Activists Mobilize for Urgent Protests Against Labour’s Budget Cuts
UPDATE: Over 100 activists gathered on Zoom for an urgent planning meeting on Wednesday to organize protests against the Labour government’s budget scheduled for November 26, 2023. The meeting, led by We Demand Change (WDC), focused on mobilizing resistance under the banner “welfare not warfare,” aiming to confront austerity measures that many believe will disproportionately affect working-class individuals.
Sean Vernell, a national negotiator for the UCU union and member of WDC’s steering committee, stressed the need for immediate action. “We cannot allow this Labour government, after 14 years of Tory rule, to continue this wave of austerity,” he declared, urging participants to send a strong message against further cuts to public services and impending tax increases.
During the meeting, prominent voices like Jeremy Corbyn, Independent MP for Islington, echoed the urgency of the situation. “Currently, there are 4.5 million children living in poverty, while Britain has 152 billionaires,” he lamented. Corbyn called for a budget focused on reducing inequality and investing in essential areas like housing and health, rather than allocating funds toward military enhancements. “We don’t need a budget that brings us new nuclear weapons and submarines,” he insisted.
Activists are rallying for the eve of the budget protest on November 25, 2023, at 6 PM, outside Downing Street and in other locations across the country. Samira Ali, national organizer for Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), underscored the need for collective action against both budget cuts and rising racism. “This fight is about our very lives,” she stated, advocating for solidarity among various movements, including ongoing strikes by healthcare and educational workers.
As the Labour government faces increasing scrutiny, activists are calling for a united front to challenge its austerity measures and the broader implications of economic inequality. “Starmer’s government represents a politics of despair,” Ali warned. “We need to build a movement of hope against that.”
The upcoming protests aim to not only oppose austerity but also to foster a more equitable response to the nation’s pressing social issues. With the budget day approaching, the urgency for citizens to participate has never been greater. Activists are urging everyone to join the demonstrations and stand united against the ongoing economic challenges.
