** Diane Abbott MP launches 7th June demo with a blistering critique of Labour leadership at The People’s Assembly press conference
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Yesterday in London, trade unionists, MPs, and campaigners gathered at a press conference hosted by The People’s Assembly to launch a mass demonstration against austerity 2.0 - Welfare Not Warfare, on Saturday 7th June.

Diane Abbott MP gave a blistering critique of Labour leadership at The People’s Assembly press conference and speakers delivered a powerful warning about the Labour government’s return to cuts and scapegoating, and called for maximum unity against austerity, racism and war.

The National Demonstration is being backed by major trade unions and grassroots organisations nationwide.

During the launch, Diane Abbott MP issued a stark assessment of Labour’s current direction under Keir Starmer:

“There’s a lot of talk about the Labour party losing votes to Reform. The Labour leadership should be challenging the Reform narrative, not echoing it.”

Referring to Starmer’s recent immigration comments: “It’s surprising to me that although the big issues in the council elections and by-elections last week were winter fuel tax cuts and Personal Independence Payment cuts, Starmer has chosen to talk about immigration in Enoch Powell-like terms.”

Diane ended her address with a final warning: “The problem is that Starmer – and the people who manage Starmer – what they knew how to do is smash the left of the Labour Party – but they hadn’t really thought through running the country.”

There were also important and pertinent comments from the trade union and campaign speakers.

Onay Kasab, of Unite the Union and leader of the Birmingham bin workers’ campaign, opened the event and said:

Yes, we are going to march and it’ll be a magnificent demonstration, but equally, we’re going to have to strike and take the necessary action. In this case, industrial action not just to save local government services but to save the Birmingham bin workers and re-build government services all over again."

Alia Butt from Keep Our NHS Public noted that:

"It's become very clear that Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is not for the people. It's for the billionaires the privateers whose only intention is further decimating the fabric of society."


Martin Cavanagh of the Public and Commercial Services union declared:

“Our union, the Public and Commercial Services Union, is fully behind the demonstration on 7th June... And the thing is it has to be a stepping stone, it can't just be a demonstration and that is it, we have to use it to build industrially, but also get our profile out there on the streets. This government is not listening, something's got to give, and it can't be the most impoverished and most vulnerable."

Ed Harlow National Education Union noted:

"One in three of our children now live in poverty and that figure is going up… that is absolutely shameful in a country and economy of this size. It’s down to political choice. So, we will be out in force on June the 7th to say the NEU rejects racism, we absolutely reject austerity 2.0 and the direction the Labour Party is currently pursuing."

Paula Peters Disabled People Against Cuts said:

Starmer saying welfare spending is out of control is a false narrative. Welfare spending hasn't risen in the last 10 years…Disability benefits have risen and there's reason for this, rises in pension age, long waiting list for NHS treatment a mental health support, impact of long COVID... and exponential crisis of mental health in young people. All things the government needs to do something about but won't. The disability cuts are purely an ideological, political choice."


Building the Alternative

Developing an anti-austerity movement can be difficult for Reform in working class communities. So the 7th June demonstration aims to be part of a progressive and united movement that brings together the widest possible coalition of trade unions, campaigners, and communities. We also aim to build unity and offer a real alternative to both austerity and the rise of the far right, whilst opposing Labour's policies such as:

* Keeping the two-child benefit cap
* Cutting the winter fuel allowance
* Cutting disability benefits
* Ignoring the WASPI women
* Slashing public services
* Attacking key workers like Birmingham refuse collectors
* Boosting privatisation and military spending
* Refusing to tax the rich


Join Us – Saturday 7th June, 12 noon, Portland Place W1B
March on Downing Street – Details of demonstration ([link removed])

Say NO to Austerity, NO to War, NO to Racism
Say YES to Welfare, YES to Public Services, and YES to Working-Class Solidarity.

Migrants aren’t the problem. Austerity is.

#NoToAusterity2 #WelfareNotWarfare #MarchOnJune7
[link removed]


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We urge all to support, promote and attend this really important National Demonstration and encourage you to get your organisations and trade unions to also do the same.

A Model Motion to support and promote the demo is
here ([link removed]) . Please take this to your trade union branch, region or national office.

Please contribute to our demo crowdfunder if you can. See
here ([link removed]) for link.

There will be coaches going from various parts of the country. We will update our
website ([link removed]) as we get details. Please encourage your trade union or organisation to put on transport or contribute towards coach costs in your local area (Many trade unions are supporting the demonstration, so speak to your local branch or region). Please email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Coach%20to%20June%207th%20demo) if you have organised a coach and we'll add the details to our website.

Can you help us leaflet for the National Demonstration? We need volunteers to help us leaflet throughout the country for the Demonstration, but especially in or around the London area. Can you help? Please email us on
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Volunteering)

Loss of our Facebook page. A few months ago, our admins were removed from our Facebook, and we’ve been unable to get back in. We’ve therefore been forced to set up another page called ‘No More Austerity 2.0.’ Please like and follow this new page here ([link removed]) and encourage others to do the same. Our other social media pages remain the same and are under our People’s Assembly name.

Additional Action to Resist Austerity 2.0

As well as being part of the National Demonstration, it’s important we campaign against austerity locally as well as nationally. Email us on
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Local%20Groups) for information about your local group or how to set up one.
Join the National Demonstration Facebook Event here ([link removed])


** Dress to Protest!
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Make sure you are ready for the streets! Check out our online shop, with the best anti-cuts, pro-union merchandise: Tax the Rich t-shirts and badges, ‘Unions Kicking Ass’ t-shirts & tote bags, People's Assembly hoodies & caps.

Visit our shop here ([link removed])


** Join the People's Assembly
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It's crucial we build our movement against the governments Austerity 2.0. Please join us as a member today.

Join here ([link removed])


** The People's Assembly has joined Bluesky
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The People's Assembly has joined social media platform, Bluesky. Follow us on there by clicking the link below. We are also on:
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Threads here. ([link removed])
Follow us on Bluesky here ([link removed])

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