Huge anti-cuts demo ‘will be just the start’

OLDHAMERS were among the hundreds of thousands of protesters marching through London in a mass demonstration against Government cuts.

Hundreds of people from Greater Manchester travelled to the capital on dozens of coaches and trains on Saturday to join the biggest union-organised event for 20 years and the largest rally since the anti-Iraq war march in 2003.

Up to 500,000 people took part in the largely peaceful protest that was marred by a breakaway group of violent activists who attacked shops and banks around Oxford Street and caused trouble in Trafalgar Square.

Local social worker Glenn Evans joined teachers, NHS staff, council workers, students, pensioners and other supporters for the TUC organised March for the Alternative that brought central London to a standstill.

A second-year social work mature student at the University of Central Lancashire, Mr Evans works with children in care in Oldham and adults with learning disabilities in Heywood.

The 40-year-old, from Denton, said he took part to stand up for them. He said: “They have been told they are getting their budgets cut by 10 per cent. In my mind, these are the most vulnerable people in society and the last people we should be cutting money from, especially with bankers and big businesses avoiding taxes.”

He joined the start of the march at Victoria Embankment at 11am, which snaked its way past the Houses of Parliament to Hyde Park where, after 90 minutes of walking, he was at the front for a speech by Ed Miliband, the Labour Party leader, who told protesters the Government was wrong to make such deep cuts in public services.

Mr Evans said: “There were quite a few people from Manchester and Rochdale Unison were there and people from around the Oldham area.

“It was a really good experience, it was like a carnival atmosphere. The place was so noisy with whistles and horns but it was a pleasant atmosphere.

“I do think it was worthwhile. I feel it will be effective and this will just be the start. It felt really positive.”

Asked if it would change Government policy he added: “It’s going to be extremely difficult but it’s important enough to try and it does need to be the start of things. I came away thinking I will try and get involved more.”

The TUC has condemned violence that saw Top Shop’s flagship store, the Ritz, luxury grocers Fortnum and Mason and banks Santander, HSBC and RBS attacked. There were scuffles with police with fireworks and flares set off and light bulbs filled with ammonia thrown at officers.

Just over 200 arrests were made, mostly for public disorder offences, with 66 people reported to have been injured, including at least 31 police officers.

Mr Evans said he did not witness any trouble but saw the aftermath of cracked windows and walls splattered with paint in Oxford Street.