HUNDREDS gathered to call for a general election in a demonstration in London yesterday organised by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity group.
National organiser Ramona McCartney said the protest was an attempt to “take back the political space taken up by Brexit”.
READ MORE: Who would be ready for a General Election announced in 2019?
McCartney said protesters also wanted to show “solidarity with the left and working class in France by wearing the yellow vests today”.
The “gilets jaune” movement in France entered it’s ninth weekend of action, with more than 80,000 cops deployed across the country. Fears of repeats of the violent clashes in Paris earlier this month saw 5000 officers stationed in the capital.
Gilets jaunes groups had suggested online last week that the town of Bourges in central France would be the site of this weekend’s action.
Museums were closed, parking meters covered up and electronic signs at bus stops protected. The local police chief on Friday banned any demonstration in Bourges historic centre in an attempt to keep demonstrations to the edge of the town, which has over 60,000 inhabitants.
French President Emmanuel Macron has prepared a three-month public debate process aimed at clearing some of the tensions which have led to the protests.
In London, hundreds of people joined the protest which begun at Regent Street. Temporary stalls lined the road up from Oxford Circus station, where organisations such as Stand Up to Racism and the Socialist Party were handing out leaflets and placards.
Large trade union banners were being held up in the crowd and there were chants which included: “Let’s show the French what we can do”.
It was reported that protesters from France travelled to London to join the march.
Press Association reported that Laurie Martin, 26, and Erick Simon, 57, arrived in London from Normandy.
Martin told PA that she came “to support the British because our demands are the same as those fighting austerity across Europe”.
“All European countries must join up in this battle against austerity,” added Simon.
Speaking to protestors gathered at Trafalgar Square, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told crowds that years of austerity were “tearing apart the very social fabric” of the UK.
He also talked about his expectation that MPs will defeat Prime Minister Theresa’s Brexit deal at Tuesday’s vote.
McDonnell then read out a message from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to the crowd.
Reading from Corbyn’s message, McDonnell said: “We need a general election now to bring about the fairer, more equal society we all want to live in and we stand ready to take power.”
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