Thousands Gather For Anti-Austerity Protests

Politicians, union leaders and celebrities are joining thousands of people for demonstrations against austerity, spending cuts and nuclear weapons.

Organisers say the protests in London and Glasgow will be the biggest for years, with people travelling from across the UK to march from the City of London (LSE: CIN.L - news) to Westminster, where a rally will be held.

Singer Charlotte Church and comedian Russell Brand will address the crowds in London as well as Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.

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Sam Fairbairn of the People's Assembly, which is organising the demonstrations, said: "It will be the start of a campaign of protest, strikes, direct action and civil disobedience up and down the country.

"We will not rest until austerity is history, our services are back in public hands and the needs of the majority are put first."

Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said mass mobilisation was key to persuading the new Government not to renew the Trident (BSE: TRIDENT.BO - news) nuclear weapons.

Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition, said: "I will be marching because I am fed up with all the main parties saying they are going to promote austerity.

"They have made the rich richer and the poor poorer and they're going to continue."

Union leaders and campaign groups will highlight the impact of spending cuts on the NHS, welfare and education, and warn of the effects of fresh cuts expected in next month's Budget.

Green MP Caroline Lucas is expected to say: "It's time for all of us who oppose the Government's self-defeating austerity programme to work together.

"That means more protests. It means taking action in our communities. And for those of us in Parliament it means voting against further vicious cuts to our precious welfare state."

Marina Prentoulis, who will be representing Greek party Syriza, said: "We have paid the price of the austerity policies in blood.

"The Greek government has the political and moral duty to put an end to the austerity measures that created a humanitarian crisis in Greece."

Sian Bloor, a primary school teacher from Trafford, near Manchester, warned that children "are being robbed of their childhood" because of government cuts.

"We have seen a huge impact on our work at primary school," she said.

"I regularly bring clothes and shoes for children and biscuits for their breakfast, just so they get something to eat.

"You can see how children are being affected by the cuts.

"Children come into school concerned because they are being thrown out of their house and have nowhere to live for the upteenth time that year because their parents' benefits are being cut.

"They are being robbed of their childhood."