The Rally Against Debt was a resounding success. Estimates of numbers attending varied widely, from 350 to 312, but one independent observer put the number as high as 500. This was a stunning achievement given that we were competing with the FA cup final, the Royal Wedding (just two weeks earlier), a pirate exhibition and Great Warley village fayre.
Concerned citizens descended on Westminster from all corners of the UK – Kensington, Chelsea, Hampstead Garden Suburb and Westminster – to protest at the immorality of passing onto our children new hospitals and well-equipped schools.
Above all we are indebted to the TaxPayers’ Alliance, who threw the weight of their huge email list behind us. Without the support of so many ordinary taxpayers clamouring for cuts this would have been just a poorly-attended gathering in Westminster.
The rally was largely peaceful, although police had to battle to stop huge numbers spilling out onto the surrounding streets.
Unfortunately we were infiltrated by leftist agent provocateurs who ridiculed our aims with nonsensical banners.
Unlike the TUC-orchestrated "March for the Alternative" we attracted protesters from all walks of life and a wide cross-section of society. Many had never demonstrated before.
We had promised a "well mannered, polite rally for civilised people", which is why we ended with two black-clad, masked anarchists burning a European Union flag.
I will close with saying that I feel immensely proud of what was achieved on the weekend and I feel in my bones the start of a whole new movement so keep your eyes open. It also proves the power of social media: for every six people who said they would attend on Facebook, one actually did!
More reflections on our huge success:
