Rallies held in Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and London in support of Greek people who are preparing to vote on whether to accept austerity package

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old



Protesters in Britain have urged the cancellation of Greece’s debts as the country’s voters prepared to vote in its referendum.

Events took place around the UK in support of the Greek people as they decide whether to accept an austerity package put forward by international lenders in return for a further bailout from the Eurozone rescue fund.

Many Greeks living in Britain are returning to Greece to vote. Others, who are unable to return at short notice, say it is “always on their mind” as their concern for family members grows.

Greek citizens living in the UK can only take part in the referendum if they return to Greece to vote.

Rallies were taking place on Saturday in Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and London, with another scheduled for Sunday in Manchester.

The London event featured speakers including Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green party.

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She said afterwards: “I wanted to express sympathy to the Greek people, for the pressure they are under and the misery they are living in. They are under enormous pressure from unemployment, poverty, the EU institutions and the EU financial institutions.

“I think they should vote no, it’s a decision for them, but they clearly are a country that can’t take more austerity, more of this suffering, more of this pain.

“The EU institutions have to recognise that there has to be debt forgiveness for Greece, a package for gradual repayment, and allowance for essential government spending.”

Jonathan Stevenson of the Jubilee Debt Campaign, which seeks cancellation of unjust debts, said on Saturday: “There needs to be a conference of European countries to discuss debt cancellation for Greece. Debt cancellation needs to take place however Greece votes tomorrow.”

One of the approximately 1,000 people attending the event at Trafalgar Square in London was a 28-year-old Greek software engineer living in the city, who gave his name only as Giorgos.

He said he would have been voting no if he was at home at the moment.

“It would be for many reasons, including to save democracy – because the institutions want to change our government for a government of technocrats, who will say yes to everything – and to improve our negotiating position with other countries, to negotiate a far better deal.”

Andrew Burgin, from Greece Solidarity Campaign, said on Saturday: “As Greece approaches this crucial day, we stand with the people.

“Huge numbers rallied yesterday in Athens’s Syntagma Square. We want to show the huge support that there is for them in Britain and across Europe.

“Greeks are standing firm in the face of financial blackmail. The only answer to this crisis is to admit the debt is impossible to pay, and cancel it.”



