Today, young people have delivered charters to MP’s across the country, to demand the failing Labour government take action on the most urgent issues facing the UK. The Youth Demand supporters are demanding action on inequality, failing public services and severing ties to Israel due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Starting from around 10:30 this morning, groups in seven UK cities have begun engaging in a series of demonstrations. In Leeds, a pair of supporters fly-posted over the windows of Rachel Reeves’ office. Whilst in Manchester and Truro Youth Demand supporters have fly-posted the offices of Lucy Powell and Jayne Kirkham respectively, with posters conveying charter demands from locally-held assemblies.
At around 11am, supporters in Cambridge unfurled a banner on the Guildhall. Meanwhile, rallies are currently being held outside of the Labour party headquarters in London, as well as in Leeds, Manchester and Truro. Further demonstrations are expected in Liverpool and Bristol later today.
Over the past month, over 100 young people across the country have come together to discuss the UK’s most pressing issues, in five People’s Assemblies. The attendees have engaged in a process of deliberative democracy in order to create local charters, each containing demands of their MPs which address this government’s key failures.
A spokesperson for Youth Demand said:
“One year into Labour’s government and it’s clear they’re not fit for the job. They’re failing on the most fundamental issues: our public services are crumbling, inequality is worsening as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and Keir Starmer continues to support Israel’s genocide in Gaza. They came into power promising change, and instead continue to prioritise their corrupt wealthy mates over the people they were elected to protect.”
The top three demands delivered to the Labour government today were: an immediate total trade embargo with Israel. A tax on extreme wealth, as well as increased investment in failing public services.
One of those taking action today is Miriam Cranch, 21, retail supervisor from Leeds who said:
“Labour aren’t listening to ordinary people, so we’re taking unignorable action today. There is broad public support to stop arming Israel, and yet they continue selling them weapons! There is overwhelming support to fix our public services, and yet they’re more interested in protecting the interests of billionaire donors. It’s time they listen to the people and take action!”
Other demands raised across the five assemblies included the introduction of rent controls, as well as improved access to housing. Multiple cities highlighted the need for education reform, particularly around the issue of anti-colonialism.
Assemblies also demanded a reversal of anti-protest and anti-trans legislation, as well as improved access to life-saving HRT. Further demands included greater transparency around party-political funding, in order to reduce corruption, and stopping the scapegoating of refugees, whilst allowing safe, legal routes for claiming asylum.
Support young people taking action and join our community of resistance at YouthDemand.org.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Youth Demand is a youth-led resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide in Palestine and across the globe as a result of the climate crisis.
Our demands:
Stop all trade with Israel:the UK government must impose a total trade embargo on Israel.
Make the rich pay: the UK government must raise £1tn by 2030 from the super rich and fossil fuel elite to pay damages to communities and countries most harmed by fossil fuel burning.
Youth Demand is part of Umbrella and a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
