Austerity protest organisers incite traffic chaos
People’s Assembly against Austerity chairman suggests civil disobedience protests designed to bring traffic to a standstill
The chairman for the People’s Assembly against Austerity is encouraging protesters to cause significant road disruption later this month. Steve Turner, who is also an assistant general secretary for the Unite union, said “I would get people crossing over zebra crossings, turning around again, clogging up motorways.”
Turner made the comments after a People’s Assembly meeting. He was suggesting ways people could be “imaginative about how they take their argument against austerity and cuts, and for a decent Britain, to the streets.”
• Dartford crossing toll tech charging wrong drivers?
The People’s Assembly is protesting the £5 billion of austerity cuts George Osborne announced last week. The chairman cited examples of action taken in Australia, where lorry drivers parked their vehicles on motorways and started barbeques by way of civil disobedience.
The People’s Assembly against Austerity is planning a march in central London, from Bank to Parliament, on 20 June. Turner also said there are other actions planned. “There are occupations going on. People are occupying libraries, health centres – peaceful civil disobedience.”
• UK paper driving licence abolished: all you need to know
Speaking with Auto Express, a spokeperson for Unite said the comments ‘needed to be seen in context’. When asked if the impact of the emergency services had been taken into account with such suggestions, Alex Flynn, Head of Media and Communications, said, “It’ll be for some groups to take forms [of protest as they see fit]. We would envisage that if people do [get involved in the protests] for it not to get in the way of them doing their jobs.”
Though there are no specific laws preventing people from taking industrial action on motorways, drivers are expected to continue to abide by motorway regulations at all times; including only stopping on the hard shoulder in an emergency.
What do you think of the Austerity protests potentially coming to UK roads this summer? Let us know in the comments section below...
Find a car with the experts
