London, November 15: Britain’s biggest peace campaign, Stop the War Coalition (STWD,) has lauded recent protests in London against the coalition government’s austerity policies.
National convener of STWD, Lindsey German said that, historically, the British people have managed to achieve their demands through protest marches and demonstrations, the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency (IRNA) reported.
“All the major gains achieved in Britain – from the vote for workers and women, to the right to join trade unions, the right to demonstrate, and the welfare state itself – were only granted as a result of protests, campaigning and struggles until they were won,” German said.
German was referring to the recent protests in London where students and workers denounced the coalition government’s economic policies namely the rise in tuition fees for the universities.
“By going to the streets, the students have asserted that there is an alternative to simply sitting back and accepting the hideous consensus which passes for political debate in most quarters,” she said.
“Demonstrations also help to build confidence and solidarity among those who demonstrate – they establish that the protesters are not isolated but part of a bigger movement,” the STWD national convener added.
Lindsey German denounced the government’s plan to cut welfare benefits while it is spending billions of pounds every year on the war in Afghanistan and in producing weapons of mass destruction.
“Anti-war demonstrators should join hands with students and ask the government to cut the war not education,” she said.
——–Agencies