Thousands of anti-Conservative protesters are expected to descend on London Wednesday to express anger at the government's austerity budget.
RT @MikeSegalov: 1000s of ppl outside Downing St telling Cameron "Fuck Off Back To Eton" #FuckTheTories #QueenSpeech pic.twitter.com/KWhrMgoOEc"
— NoJusticeNoPeace (@anubidal)
May 27, 2015
March has started #toriesoutnow #wndausteritynow https://t.co/XHb3gEgnp9
— James Cropper (@JamesCropper95)
Mayo 27, 2015
.@ShappiKhorsandi: This Goverment has the same regard for people as it does for foxes #endausteritynow #JuneDemo pic.twitter.com/FxHflg53gD
— People's Assembly (@pplsassembly)
Mayo 27, 2015
Activists said police tried to “kettle” crowds of protesters. Kettling is a tactic that involves surrounding and compressing crowds.
People are being kettled https://t.co/4kBYXKA99H #FuckTheTories
— Occupy LSE (@LSEOCCUPATION)
May 27, 2015
Cops getting violent #fuckthetories pic.twitter.com/NAfRfPWfRd
— Against Fees & Cuts (@NCAFC_UK)
May 27, 2015
Current scenes #londonprotest #endausteritynow https://t.co/GKUGmaXdso
— James Cropper (@JamesCropper95)
Mayo 27, 2015
At least two activists have reportedly been detained.
Protesters ahead of #FuckTheTories rally already unhappy w police as man arrested. At least 2 arrests so far @ajplus pic.twitter.com/iWRSSly0tZ
— Zachary Alfred (@ZacAlf)
May 27, 2015
Looks like the police are already arresting people! #fuckthetories #QueensSpeech #NoJusticeNoPeace pic.twitter.com/qVIC8HCNSa
— Against Fees & Cuts (@NCAFC_UK)
May 27, 2015
Attempting to block a peaceful proteat #londonprotest #EndAusterityNow pic.twitter.com/x2xEiWGvSC
— Cat Denby (@CatDenby)
Mayo 27, 2015
Massive kudos to everyone there. Crowds have broken through 4 kettles already. Stay alert, look after each other. #fuckthetories
— Against Fees & Cuts (@NCAFC_UK)
May 27, 2015
By late afternoon hundreds of protesters had already begun gathering at Trafalgar Square, after the official state opening of parliament. During her traditional speech before parliament, Queen Elizabeth II laid out the new government's pledge to hold a referendum on EU membership and devolve greater powers to Scotland and Wales. However, the new government has already infuriated activists by vowing more austerity, while the Queen's speech made no mention of electoral promises to crack down on corporate tax dodging.
The BBC isn't even reporting on this protest so let's make people aware. #ToriesOutNow #FuckTheTories pic.twitter.com/Pz2evbIfHm
— Catalans with #the45 (@CataloniaYes)
May 9, 2015
“Despite the encouraging promises in the Conservative manifesto, after today’s Queen’s speech we remain in the dark as to how the Chancellor will recover the 5 billion pounds (US$7.7 billion) he plans to get from clamping down on tax dodging,” Barry Johnston from Action Aid U.K. told the Independent.
Inequality in the UK at same levels as 1920's 13m live in poverty 913,000k used foodbanks last year #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/npviiW37E9
— Mistress Pie (@MistressPie)
May 27, 2015
Aid groups aren't the only ones frustrated with the government's spending priorities. Organizers of Wednesday's protest say the government's plans to continue harsh austerity measures are hitting the poor and increasing inequality.
March to #EndAusterityNow on 20 June at Bank, London. What will you be marching for? pic.twitter.com/ydQdbF8Nlm
— People's Assembly (@pplsassembly)
May 26, 2015
“We've suffered austerity for too long. It created the longest fall in living standards since records began for the majority while the 1,000 richest doubled their wealth,” national secretary of the People's Assembly, Sam Fairbairn told the Evening Standard.
'Disability Cuts: #Tory brutality in full swing' Read the full article at: http://t.co/zid3iqxy5v pic.twitter.com/Y3XE8bpfN9
— People's Assembly (@pplsassembly)
May 26, 2015
“With less than 25 percent of the population's vote, this government has no mandate to continue austerity and we vow to create a movement so big it stops austerity in its tracks,” Fairbairn stated.
The #US health system is very expensive & the poor suffer. Why do we need it in #UK? http://t.co/H0KKXDxTSY #olsx pic.twitter.com/wRplm19TUA
— Occupy London (@OccupyLondon)
May 27, 2015
Earlier in the day, a separate protest hit Parliament Square. Organizers of the protest, the Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, said the demonstration aimed to give voters sick of austerity a voice.
In the 6th richest country in the world, thousands are now using foodbanks. #Austerity does not work! #VoteToriesOut pic.twitter.com/gKksxmCH44
— UK Uncut (@UKuncut)
May 7, 2015
“Five more years of this shit? No fucking way,” was the motto of the protest.
More protests are planned for June 20, when activists say they will march from the Bank of England to Parliament.