Resistance builds against ‘government-made’ cost of living crisis
Thousands of people are coming together today, demanding the redistribution of wealth and power, decent wages for all, and justice for the sacked P&O workers.
As Britain battles a cost-of-living crisis, with everything from energy bills to food skyrocketing, public outrage is mounting, with people are taking to the streets today to build a collective resistance.
Organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, an organisation dedicated to ensuring the government faces a movement of opposition against cuts, austerity and privatisation, protests are taking place up and down the country under the banner ‘Cost of Living Crisis – We Can’t Pay.’
Today’s demonstrations are also in solidarity with the 800 P&O Ferries’ workers who were cruelly sacked for cheaper foreign labour last month.
People refuse to pay for the government’s crisis
A principal aim of the day of action is to send a clear message to the government that the people refuse to pay for their crisis.
The protests come just a day after the energy price gap was lifted by a staggering 54%, creating what has been described as an “impossible choice for many” – to heat or eat. A spokesperson for the People’s Assembly said: “Public outrage over the cost of living crisis is growing fast, and our response is gaining momentum.”
In London, protests are taking place outside Downing Street, where former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is speaking. Commenting on the impact of the escalating crisis, Corbyn said: “With rising fuel, food and energy bills, the soaring cost of living is pushing millions into poverty, and the disgusting treatment of the sacked P&O workers needs urgent action from the government.”
‘Intolerable’
Laura Pidcock, national secretary of the People’s Assembly, who is speaking at the protest in Liverpool, said: “What people are experiencing is intolerable. No matter how patiently we explain that government inaction over soaring energy and fuel costs and sharply rising food prices is deepening poverty, misery and hunger, it is met with at best indifference and at worse more of the same.”
“The truth is they are so wedded to the economic system we have, comfortable with a hands-off approach, that even when markets are obviously failing us, they continue with business as usual.
“We tell them about children going hungry and the government shrug, politically speaking. Our anger and frustration with them must be directed and organised to build pressure on them,” Pidcock continued.
Spring statement slammed by unions
The demonstrations follow Rishi Sunak’s spring statement which has been slammed by unions for doing nothing to allay fears about soaring energy bills and rising inflation. The statement did very little to help the poorest of households with the support they need as energy and food prices soar and was noted for its “complete disregard for the hardship facing millions of households.”
Instead of tackling the cost of living crisis, the chancellor has left the average family around £1,000 worse off than last year, equating to the biggest fall in living standards since records began.
Today’s protests, which come the day after what has been dubbed as ‘Bleak Friday’ and new estimates from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition warn 2.5 million households with children are in fuel poverty after the new energy price cap rise, are demanding “immediate relief” from the government.
Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead is a contributing editor to Left Foot Forward
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100 protesters take to the streets of Newcastle city centre as cost of living crisis deepens
Around 100 protesters joined the People's Assembly North East rally at Grey's Monument in the centre of Newcastle to campaign against the soaring cost of living and sacking of 800 P&O workers
By Jane Hall
2 APR 2022
Thousands of people are coming together today, demanding the redistribution of wealth and power, decent wages for all, and justice for the sacked P&O workers.
LEFT FOOT FORWARD
As Britain battles a cost-of-living crisis, with everything from energy bills to food skyrocketing, public outrage is mounting, with people are taking to the streets today to build a collective resistance.
Organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, an organisation dedicated to ensuring the government faces a movement of opposition against cuts, austerity and privatisation, protests are taking place up and down the country under the banner ‘Cost of Living Crisis – We Can’t Pay.’
Today’s demonstrations are also in solidarity with the 800 P&O Ferries’ workers who were cruelly sacked for cheaper foreign labour last month.
People refuse to pay for the government’s crisis
A principal aim of the day of action is to send a clear message to the government that the people refuse to pay for their crisis.
The protests come just a day after the energy price gap was lifted by a staggering 54%, creating what has been described as an “impossible choice for many” – to heat or eat. A spokesperson for the People’s Assembly said: “Public outrage over the cost of living crisis is growing fast, and our response is gaining momentum.”
In London, protests are taking place outside Downing Street, where former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is speaking. Commenting on the impact of the escalating crisis, Corbyn said: “With rising fuel, food and energy bills, the soaring cost of living is pushing millions into poverty, and the disgusting treatment of the sacked P&O workers needs urgent action from the government.”
