Youth Fight Austerity contingent, London, 8.7.15, photo by Paula Mitchell (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Lively Youth Fight Austerity demonstrations took place around the country on 8th July to protest against Osborne’s ’emergency’ austerity budget.
Protesters from the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign assembled in towns and cities a cross Britain. In London they protested at Downing Street at 5pm.
Protesting in York, 8.7.15, photo by Iain Dalton (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
The protests demanded an end to cut-backs.
Helen Pattison, Youth Fight for Jobs spokesperson said:
“I’m protesting because I know that George Osborne’s budget will be a budget for the billionaires. Austerity is snatching away the future of young people like me. The news that Osborne is planning to scrap maintenance grants, which help thousands of less well-off young people to access education, is a scandal. This will slam the doors of higher education in so many faces. So much for a government that claims to want young people to ‘earn or learn’! “
Protester Marianne Murray said after the event:
“On 8th July Youth Fight Austerity planned national action to counter the Conservative budget. The Socialist Party provided a platform outside Downing Street for us to voice anger at Osborne’s planned cuts.
“As Socialist Party member Mary Finch made clear, the scrapping of the maintenance grant and its replacement with a loan is not only another attack on students who already struggle to survive, but an attack on young working class people who now face an even higher level of debt if they get to university.
“YFA then marched on Parliament Square to join with other anti-austerity protesters. While some despaired at the ‘death’ of the public sector, we made it clear that an organised, united fightback is needed – starting with further action on 11th July [see link below].”
In York, 8.7.15 (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
The campaign is raising the following 5 demands:
1. End austerity – no to five more years of cuts to jobs, education and public services
2. Stop welfare cuts – no compulsory workfare for 18-21 year olds, defend housing benefit
3. Fight poverty pay – raise the minimum wage to £10 now, scrap zero-hour contracts
4. Defend education – no to cuts and tuition fees
5. Democratic rights – stop attacks on the right to protest and strike. For votes at 16.
Socialist Party members join in blocking the road with DPAC, London, 8.7.15, photo by Paula Mitchell (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
After the protests, YFJ announced plans for an ‘occupy style’ protest to take place in Parliament Square on Saturday 11 July. See: www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/21065/
Huddersfield
Around 50 people gathered for the protest called by Youth Fight for Jobs and TUSC in Huddersfield over lunchtime.
The protest heard from speakers from local trade unions and campaign groups including Iain Dalton speaking on behalf of Youth Fight for Jobs.
Especially noticeable was the numbers of people stopping to listen to a few speeches during their lunch breaks.
The vast majority of these were young people including young workers and one group of six college students.
Huddersfield YFJ
Southampton
The announcement of further cuts on Budget Day bought together anti-cuts campaigners under the banner of Youth Fight Austerity to protest at the Bargate before marching through town to join a protest organised by the Peoples Assembly (PA).
Campaigners to save Woodside Lodge care home and the Bitterne walk-in NHS service joined with young workers and trade unionists organised by YFA.
Our banners, leaflets and megaphone attracted many people, some who stayed to join the protest. Others we had never met before came with their own placards and stories to tell. After half an hour we marched through town, a small protest but lively and noisy and getting plenty of support.
As we arrived at the PA protest chanting “We can stop the cuts!” we were applauded by all those there. Many people agree that opposition to these cuts must grow, many are new to protests and politics.
Over 20 of us ended up in the pub discussing the way forward, including CWU activists calling for a 24-hour general strike, a young engineer sacked by the Royal Navy asking about socialism and all giving our support to Ann and her stepfather Bill who faces eviction from Woodside Lodge.
On Saturday we joined the Save Bitterne walk-in demo and marched again. This is going to be a busy summer as more and more people take to the streets to protest.
