Hundreds of people filled the streets of Newcastle on Saturday as they took part in the 'Enough is Enough' rally against the cost of living crisis.
Hairy Bikers star Si King was among the guest speakers at the protest where he gave a moving speech to crowds gathered around Grey's Monument in the city centre. The event was part of a national day of action organised by the Enough is Enough campaign which is calling for fairer pay, a cut to energy bills, and an end to food poverty and shoddy housing.
Enough is Enough, which was founded by trade unions and activists, is also demanding that the Government "tax the rich" following the announcement of its mini-budget.
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Speaking to crowds at the Newcastle rally, Si King said: "I am here to talk about hope. That we, the people, can change unfair systems that put profit and unending growth before our families and our communities.
"That we, the people, in calmness, can educate, inform, and debate. That, we the people, can make changes. Because as individuals and as families and communities, we the people, have the power to do so."
The Hairy Bikers star told ChronicleLive: "People should rightly be concerned. It is not about party politics.
"I don't care whether you vote Tory, Liberal or Labour. What I do care about is the humanity of things.
"People are being pushed into poverty and desperation through absolutely no fault of their own but through systems in place that are fractures and broken and don't work.
"You can't continue to put profit and corporate wealth and power over people and their lives."
Huge crowds that gathered in the city centre for the demonstration also heard from MP Ian Lavery, Jamie Driscoll, the North of Tyne Mayor, and Lisa Doherty, a volunteer from NUFC Fans Food Bank.
Lisa Doherty from the food bank said: "We agree completely with the aims and demands of Enough is Enough. We go to St James' Park every match day and collect money and food which then gets given to the West End Food Bank - one of the biggest food banks in the country.
"We think people should be able to live rather than exist and to be able to do so with dignity."
North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said he was there to show his support for working people who were suffering because of the cost of living crisis. Calling on the Government to do more, he said: "Enough is Enough. All these people are asking for is a pay rise that stops them from losing money.
"It is not even a real pay rise, it is just keeping up with inflation. I don't think its too much to ask that for the people we clapped for on a Thursday night, the people that sleep this country running, the people that keep us safe, the people that put food in the shops, for them to be able to pay their bills."
Striking workers and trade unionists from the RMT, CWU, and other unions also addressed supporters and invited participants to join their picket lines to show support for workers striking for a real pay rise.
Liz Blackshaw, TUC regional secretary for the northern region, said: "We are here to protest against the Government's continued lack of response to the cost of living crisis. We are not seeing enough wage increases and we're not seeing any response to demands for the windfall tax on big energy companies.
"We saw bankers lose their cap last week, so they have unlimited pay opportunities, whereas public service workers are still waiting for a cost of living reflection in their pay."
Enough is Enough’s Regional Coordinator for the North East Declan Mulholland, said: “Hard-working families in the North East are living in destitution and desperation whilst the rich get handouts. It's totally unacceptable, the working people of our region deserve better. We are gathering this Saturday to say Enough Is Enough.”
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