‘Intolerable’
Laura Pidcock, national secretary of the People’s Assembly, who is speaking at the protest in Liverpool, said: “What people are experiencing is intolerable. No matter how patiently we explain that government inaction over soaring energy and fuel costs and sharply rising food prices is deepening poverty, misery and hunger, it is met with at best indifference and at worse more of the same.”
“The truth is they are so wedded to the economic system we have, comfortable with a hands-off approach, that even when markets are obviously failing us, they continue with business as usual.
“We tell them about children going hungry and the government shrug, politically speaking. Our anger and frustration with them must be directed and organised to build pressure on them,” Pidcock continued.
Spring statement slammed by unions
The demonstrations follow Rishi Sunak’s spring statement which has been slammed by unions for doing nothing to allay fears about soaring energy bills and rising inflation. The statement did very little to help the poorest of households with the support they need as energy and food prices soar and was noted for its “complete disregard for the hardship facing millions of households.”
Instead of tackling the cost of living crisis, the chancellor has left the average family around £1,000 worse off than last year, equating to the biggest fall in living standards since records began.
Today’s protests, which come the day after what has been dubbed as ‘Bleak Friday’ and new estimates from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition warn 2.5 million households with children are in fuel poverty after the new energy price cap rise, are demanding “immediate relief” from the government.
Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead is a contributing editor to Left Foot Forward
Related Posts:
5 things Rishi Sunak could do to help people with the cost of living crisis
Around 100 protesters joined the People's Assembly North East rally at Grey's Monument in the centre of Newcastle to campaign against the soaring cost of living and sacking of 800 P&O workers
By Jane Hall
2 APR 2022
Demonstrators have taken part in a People's Assembly North East protest in Newcastle against the cost of living crisis and the sacking of 800 P&O workers
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She said the cost of living crisis is one of the biggest issues currently facing the people of this country. "Household and energy bills are out of control, the prices of petrol are skyrocketing and inflation is outstripping wages and welfare."
(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
Demonstrators have marched through Newcastle in protest at the UK's worsening cost of living crisis - with some pushed to voice their fear and anger in public for the first time.
Around 100 turned out for the People's Assembly North East organised demonstration to protest at the soaring cost of living as well as the shock sacking on March 17 of nearly 800 P&O crew without notice or consultation.
It was the third in a series of protests that have taken place across the UK since February coordinated by the national branch of the People's Assembly - which is fighting austerity, cuts and privatisation - and is supported by trade unions, community and campaign groups.
For some taking part in Saturday's lunchtime protest in Newcastle, it was their first experience of airing their grievances at a public gathering. They told The Chronicle they had been galvanised into action as the cost of living has soared, pushing people who would never once have struggled financially towards poverty.
Catherine Rooney, 62, from Sunderland, was one such first-time marcher who said she had felt compelled to make the trip from Wearside to Tyneside because "the Government isn't doing enough; they're not listening to the people."
Whilst not facing financial hardship herself, she said she felt morally she couldn't "sit back and do nothing. People need to show some solidarity. The time has come to stand up; people need to be writing to their MPs, to their councillors, and be doing what they can to say they don't agree with what is happening.
"The cost of living crisis isn't something that is going to affect me personally very deeply, but I feel we need to support each other, especially those with disabilities where they have CPAP (oxygen) machines, mobility and IT needs and things like that. All that uses electricity, and it's all going up and they aren't getting any help at all. I just think it's wrong."
Another lady who would only give her name as Gwen added: "What we have at the moment is a crisis, and it's not one affecting just the very poor. Energy prices went up by 54% on April 1. It's a staggering amount. That alone would push many people into financial hardship, but on top of that we're all paying more for food, fuel, council tax and our utility bills, as well as National Insurance.
"I work, I have savings and I'm hopefully going to be OK. But I know people who are on low wages who are finding it difficult to cope and are struggling. That is what has attracted me to this demonstration today - to show my support for them. The time has come when we all need to take a stand and to stop pretending that the cost of living crisis is someone else's problem. It's not. It's everyone's."
The Newcastle march wound its way in the early spring sunshine from the city's Civic Centre along a packed Northumberland Street to Grey's Monument - the traditional meeting place for protesters.
Demonstrators have marched through Newcastle in protest at the UK's worsening cost of living crisis - with some pushed to voice their fear and anger in public for the first time.
Around 100 turned out for the People's Assembly North East organised demonstration to protest at the soaring cost of living as well as the shock sacking on March 17 of nearly 800 P&O crew without notice or consultation.
