An anti-austerity march in London has attracted tens of thousands of people wielding banners with slogans, expletive-filled placards and pig effigies.

Protesters descended on central London in hundreds of coaches on Saturday to voice their outrage at the cuts imposed on public services by David Cameron and his government.

“No ifs, no buts, no public sector cuts, and “Dodgy Dave get out, we know what you’re all about” were among the chants demonstrators bellowed as they marched from the University of Central London to rally in Trafalgar Square.

The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, told the crowd a Labour government would end austerity.

“We will halt the privatisation of our NHS and make it public once again,” he said.

“And for all those people desperately waiting for a home, I can give this promise. We will build the hundreds of thousands of council homes that will end homelessness.”

Saturday’s anti-austerity demonstration in central London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The Hayes and Harlington MP also said his party would scrap the work capability assessments affecting the disabled.

“The Panama revelations demonstrate that they have been robbing us for generations now,” he added. “We will make the rich and corporations pay their way in society.”

Unite’s general secretary, Len McCluskey, pulled out a Panama hat during his speech, in a reference to the recent tax scandal, and said: “The only thing I have from Panama, Mr Cameron, is a hat.”

He added: “The establishment shames our democracy. It is up to all of us to work together and send a clear message – that we will fight, fight, fight for a better tomorrow.”

The Green party leader, Natalie Bennett, told the crowd: “We want all of the Tories out, not just David Cameron. We have a vision of a different kind of society. A society that works for the common good.”



In a video message played to the demonstrators, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The austerity we are in is a political choice, not an economic necessity.”

Thousands have taken to the streets in London today for the @pplsassembly March for Health, Homes, Jobs & Education​https://t.co/byfR1oYXPC — Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) April 16, 2016

Corbyn said he could not attend the rally as he was campaigning in Liverpool for local elections on 5 May.

Beneath Nelson’s Column, the swelling crowd, estimated by some at 50,000-strong, carried banners with messages including: “Get the Tory Twats Out” and “Cut War Not Welfare.”

Others made references to pigs, and some protesters wore pig masks, in an allusion to disputed claims that as a student the prime minister once placed his penis in a dead pig’s mouth.

"No ifs, no buts, no public sector cuts" pic.twitter.com/wauvXq5cNe — Georgina Stubbs (@georginafstubbs) April 16, 2016

Gary Manning, from Carmarthenshire, wore a pig mask during the march. He said: “I think the whole tax system is so unfair. It’s so disproportionate.”

Kicking off the rally, the National Health Singers sang a song they had written, the lyric of which which included the lines: “Don’t let our junior docs be worked around the clock” and: “Help us keep you safe, don’t take our rights away.”



Michaella Hagger travelled to the demonstration from Winchester, Hampshire. The 27-year-old, who works in the probation service, said: “I’m here because I hate David Cameron. It’s all about the cuts, tax-dodging, and the NHS for me. They are ruining people’s jobs and making it impossible for everyone.”