Anti-cuts 'street party' protest held on Nick Clegg's road

Hundreds of anti-cuts protesters held an "alternative street party" in the road where Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg lives.

Up to 400 people gathered in a 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 government cuts.

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 Mr Clegg's local constituency office.

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

Commenting on the action which mimicked next week's street parties marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, said: "Our union is as one with UK Uncut activists in their fight against this Government's needless and politically motivated cuts. And we applaud their innovative and inspirational action that takes the campaign right to the doorsteps of those responsible.

"We would like to see more of this kind of community campaigning, linking up with unions, arguing for the alternative to spending cuts, for investment to improve our public services and to protect our communities from what this arrogant Government is trying to do."

PA