UK Uncut campaigners are holding 'emergency operation' protests around the country on
28 May against the government’s proposed shakeup of the NHS.
Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Anti-cuts campaigners who have closed scores of high street stores with a string of direct action demonstrations are launching a new campaign against the government's proposed shakeup of the
NHS.
Hundreds of activists dressed as doctors and nurses are planning to occupy banks around the country on 28 May, transforming them into mocked-up hospitals, GPs' surgeries and operating theatres.
The campaign – described as the "emergency operation" – is being organised by
UK Uncut and aims to highlight the banks' role in the financial crisis and the impact of the government's NHS plans on patient care.
"The banks are back paying lavish bonuses and raking in billions in profit, yet the government tells us there is no alternative to unprecedented
public sector cuts," a
UK Uncut supporter, who gave his name as Jack Davies, said.
The day of action, which activists hope will close down scores of high street banks across the UK, is the first major protest UK Uncut has called since 145 of its supporters were arrested for
occupying the Fortnum & Mason food store during the
TUC's anti-cuts rally in March.
Campaigners claim senior police "tricked" them into a mass arrest after an entirely peaceful protest. Earlier this week, supporters held a demonstration outside Westminster magistrates court, where the cases against 138 people – mostly charged with criminal trespass – were adjourned.
A spokesman for UK Uncut said it had been a difficult time for the organisation, with several of its key activists arrested and widespread criticism of the group.
"A lot of people who have been involved wanted to take stock, especially in regard to the legal implications, and there was a lot of firefighting to do because there was a lot of mud being thrown at us," he said. "But now we are back on course and determined to continue our campaign."
UK Uncut started in October when a group of friends decided to target
Vodafone, claiming it had avoided £6bn in tax – an allegation denied by the mobile phone company.
The protest, organised through Twitter, went viral and, since then, hundreds of protests have been organised, targeting a range of high street names accused of tax avoidance, from Topshop and Boots to Tesco.
The campaign saw UK Uncut activists force the issue of corporate tax avoidance into the mainstream political debate, with its members appearing on BBC2's Newsnight, before the group widened its focus to become an "anti-cuts" campaign.
Its success has inspired the creation of similar organisations in countries around the world, from the
US to Portugal,
France and
Ireland. Last month, US Uncut staged hundreds of occupations against corporations accused of avoiding tax.
Portugal Uncut is due to hold its first demonstrations later this month.
UK Uncut's last nationwide day of action, at the end of February, saw more than 40 high street bank branches turned into creches, libraries and hospitals. Organisers say they have worked closely with local anti-cuts groups and trade unions ahead of the next set of protests to ensure that they are a success.
"The government should be cutting subsidies to banks, not the NHS and other essential public services. The £100bn claimed in benefits by banks could pay for the entire NHS budget,"
said UK Uncut supporter Sophie Healey.
"And if they want to introduce far-reaching reform, how about starting with our broken banking system? Whilst the government is busy privatising the NHS, we still have a banking sector that's 'too big to fail'."
