Yesterday I joined over 150,000 people as we marched for a Future that Works. We marched to show our solidarity against a tide of unfair cuts, attacks on working people, on the disabled, the vulnerable, on women and families.
Austerity isn’t working
Our country faces long-term economic problems. But our political leaders have failed to face up to them.
For the next five years or more, unless policies change the economy will not grow, incomes will not rise, and there will be almost no new jobs.
If the government keeps on with big spending cuts and austerity we face a lost decade. Even on their own terms government policies are failing. To close the deficit we need a healthy growing economy that generates tax income. But austerity has led to a vicious circle of decline.
Instead of just letting the banks go back to business and bonuses as usual, we need policies that promote new and old industries.
This new approach would create jobs, especially for young people.
It would encourage companies to raise average pay, penalise big bonuses and invest in training and new industries. It would crack down on tax evasion by big companies and the super-rich. It would tackle the growing inequality between the super-rich and everyone else.
Rather than deep, rapid spending cuts, we need to reverse our decline and build an economy that works for ordinary families.
I marched with UNITE the Union. We were at the front of the march. At 12pm we began the march from Embankment to Hyde Park. We marched past the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street. The atmosphere was great. Many families were in the march.
I took part in the march to represent ordinary people who are struggling to pay their bills, who are suffering from harsh and deep cuts. I marched for our NHS and our Education, who are going through unnecessary reforms and will be subject to privatisation in the future. Our society foundations are becoming unstable through austerity. We need to send a clear message to the Government that the people will be vocal about what is happening to them. We will march, we will protest and we will stand by ordinary people.
