Londoners inspired by yellow vest call for new election in UK
Thousands of protesters gathered in London on Saturday to protest the British government, calling for an end to austerity measures and a new general election in light of the impending departure of Britain from the European Union. Wearing yellow vests with slogans such as "Britain is Broken" written on the back, the demonstrators marched in London to demand that politicians pay attention to their plight rather than being endlessly diverted by the spectacle surrounding Britain's departure from the European Union.
- World
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 12:00 | 12 January 2019
- Modified Date: 09:03 | 12 January 2019
Austerity measures and Brexit have split the nation, according to the organizers. "Since the Tories took power, we've seen homelessness more than double," says Steve Turner from the Unite trade union.
He added that the National Health Service, social care and schools were in disarray with crisis after crisis. "We are faced with a government completely out of touch with the everyday fears and concerns of the majority of people in this country," he added.
They included two French activists involved in the demonstrations sweeping France since mid-November who were invited by the organisers of the British event.
"We are here in support," said Erick Simon, 61, one of the duo.
"I think that the yellow vest movement in France is the same as the one that is growing in England... people are fed up with poverty, injustice and social and financial injustice."
The leaderless movement appeared to be petering out at the end of 2018 but has since regained momentum, with weekly clashes seen in Paris and other French cities.
Britain has seen several small protests by Brexit supporters wearing yellow vests since November, but other activists have been slow to adopt the symbolic attire and movement.
Addressing the crowd in Trafalgar Square, Labour's shadow finance minister John McDonnell said eight years of austerity under the ruling Conservatives was "tearing apart the very social fabric" of Britain.
Retired teacher Stephen Hamer, 59, clad in a yellow vest, said the London protest would likely have occurred without the movement in France, but it had "helped things along".
"I think we need a change in government very urgently," he added. "The UK is falling apart -- nothing works anymore."
"It's a movement against austerity laws -- that's what it's about," she added, noting right-wingers had been "opportunistic" in adopting it.
A separate demonstration by dozens of Brexit supporters wearing yellow vests also took place in central London on Saturday.
It reportedly related to a controversial incident outside parliament on Monday, when a group harangued pro-EU figures, including chanting "Nazi" at prominent Remain supporting MP Anna Soubry during live TV interviews.
Ahead of Saturday's protests Nick Lowles, CEO of the anti-racism group "Hope Not Hate" accused Britain's far-right of "attempting to copy the French 'yellow vests' protests in order to stir up trouble and harass, threaten and attack their political opponents."