Nick Clegg's house targeted by UK Uncut campaigners:
Anti-austerity activists stage street party outside deputy PM's London home in protest against government cuts
Anti-austerity campaigners staged an alternative street party outside the house of the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, on Saturday to voice their anger at the government's cuts programme.
Hundreds of activists descended on Clegg's home in Putney, south-west London, just before 1pm. Disabled campaigners had secured the quiet residential street shortly beforehand by chaining their wheelchairs together.
A UK Uncut supporter, Jean Sandler, 42, said: "Nick Clegg is one of the architects of austerity. He's a millionaire and lives in a million-pound home.
"The cuts are a political choice of this government and the cabinet of out-of-touch millionaires. They are not necessary. No one voted for Cameron and Clegg's disastrous plan that means that we end up paying for the banks' crisis."
The demonstration was one of 11 alternative street parties around the country organised by UK Uncut in what is expected to be a series of protests in the lead-up to next weekend's jubilee celebrations and the Olympics later in the summer.
Comedians, musicians, public-sector workers and activists are all taking part in the events. In Sheffield, campaigners targeted Clegg's constituency office; in Manchester, protesters highlighted corporate tax dodging; while in Nottingham campaigners focused on the chancellor, George Osborne, dubbed the Sheriff of Nottingham after he cut the top rate of tax and announced deeper welfare cuts in the budget.
UK Uncut has said the street parties are designed to resist the government's cuts and celebrate alternatives to austerity.
Around 400 demonstrators occupied the street outside Clegg's house setting out blankets on the floor and sharing food. Scores of uniformed and plainclothes police officers watched as musicians performed and activists made speeches.
Simon Hope, who came to the street party with his daughter, aged 4, said: "I came to this protest because I think the government is trying to use the jubilee next weekend to distract people from the cuts and the tough times people are facing and as a national sedative.
"I think that it's vital that we take direct action against the cuts. It's brilliant that the party is on Nick Clegg's road because he and the rest of the government are not listening to us, our petitions, our vigils or our marches.
"Today is a wake-up call. We will not stand for his lies or the government's cruel cuts. Nick Clegg can't ignore us now, we are bringing democracy home."
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Anti-austerity activists stage street party outside deputy PM's London home in protest against government cuts
Anti-austerity campaigners staged an alternative street party outside the house of the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, on Saturday to voice their anger at the government's cuts programme.
Hundreds of activists descended on Clegg's home in Putney, south-west London, just before 1pm. Disabled campaigners had secured the quiet residential street shortly beforehand by chaining their wheelchairs together.
A UK Uncut supporter, Jean Sandler, 42, said: "Nick Clegg is one of the architects of austerity. He's a millionaire and lives in a million-pound home.
"The cuts are a political choice of this government and the cabinet of out-of-touch millionaires. They are not necessary. No one voted for Cameron and Clegg's disastrous plan that means that we end up paying for the banks' crisis."
The demonstration was one of 11 alternative street parties around the country organised by UK Uncut in what is expected to be a series of protests in the lead-up to next weekend's jubilee celebrations and the Olympics later in the summer.
Comedians, musicians, public-sector workers and activists are all taking part in the events. In Sheffield, campaigners targeted Clegg's constituency office; in Manchester, protesters highlighted corporate tax dodging; while in Nottingham campaigners focused on the chancellor, George Osborne, dubbed the Sheriff of Nottingham after he cut the top rate of tax and announced deeper welfare cuts in the budget.
UK Uncut has said the street parties are designed to resist the government's cuts and celebrate alternatives to austerity.
Around 400 demonstrators occupied the street outside Clegg's house setting out blankets on the floor and sharing food. Scores of uniformed and plainclothes police officers watched as musicians performed and activists made speeches.
Simon Hope, who came to the street party with his daughter, aged 4, said: "I came to this protest because I think the government is trying to use the jubilee next weekend to distract people from the cuts and the tough times people are facing and as a national sedative.
"I think that it's vital that we take direct action against the cuts. It's brilliant that the party is on Nick Clegg's road because he and the rest of the government are not listening to us, our petitions, our vigils or our marches.
"Today is a wake-up call. We will not stand for his lies or the government's cruel cuts. Nick Clegg can't ignore us now, we are bringing democracy home."
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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