LONDON, Oct 2 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Thousands of Britons have gathered in dozens of towns and cities across the UK to register their anger at the cost-of-living crisis in what organizers describe as the largest wave of simultaneous protests seen in Britain for years.
Street demonstrations were called by the Enough is Enough campaign, and took place in 50 British cities on the same day the new increased power and gas rates authorized by the energy regulator came into force.
Although UK Government limited to £2,500 (nearly $2,790) annual ceiling the energy companies will be able to charge their customers, protest organizers consider authorized increase will force millions of Britons to choose between heating or feeding themselves during coming winter.
Protesters are also calling for a wage hike to cope with double-digit inflation, free meals at all school levels, better heating for the country’s houses, and higher taxes for high-income people.
On Saturday, activists from Don’t Pay campaign also took to the streets, urging Britons to stop paying energy and gas bills; Just Stop Oil, a green group calling on UK government to end fossil fuel extraction, and other environmental organizations such as Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.
Railway workers, meanwhile, started off biggest strike in the sector in several decades, following four related unions agreed to stop train service for 24 hours.
We do not want to affect the people and we are really sorry to see it happen, but UK government is to blame for such a situation by cutting jobs, our pensions and our salaries despite inflation, said Mick Lynch, secretary-general of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union.
UK government announced a historic tax cut last week as part of a plan to stimulate economic growth, but the move unsettled financial markets and sent sterling pound tumbling on fears it would send Britain’s public debt soaring. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
