austerity.”