UK police clash with anti-austerity protesters in London
British police clash with anti-austerity protesters in central London as thousands turn out to express anger at Tories rise to majority rule with only 37 percent of the vote.
As protests continued into Saturday evening, a Scotland Yard statement said five police officers were injured during what they referred to as an “unplanned” demonstration just a day into the new Conservative government.
Many protesters carried placards reading “I pledge to resist” and "Get the Tories out" as well as “Stop the cuts” as London’s major thoroughfare Whitehall was shut down for several hours during the demonstration, which originally began outside the Tory headquarters before moving on to Downing Street.
While the police said no member of the public have been injured, there were numerous reports of riot police clashes with the protesting crowd outside the prime minister’s residence as authorities stated that 17 arrests were made during the demonstration over disorderly conduct.
Meanwhile, media published on social networks indicated a heavy-handed response to the rally.
Many protesters called for proportional representation, insisting that their voices are not being attended to under the current voting arrangement.
They also state that the new Conservative government will destroy the country even further in the next five years with austerity and the dismantling of public services, leaving the poor even more isolated.
The development came as British Prime Minister David Cameron is working hard to finalize the list of his new cabinet by Monday.
According to local reports, Cameron is spending the weekend to finalize his first all-Conservative cabinet after his party achieved an all-out majority in general elections on Thursday.
The Conservatives managed to secure 331 seats of parliament against Labor with 232 seats. The results proved shocking for most observers as polls predicted a neck and neck competition.
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