Protesters stage bail-out rally

Published on Friday 10 October 2008 22:09

DEMONSTRATORS jostled with police while trying to force their way into the Royal Exchange building next to the Bank of England in London yesterday during a protest against the UK government's bank bail-out.

After being turned back, the protesters ran through nearby city streets and pushed past a small group of police officers who tried to stop them.

There were no arrests, and no-one was injured, according to police. Several hundred people, mostly students and Socialist Worker Party activists, turned out for the late- afternoon protest against the government's 50 billion plan to partly nationalise major banks, while guaranteeing a further 250 billion of bank loans.

"Whose money? Our Money!" chanted the protesters, some of whom carried placards reading "Why should we pay for their crisis?"

The building the protesters tried to enter had been a centre of commerce from the 1500s, but is now a shopping centre.

Many directed their anger at City bankers.

"They do nothing," said Martin Smith, one of the protesters. "If times are good they get money; if times are bad they get money."