Hundreds of demonstrators marched in London on Saturday, and similar marches took place in other cities across the UK, to protest against the soaring cost of living that is strangling low-income households.
In the capital, protesters marched behind a black banner calling for ‘lower energy bills’ while a placard called for ‘Freeze prices, not the poor’, in reference to rising energy bills which lead low-income households to give up heating.
Protesters demand BoJo’s departure
Several placards also called for the departure of Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson, proclaiming “Tories out”. Former Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was present among the demonstrators, gathered at the call of the anti-austerity movement People’s Assembly, supported by several unions. Other demonstrations were planned in the rest of the United Kingdom, from Glasgow (Scotland) to Cardiff (Wales) via Manchester (north of England).
“Maybe if you saved on wine and cheese it would help me keep the lights on,” read a placard held by a protester in Glasgow, referring to parties at Downing. Street despite the Covid-19 restrictions, which caused a scandal and melted the popularity of Boris Johnson.
Good luck & much love to every single person out on the streets today protesting against this shameful government & the cost of living crisis. Working class people shouldn’t have to pay for a crisis they didn’t create. Find where your local protest is here https://t.co/3Ww2yi5SDxpic.twitter.com/dC8jL9sfQW
—Laura Pidcock (@LauraPidcock) February 12, 2022
An “exceptionally difficult period” for low-income workers
“The working classes should not pay for a crisis they did not create,” People’s Assembly national secretary Laura Pidcock said on Twitter. Low-income workers in the UK face “exceptionally difficult times” due to soaring costs of living, the British trade union federation TUC also warned on Monday. The union federation pointed out in a report that the number of workers benefiting from the minimum income (“universal credit”) has increased by 1.3 million people compared to before the pandemic in the country.
A TUC survey of 2,200 workers shows that one in eight say he or she will struggle to pay for basic necessities in the coming months. The Bank of England has warned that inflation, already at a 30-year high of 5.4% in the UK at the end of 2021, could climb to 7.25% by April and is unlikely to return to normal levels. within two years. The BoE is targeting inflation at 2%.