It was the third in a series of protests that have taken place across the UK since February coordinated by the national branch of the People's Assembly - which is fighting austerity, cuts and privatisation - and is supported by trade unions, community and campaign groups.
For some taking part in Saturday's lunchtime protest in Newcastle, it was their first experience of airing their grievances at a public gathering. They told The Chronicle they had been galvanised into action as the cost of living has soared, pushing people who would never once have struggled financially towards poverty.
Catherine Rooney, 62, from Sunderland, was one such first-time marcher who said she had felt compelled to make the trip from Wearside to Tyneside because "the Government isn't doing enough; they're not listening to the people."
Whilst not facing financial hardship herself, she said she felt morally she couldn't "sit back and do nothing. People need to show some solidarity. The time has come to stand up; people need to be writing to their MPs, to their councillors, and be doing what they can to say they don't agree with what is happening.
"The cost of living crisis isn't something that is going to affect me personally very deeply, but I feel we need to support each other, especially those with disabilities where they have CPAP (oxygen) machines, mobility and IT needs and things like that. All that uses electricity, and it's all going up and they aren't getting any help at all. I just think it's wrong."
Another lady who would only give her name as Gwen added: "What we have at the moment is a crisis, and it's not one affecting just the very poor. Energy prices went up by 54% on April 1. It's a staggering amount. That alone would push many people into financial hardship, but on top of that we're all paying more for food, fuel, council tax and our utility bills, as well as National Insurance.
"I work, I have savings and I'm hopefully going to be OK. But I know people who are on low wages who are finding it difficult to cope and are struggling. That is what has attracted me to this demonstration today - to show my support for them. The time has come when we all need to take a stand and to stop pretending that the cost of living crisis is someone else's problem. It's not. It's everyone's."
The Newcastle march wound its way in the early spring sunshine from the city's Civic Centre along a packed Northumberland Street to Grey's Monument - the traditional meeting place for protesters.
The People's Assembly North East protest against the cost of living crisis wound its way through a busy Newcastle city centre before converging on Grey's Monument
(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
It is no coincidence that most rallies - whether it be fighting for workers' rights, campaigning against climate change, or speaking out against the Government - converge on the monument, given it pays homage to the Northumberland born 19th Century politician, Charles Grey, whose biggest achievement was the passing of the much-opposed Reform Bill in 1832 which amongst others things abolished slavery in the British Empire.
The march mainly attracted positive support from shoppers on the 10 minute walk from the Civic Centre, with many expressing their concern at what the future is likely to hold, especially come next autumn when energy prices are likely to again rise to an unprecedented level.
It is no coincidence that most rallies - whether it be fighting for workers' rights, campaigning against climate change, or speaking out against the Government - converge on the monument, given it pays homage to the Northumberland born 19th Century politician, Charles Grey, whose biggest achievement was the passing of the much-opposed Reform Bill in 1832 which amongst others things abolished slavery in the British Empire.
The march mainly attracted positive support from shoppers on the 10 minute walk from the Civic Centre, with many expressing their concern at what the future is likely to hold, especially come next autumn when energy prices are likely to again rise to an unprecedented level.
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Organiser Tony Dowling of the People's Assembly North East said the cost of living traditionally affects people more in this region as wages tend to be lower. He said: "When your income and outgoings are finely balanced and energy goes up by 54% and your wages don't rise to match the increase in the cost of living, it puts people in a very scary position.
"The Government has done nothing to allay people's fears about the rising costs of energy and inflation in general."
In a speech read out to demonstrators on behalf of Durham City Labour MP Mary Foy who had been unable to attend the event in person, she said when the economy struggles and households are unable to meet the cost of living, "it's the duty of the Government to help lift the pressure of ordinary people."
Organiser Tony Dowling of the People's Assembly North East said the cost of living traditionally affects people more in this region as wages tend to be lower. He said: "When your income and outgoings are finely balanced and energy goes up by 54% and your wages don't rise to match the increase in the cost of living, it puts people in a very scary position.
"The Government has done nothing to allay people's fears about the rising costs of energy and inflation in general."
In a speech read out to demonstrators on behalf of Durham City Labour MP Mary Foy who had been unable to attend the event in person, she said when the economy struggles and households are unable to meet the cost of living, "it's the duty of the Government to help lift the pressure of ordinary people."
She said the cost of living crisis is one of the biggest issues currently facing the people of this country. "Household and energy bills are out of control, the prices of petrol are skyrocketing and inflation is outstripping wages and welfare."
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