They gathered in North London in two separate groups and meet together before marching the short distance to Downing Street. As they enter Whitehall, a large group splits away from the main march and attempts to move toward the entrance of Downing Street before being blocked by police.
Minor scuffles break out and smoke bombs were thrown.
The austerity measures bring forward predictions that almost a half a million public sector workers are to lose their jobs while the national welfare benefits provision is to be capped and reduced, thereby casting them into the private sector.
The austerity measures come as the United Kingdom continues to commit to financing British military forces in the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan, itself now approaching failed status as its September elections cartwheel into chaos with the discarding of almost a quarter of all votes cast in the election due to fraudulent activity.
As a result, the United Kingdom has now lost both its financial and tactical pre-text for a continuing presence in the country and is, therefore, likely to experience further economic misfortune if it does not commit to an immediate timetable for withdrawal.
Students from the University of London marched to Lincoln's Fields and met up with a variety of Trade Union groups to form a collective demonstration against the Government cuts in public expenditure. The march ended up outside Downing Street where a number of speeches were made by a number of Trade Union leaders, MP's, and other interested parties including Bob Crowe, Jesse Jackson, Jeremy Corbyn and Lindsay German.
There were a few scuffles as the march arrived outside of Downing Street due to a misdirection given by the Police. This resulted in some unnecessary violence which quickly dissipated.
By the time the speeches had finished, and there were many, most of the crowd had left leaving almost as many police as protestors; the police waited patiently outside Downing Street to ensure that no late, opportunistic, excursions near no.10 took place.
Afterwards a group of protestors left the march and occupied the building of the Department for Business Innovation & Skills
Downing Street, London, UK. October 20th 2010
SOAS activists occupy BIS
Around 20 people walked into the Department for Business Innovation & Skills making themselves at home just after 8pm, setting up tents, unravelling banners, with one even climbing lighting rigging inside the lobby. London, United Kingdom, 20/10/2010
BIS was chosen as a target according to a representative of SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) as it is where Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat Business Secretary) works alongside a host of MP's.
The aim was to occupy the space and to pressurize Vince Cable to listen to the public, as the cuts brought to light today and the direction of the con-dem coalition government isn't right according to the students. They believe it is crucial their voices are heard.
After roughly 45 minutes police started taking people outside making 3 arrests on suspicion of criminal trespass, whilst others voluntarily left.
