Anti-austerity party descends on Clegg’s street

Published on 27/05/2012 00:00

HUNDREDS of anti-cuts protesters have held an “alternative street party” in the road where Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg lives.

Up to 400 people descended on the south-west London street, playing music, performing comedy and making speeches, in the event organised by UK Uncut.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said there were no reported arrests outside the property in Putney, which anti-austerity campaigners targeted because of cuts by the coalition government.

Jean Sandler, 42, a UK Uncut supporter, said: “Nick Clegg is one of the architects of austerity; he’s a millionaire and lives in a million-pound home.

“The cuts are a political choice of this government and the Cabinet of out-of-touch millionaires. They are not necessary. No-one voted for Cameron and Clegg’s disastrous plan that means that we end up paying for the banks’ crisis.

“These cruel cuts are designed to destroy our public services, the NHS, the welfare state and our future. The cuts are getting personal and so are our protests.”

The protest in London was part of a nationwide day of action, seeing anti-cuts street parties take place in several UK cities.

In Sheffield, dozens of activists also targeted Clegg’s constituency office.

A spokesman for the deputy prime minister said: “People have a right to peaceful protest.”

Neither Clegg nor his family are thought to have been home during the protest yesterday.