ANTI-CUTS PROTESTERS TARGET BIG RETAILERS

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Anti-cuts protesters target big retailers

Campaigners have staged a protest outside branches of high street chains they say are not paying enough tax.

Members of Occupy Leicester, which has set up a camp in High Street, protested on behalf of the UK Uncut movement, which promotes what it says are alternatives to the Government's spending cuts.

The demonstration was coordinated with 13 others in towns and cities across the country, including London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Nicole Thompson, 17, from Leicester, said: "We're campaigning about the miniscule taxes that big high street brands pay each year.

"People in the public sector are losing pensions and facing redundancies and some private company staff are getting fat bonuses.

"It's not on."

Dane Smith, 23, from Leicester, is living at the Occupy Leicester camp, which has been a fixture in the city centre for five weeks.He said: "People are losing their jobs in the public sector and the Government is doing nothing about it."

Public sector worker Jackie, 47, was at the demonstration, but is not taking part in the camp.

She said: "I work with people who have to choose between food and warmth.

"They – and us – are paying for the mess that banks have got us into.

"It's about time we stuck together and showed we will not stand for it."