The People's Assembly March against Austerity in London

Photos by Stefan Rousseau

The anti-austerity march in London to-day has attracted tens of thousands of people wielding banners with slogans, expletive-filled placards and pig effigies.

Protesters descended on central London in hundreds of coaches on Saturday to voice their outrage at the cuts imposed on public services by David Cameron and his government.

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“No ifs, not buts, no public sector cuts” and “Dodgy Dave get out, we know what you’re all about” were among the chants demonstrators bellowed as they marched from the University of Central London to Trafalgar Square.

Beneath Nelson’s Column, the swelling crowd, estimated by some as being over 50,000-strong, carried banners reading: “Get the Tory Twats Out” and “Cut War Not Welfare”.

Diane Abbott the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said: “Fighting austerity is the political struggle of our time. It is austerity that is the real threat to the NHS. It is austerity which is stopping local authorities building homes. It is austerity that is forcing people out of work and into zero hours contracts.”

Chris Nineham of Stop the War Coalition said: “Austerity is not about economic necessity, it is a political choice.”