A demonstration against the cost of living in London, the capital of the UK, demanded that the government improve salaries to combat rising inflation.
The demonstration organized by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) started in Portland Place. Thousands of demonstrators then marched about three kilometers to Parliament Square.
Some demonstrators carried banners reading “Enough is enough”, “Increase wages, reduce bills”, “Safe homes for all” and frequently chanted anti-government slogans. Some protesters were seen marching with placards with the words “Make them pay” next to the photos of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Finance Minister Rishi Sunak.
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Demonstrators booed and protested against Johnson as he passed by the Prime Minister’s Office Number 10.
Francis O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, spoke in Parliament Square, criticizing “prices are soaring but boardroom bonuses are inflated” and calling for a pay rise to counter rising costs.
TUC Deputy General Secretary Sue Ferns said: “The cost of living crisis is hitting workers hard. Everything is going up. But our wages are not. Energy bills are through the roof, it costs more and more to put food on the table. Wallets have to be emptied to fill the tanks of cars.”
According to the TUC, workers have lost an average of £20,000 since 2008. This is the biggest loss in real wages since the 1930s.
British economy has been contracting for the last three months
Inflation in the UK reached 9 percent in April, the highest level in 40 years, due to the increase in energy and food prices. The Bank of England expects the inflation rate to rise to 11 percent towards the end of the year.
The central bank raised interest rates to 1.25 percent to combat rising inflation. Economic experts are worried that increasing salaries at the same level as inflation rises will turn into a spiral and cause high wage inflation.
The decline in economic growth in the UK also raises concerns. According to the latest figures released by the National Statistics Institute, gross domestic product in the country contracted by 0.1 percent in March and 0.3 percent in April.
The British Chambers of Commerce recently reduced its 2022 growth forecast from 3.6 percent to 3.5 percent.
