Those who were fortunate enough to attend the Peoples' Assembly march on Saturday 20 June in London were part of the biggest mobilisation against austerity that has yet happened in the UK. Organisers claimed that a quarter of a million walked through London and tens of thousands more came together under the same banner in cities across Britain.
But why did people march - and what can it achieve?
A march organiser from the Peoples Assembly, John Rees, was quoted in the Observer (June 21) that the march had undoubtedly been a great success but, of course, austerity still stands, indeed it is about to get much worse
'We can't win with only one demonstration' he added. So; if austerity is still with us what has been 'won' by this remarkable event?
Something, it can be argued, of immense importance for our political future.
The London demonstration had a number of new features that bear some consideration. For example this demonstration was called and led by a national campaign body. The Peoples' Assembly has put together many events in is short history, but the march on the 20 June is one of the great demonstrations in Britain's political history. It ranks with the poll tax mobilisations, the mass trade union marches of the1970s, and the Miners marches in the late 80s and 90s. Most of all it reminds us all of the million strong great anti-Iraq war march that did not bring the British troops home but which tarnished the war and ended Blair's political career in Britain for good. These events led large parts of society - often against 'elected' governments - and created an alternative voice to the status quo of the day. Part of the failure of the May election campaign and the twisted vote that followed, is that the anti-austerity cause was marginalised by the political system. Now; within a few weeks of the gloating Tory 'victory', an alternative course has been championed by a vast, active movement of ordinary people. Those thousands obviously did not think that May 7 put the lid on the argument.
Some trade unions, and three in particular, gave significant support to the PA's call. Unite, the FBU and the NUT were out in force. However, neither the TUC and nor the Labour Party gave any national support (that was visible) to this event. Dianne Abbot complained at the lack of Labour presence on the march. One of the candidates for Labour leadership was there. Perhaps the others were worried by the marcher's lack of aspiration? Or perhaps they not not share it. In any case, it is yet another warning to the Labour Party that a mass event, centred on progressive objectives, completely bypasses them. In years gone by, the defeat of Labour in a recent general election would have infected the potential of such an event, perhaps even derailing it. Today, tens of thousands march against austerity - representing millions behind them - denying in practise the argument that the election has resolved everything and not themselves affected or deflected by Labour's election defeat.
The demonstration was the sign of a new political current inside British society - and outside Westminster's mainstream parties. (The Greens were a very significant presence on the march - as were several women's campaigns.) Younger people predominated. Many specific grievances against austerity politics and economics and initiatives to fight their consequences were brought into its camp. The march showed that the anti-austerity movement has become itself a pole for the political regroupment of Britain's collapsing, traditional, mainstream left.
It is true that austerity will not be defeated by one demonstration, however successful. But the signs of a political recomposition and regrowth of the British left, with a clear national and international cause, makes the prospects much brighter.
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