Isle of Wight Labour

For the many, not the few

March for the Alternative

Along with nearly half a million other people the Isle of Wight Labour Party joined the T.U.C. march for an alternative last Saturday. Leaving from Fishbourne on the 8.00 a.m. ferry, five coaches from the Island arrived, a couple of hours later, at the London Eye. Then we crossed the River Thames to Victoria Embankment and joined the march to Hyde Park. The march was noisy, good humoured and peaceful but with a strong and powerful message.
Half a million people called for an alternative to unemployment, redundancies and pay-freezes in the public sector; to closed libraries and Sure Start centres; to a privatised NHS; to 20% VAT and cuts to benefits.
Half a million ordinary people called for an alternative to bailouts and banker's bonuses; to enormous rewards for failure in the boardroom; to tax avoidance for the rich.
How did the Government respond, did they listen? Coalition spokesman Vince Cable dismissed the march, saying that the Government will not change its economic policy because of this sort of protest. Then for good measure, he announced that he plans to abolish the 50p rate of tax for those earning over £150,000 within the next two years!