27.01.2011

Hull anger

Anti-cuts protestors brought Hull city council to a standstill. Bob Bright was there

Previous lobbies of Hull city council have been sedate affairs, with a small crowd shouting a few slogans and then going off home. But the January 20 gathering outside the Guildhall saw 350-400 people. I have never seen such visceral anger in Hull. Workers decided to march round the Guildhall and then went into the building. They attempted to enter the council chamber, but found the doors locked. As we pondered what to do, the doors to the public gallery were forced open and people poured in.

Initially everyone was quiet as the councillors continued their business. Then a Labour councillor spoke to oppose a motion put forward by the Liberal Democrats, who run the council. He had barely finished his first sentence when the workers erupted into applause and chants of "Shame on you!" to the Lib Dems.

The meeting was brought to a halt and the ashen-faced Lib Dems finally got to know what opposition they can expect. The vast majority of them slunk out of the chamber to chants of "The workers united will never be defeated!"

People came out confident and buoyed up by the protest. We must use this to build for strike action and the maximum possible attendance at the TUC demo.