We Will Shut You Down: Protesters Besiege MP’s Office in Fight Against Austerity
Protest at the office of Ian Murray MP 31 Minto Street Edinburgh EH9 2BT
On March 21, protesters took direct action against the government’s war on low-income families, besieging the office of Labour MP Ian Murray with a banner reading, “If You Exploit Us, We Will Shut You Down.” The demonstration, part of the No More Growing Up Poor campaign led by Food & Solidarity, called for an end to cuts that force families into deeper poverty. With mass direct action planned across Britain, this fight is far from over.
The following was published by EPAC and reproduced here
News release, 21 March 2025
Protesters besiege MP's office
Anti austerity demonstrators condemning the government cuts to social security besieged the office of Labour MP Ian Murray on the afternoon of Friday 21 March. Protesters encircled the office with a giant banner proclaiming “IF YOU EXPLOIT US WE WILL SHUT YOU DOWN”. The office remained closed throughout.
People waved placards portraying a DWP Grim Reaper with the wording “CUTTING DISABILITY BENEFITS KILLS”. Passing vehicles tooted support. “End the DWP’s institutionalised cruelty towards claimants, and kill the new threats to reduce eligibility and lower the level of sickness and disability benefits.” urged the protesters’ leaflets.
“No to the two child benefit limit” and “Scrap the benefit cap” were prominent demands, while demonstrators urged solidarity with migrants and the abolition of the discriminatory “No recourse to public funds” law. The demonstrators demanded the scrapping of the “anti-fraud” bill currently going through the UK Parliament, which would allow the DWP to spy on claimants’ bank accounts.
The demonstration, organised by Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty and the Austerity Resistance Front, is part of the No More Growing Up Poor – End Child Poverty Britain-wide campaign initiated by Food and Solidarity, and is in solidarity with the Disabled People Against Cuts Day of Action on 26 March
One of the organisers, Esther McDonald, said; “Today’s protest is only the start. A wave of mass direct action is being planned Britain-wide. We will not tolerate the government robbing the poor to enrich the rich!”
More information in this article (written in advance of the protest)
Photos and video from protest here
From Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty, ecapmail@gmail.com
