Protesters are accusing the Labour government of exacerbating poverty while simultaneously increasing military production.
On Saturday, thousands marched in central London to protest what they see as the UK government’s increasing focus on military spending at the expense of public services.
The People’s Assembly organized the demonstration, which began at Portland Place at midday and proceeded towards Whitehall. Participants chanted slogans and held signs with messages such as “Tax the Rich,” “Nurses Not Nukes,” and “Welfare Not Warfare.”
Trade unionists, campaigners, and activists from across the UK gathered under the banner “No to Austerity 2.0,” urging the Labour government to reverse its fiscal policies that cut public support while increasing military spending.
“Cutting winter fuel payments, maintaining the Tory two-child benefit cap, reducing disability support, and cutting foreign aid—while increasing defense spending—are not ‘tough choices,’ they are political choices,” stated a spokesperson for the People’s Assembly.
Thousands on the streets in London with against welfare cuts. Welfare not warfare!
— We Demand Change (@demandchange25)
Demonstrators criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “battle-ready, armor-clad” rhetoric, claiming he uses the language of conflict to suppress criticism of his economic policies. A campaign leaflet stated, “His war-mongering talk of war-readiness and a new era of threat are a cynical attempt to deflect any criticisms of his policy of cuts and austerity. His call for everyone to be part of the defense of the country is an attempt to label anyone who opposes his obscene militarism and austerity as unpatriotic.”
“We will not and never will accept a government that is more interested in arms sales than in looking after the poor in its own country,” Martin Cavanagh, President of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), told the assembled crowd.
People’s Assembly March today in London
— Rangzen (@revoltinghippie)
Angela Grant, President of the DWP group, stated that people are “dying because they do not have food in their bellies,” while military budgets are increasing and the NHS remains underfunded.
Labour leader Keir Starmer revealed the Strategic Defense Review on Monday, committing to raising military spending to 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The government’s plan involves increasing production of warplanes, long-range missiles, and its nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
All the crimes in your name,
Labour Party Shame Shame!
Anti Austerity March London today— Khadija (@KhadijaA1917)
Defense Secretary John Healey stated last week that the UK was “sending a message to Moscow” by allocating billions of pounds for new munitions factories and long-range strike capabilities.
Additionally, London has pledged to provide Ukraine with 100,000 drones by April 2026. A government statement confirmed that £350 million from a larger £4.5 billion Ukraine support package would be allocated for new drone shipments.