THE GREEN Party is helping to lead protests against governments across Europe slashing services, with a series of meetings planned for Wednesday November 14.
Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett will be speaking at London’s ‘Europe Against Austerity’ event held at the European Commission building on Whitechapel at 5.30pm, followed by a rally at the Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, starting at 6.30pm.
Ms Bennett said: ‘Austerity is clearly the wrong direction for us to take. We have to go further than just opposing cuts, however. We need to build a new, fairer and balanced society and address the inequality which has been growing in the last 20 years. The economy must come back under the control of the people, so that it works for rather than against us.’
The events, which are being held across the UK to show solidarity with European workers who are striking against measures which will throw millions into unemployment and destroy essential public services. The General Secretary of TUC, Frances O’Grady, will also be speaking at the event.
The Green Party’s Deputy Leader Will Duckworth has organised Birmingham’s demonstration, which will take place from 1-2pm outside Birmingham Council House and Town Hall.
He said: ‘The austerity cuts in the UK and Europe are unnecessary, and are tearing people’s lives apart. In the middle of an economic crisis, what Europe needs is to invest in infrastructure and services to ensure its people can get through the worst moments, rather than stripping jobs, money and support from those who need it most. We want to show solidarity because Austerity is the worst kind of policy: immoral and economically illiterate.’