Over 100,000 March in London for 'A Future That Works'

Firefighters, nurses and teachers marched alongside unemployed teens, anti-war activists and other activists today in a massive protest for 'A Future That Works' and against the Government's austerity measures.

Over 100,000 marched in a boisterous anti-austerity demonstration in London, with similar protests underway in Glasgow and Belfast.

British union leaders have said they will call for a country-wide general strike to be held as soon as possible after today's protests.

According to the UK Press Association union leader Brendan Barber said today's massive turnout showed how unpopular the Government's policies were.

"We are sending a very strong message that austerity is simply failing. The Government is making life desperately hard for millions of people because of pay cuts for workers, while the rich are given tax cuts." [...]

Dave Prentis, leader of Unison, said hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs were being lost as a result of government policies.

He said: "We are fighting for a better future. We are not here today for the millionaires - we are here for the millions of people who don't have a voice. We just can't take any more." [...]

Groups involved in the protest include the Stop The War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which published adverts highlighting the "disastrous" implications for public services of committing tens of billions of pounds to a new nuclear weapons system.

The protesters carried banners which read: 'Cameron Has Butchered Britain', '24 Hour General Strike Now' and 'No Cuts' as they marched through Whitehall towards Hyde Park.

They booed at Downing Street and shouted "pay your taxes" as they passed a Starbucks coffee shop.