By Neil Harrison
As George Osborne’s budget statement is dissected in all corners of the media this evening, numerous groups of campaigners and protestors will be descending on Manchester to deliver an alternative budget of their own.
Organised by Manchester People’s Assembly, a number of campaign groups from around the region will come together to send a message to the current government on issues including foodbanks, bedroom tax, climate change, corporate tax avoidance and NHS privatisation. As well as speeches by campaign leaders, union representatives and people affected by austerity measures, there will be street performances and a loud and lively march around Manchester. Organisers explained,
“Our people-powered protest at parliament’s penny pinching policies will feature representatives of the hardest hit groups. We will be asking the people of Manchester what alternatives to today’s budget they would like to see.
“Starting at Piccadilly Gardens we will be making stops at particular places affected by austerity measures. These will include Manchester Town Hall, The John Rylands Library and an NHS walk-in centre. Anti-austerity street campaigners, some with puppets, some on stilts, will bring red budget boxes which we will fill with Conservative and Liberal Democrat budget policies – and then burn! Our own green budget box will be filled with all of the alternative policies we collect as we move around the city. Speakers from various Manchester campaigns will be presenting their own budget statements along the way.”
Further information can be found on this evening’s demonstration here. For more details and updates on Manchester People’s Assembly please visit their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @PplsssemblyMcr
Neil Harrison is contributing editor at Humanity Hallows, follow him on Twitter @LooseRiver
Featured image and gallery: Sam Holmes From Mirfield to Manchester, this Yorkshire-born four-piece bring their funk-interwoven indie rock to a sold-out Gorilla for their biggest headline show to date. Fresh off the back of their new single ‘Watch Life Burn’ and signing their first record deal with This Feeling/ LAB Records, there is already a…
Featured image and photography: Aaron Parsons / Press Haiden Henderson isn’t a name known to many in Manchester, but the Californian rockstar certainly made sure to leave a lasting impression. With sensual and sexy songs, Henderson really knows how to heat up a crowd in more ways than one. Unreleased track ‘Freak For You’ sets a…
Feature image: Press The Manchester Film Festival has wrapped its 12th edition, running over 11 days and showcasing a strong line-up of local and international talent from across the independent film industry. Festival director Neil Jeram-Croft reflected on this year’s programme, filled with a mix of features, shorts and documentaries spanning the cities’ cinema hotspots:…
Featured image: Press Toots and the Maytals return to Manchester for their ‘Reggae Got Soul’ 50th anniversary tour. Following their hugely successful 2025 tour, Toots and the Maytals return to Manchester to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their landmark album, Reggae Got Soul. Fronted for decades by Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert – named by Rolling Stone…
No Comments
The People’s Budget | looseriver