British protesters demand end to public spending cuts, tax rises

PanARMENIAN.Net - Tens of thousands of British protesters marched through London on Saturday, Oct 20, calling for an end to public spending cuts and tax rises launched by a government they accuse of elitism and ignorance about the plight of recession-hit voters, Reuters reported.

Blowing horns and whistles, demonstrators streamed past the Houses of Parliament behind a banner declaring "Austerity is Failing", and called on Prime Minister David Cameron to do more to revive Britain's struggling economy.

The Conservative-led coalition is reeling from the resignation on Friday of a senior minister accused of calling police "plebs", a class-laden insult for working people, and the perception that they are out of touch.

The government says it must stick to its plan to eliminate a budget deficit that stood at 8 percent of gross domestic product last year, the biggest of any major European country. It says the eurozone crisis has also cast a shadow over the British economy.

Nurses, cleaners, librarians and ambulance drivers were among those who joined the march and a rally in London's central Hyde Park, in one of the biggest anti-austerity protests this year. Organizers estimated that 150,000 people took part.

Marches also took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Glasgow, Scotland.