Thousands of protesters are marching through central London today for a huge demonstration against Government spending cuts and welfare reform.
The People's Assembly Against Austerity said it expected a huge turnout to the “No to Austerity 2.0” action to “send a message” to Sir Keir Starmer.
The demonstration will accuse the Prime Minister of making spending cuts that target the poorest in society, including slashing winter fuel payments for vulnerable pensioners, keeping the two-child benefit cap and abandoning Waspi women who fell victim to historic state pension injustice.
It started at BBC Broadcasting House at 12pm and is making its way to Whitehall, finishing outside the gates of Downing Street.
The Metropolitan Police is aware of the protest and are expected to be out in force to police the march.
Follow for the latest updates.
Diane Abbott: Starmer’s comments on immigration ‘fundamentally racist’
16:43 , Anthony FranceVeteran Labour MP Diane Abbott criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s comments on immigration as “fundamentally racist” and suggested the Government was copying the rhetoric of Reform UK.
She said: “I was very disturbed to hear Keir Starmer on the subject of immigration.
“He talked about closing the book on a squalid chapter for our politics – immigrants represent a squalid chapter. He talked about how he thought immigration has done incalculable damage to this green and pleasant land, which, of course, is nonsense – immigrants built this land. And, finally, he said we risk becoming an island of strangers.
London March against austerity
— Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchell) June 7, 2025
2% #WealthTax on assets over £10 million would raise £24 BILLION every year
No need for cuts in public services & in winter fuel allowance for pensioners
No need for two-child benefit cap
No need to hike student tuition fees & loan repayments pic.twitter.com/hzPMIGBLsq
“I thought that was a fundamentally racist thing to say. It is contrary to Britain’s history.
“My parents came to this country in the 50s. They were not strangers. They helped to build this country.
“I think Keir Starmer is quite wrong to say that the way that you beat Reform is to copy Reform.”
Jeremy Corbyn tell crowd: Go forward as a movement of hope
16:39 , Anthony FranceSpeaking at the Whitehall rally, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “As the wars rage around the world – the killing fields in Ukraine and Russia, the abominable, deliberate starvation of children in Gaza and the genocide that’s inflicted against the Palestinian people continues – surely to goodness we need a world of peace.
“We need a world of peace that will come through the vision of peace, the vision of disarmament and the vision of actually challenging the causes of war, which leads to the desperation and the refugee flows of today.”
Great to march with @pplsassembly against austerity alongside my dear comrade @SocialistHB and the legends @jeremycorbyn and @HackneyAbbott#WelfareNotWarfare pic.twitter.com/WFev1JBuwK
— Harry Eccles (@Heccles94) June 7, 2025
The now Independent MP for Islington North urged protesters to “go forward as a movement of hope, of what we can achieve together [and] the society we can build together”.
Chants of 'revolution'
14:20 , Bill BowkettRepresentatives from the Revolutionary Communist Party have been spotted at the march. The crowd, some of whom are waving Palestinian flags, can heard chanting in unison: “Revolution, revolution!”
Enough is enough
— NOPRICEONCULTURE (@npocmovement) June 7, 2025
💪🏾 @pplsassembly
.
.#nopriceonculture pic.twitter.com/bvDE7ourPB
Activists display placards
13:38 , Bill BowkettMany of the protesters are holding placards that read “Tax the rich, stop the cuts – welfare not warfare”.
Other signs being held aloft said “Nurses not nukes” and “Cut war, not welfare”.
Protest veering towards Westminster
13:15 , Bill BowkettThe demonstration is now underway! It has left BBC Broadcasting House and is walking south down Regents Street towards Whitehall.
Representatives from trade unions such as the Public and Commercial Services Union and the Communications Workers Union have also joined the strike.
Protest March against benefit cuts leaving Portland Place London pic.twitter.com/xUOl3Czlbd
— ali (@ali__samson) June 7, 2025
'We need welfare, not warfare'
12:42 , Bill BowkettThe People’s Assembly has slammed the Government for slashing UK foreign aid from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of GDP, while increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
Chris Nineham, vice-chair of Stop The War, said anti-austerity protesters are also marching against “growing militarisation” amid the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
People here on today’s @pplsassembly demo are saying stop the cuts but also that we need #WelfareNotWarfare @ChrisNineham on why we must make the link between the government’s militarisation and austerity pic.twitter.com/VTXtoCpr1n
— Stop the War (@STWuk) June 7, 2025
Crowds gather in central
12:36 , Bill BowkettMarchers assemble for a leftist protest against cuts, austerity and increased defence spending. pic.twitter.com/95guMFYVXi
— Chris Hobbs (@obbsie) June 7, 2025
Explained: Where is the demo?
12:13 , Bill BowkettThe People’s Assembly national demonstration has reportedly commenced.
It will start at BBC Broadcasting House on Portland Place, near Oxford Street, and finish in Whitehall, outside the gates of Downing Street.
In Westminster, there will see speeches by union leaders, politicians and anti-poverty campaigners calling for more investment in public services.
London Labour MPs Corbyn and Abbott among speakers
11:32 , Bill Bowkett1. Great speakers at tomorrow’s National Demonstration Against Austerity 2.0. Join us on the streets #UnitedAgainstAusterity
— People's Assembly (@pplsassembly) June 6, 2025
➡️Saturday 7 June,
➡️12 Noon,
➡️BBC, Portland Place
We are building our collective power to #TaxTheRich, #StopTheCuts and deliver an economy that… pic.twitter.com/C5wr1vxlKN
Revealed: Reasons behind the protest
11:01 , Bill BowkettToday’s demonstration by the People’s Assembly will accuse the Prime Minister of making spending cuts that target the poorest in society, including slashing winter fuel payments for vulnerable pensioners, keeping the two-child benefit cap and abandoning WASPI women who fell victim to historic state pension injustice.
A spokesman said: "The adherence to 'fiscal rules' traps us in a public service funding crisis, increasing poverty, worsening mental health and freezing public sector pay.
"Real tough choices would be for a Labour government to tax the rich and their hidden wealth, to fund public services, fair pay, investment in communities and the NHS.”
Who are the People's Assembly?
10:40 , Bill BowkettThe People’s Assembly was originally formed in 2013 out of a frustration with then-leader Ed Miliband positioning on austerity and on welfare.
It is backed by major trade unions such as Unite, Unison and the RMT.
The movement’s current National Secretary is former Labour MP Laura Pidcock.
Thousands taking part in 'No to Austerity 2.0' march
10:00 , Bill BowkettGood morning and welcome to our live blog on all the updates ahead of the People's Assembly Against Austerity’s march in central London, which is scheduled to start at around noon.
We will bring you latest from the protest as we get them.
