Hodge: Current NHS spending is unacceptable

Wednesday, 2 February 2011 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

Union leaders are stepping up their preparations for next month's demonstration against spending cuts.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is recruiting and training stewards for the March 26th protest in central London, which is set to be the biggest event of its kind in the first half of 2011.

Hundreds of coaches have been booked to transport frustrated people to the event, while thousands of pamphlets are being distributed in a bid to outline the arguments behind the protest.

"With the economy plunging back into negative growth, it is clear that the government's economic gamble has failed," TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said.

"More and more people are therefore looking at arguments for an alternative and for ways of showing their opposition to the coalition's deep, rapid cuts.

"It's clear that the TUC's march has captured the mood of the country and looks set to be the biggest event in our recent history."

The protest will see demonstrators gather on Victoria Embankment before marching to Hyde Park for a rally past parliament and Whitehall.

The leaflet argues that the coalition's austerity drive is politically driven.

It says there is a real alternative and argues that the real job of closing the deficit must come from increased taxes raised by economic growth and getting people back to work.

Substantial economic growth seems a long way off at present. The last quarter of 2010 saw GDP contract by 0.5%. That came before the VAT hike to 20%, introduced last month, which will have a further negative effect on Britain's economic output.

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