People's Assembly

People's Assembly

On Tuesday 26 March 2013 Owen Jones noted that he'd "be helping to launch the People’s Assembly with Green MP Caroline Lucas, my fellow Independent columnist Mark Steel, disability rights campaigner Francesca Martinez, Labour MP Katy Clark, and leading trade unionists. The aim of the Assembly is to unite all opponents of the horror show being inflicted on this country. On 22 June, there will be a 3,500-strong meeting at Westminster Central Hall, but in the meantime, I and others will be touring the country, encouraging local groups to be set up in every town and city." Other people at the launch included Steve Turner (Unite) and Zita Holbourne (Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts). 


 * People’s Assembly Co-Ordinator - Sam Fairbairn

"The Coalition of Resistance has launched this petition along with the list of initial signatories in a letter to the Guardian on 18 October. It will be handed in to Downing Street in June 2013 when we will be hosting a People’s Assembly Against Austerity. " [http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2012/10/peoplespetition/

The People’s Assembly Against Austerity was launched with a letter to the Guardian by the initial signatories below:


 * Tony Benn - President, Coalition of Resistance
 * Len McCluskey - General secretary, Unite the Union
 * Mark Serwotka - General secretary, PCS
 * Christine Blower - General secretary, NUT
 * Michelle Stanistreet - General secretary, NUJ
 * Manuel Cortez - General secretary, TSSA
 * Billy Hayes - General secretary, CWU
 * Bob Crow - General secretary, RMT
 * Mick Whelan - General secretary, Aslef
 * Kevin Courtney - Deputy general secretary, NUT
 * Paul Mackney - Former general secretary Natfhe (now UCU)
 * Vicky Baars - NUS union development
 * Kevin Donnelly - Trade Union Council JCC
 * Caroline Lucas MP
 * Katy Clark MP
 * Jeremy Corbyn MP
 * John McDonnell MP
 * Murad Qureshi - London assembly member
 * Dawn Butler - Former Labour minister for young citizens and youth engagement
 * Tariq Ali - Author
 * John Pilger - Journalist
 * Ken Loach - Filmmaker
 * Owen Jones - Writer
 * James Meadway - Senior economist, New Economics Foundation
 * Dot Gibson - National Pensioners Convention Keep our NHS Public
 * Merry Cross - Disabled People Against the Cuts
 * John Hendy - QC Co-chair, People’s Charter
 * John Hilary - Director, War on Want
 * Sam Fairbairn - National secretary, Coalition of Resistance
 * Imran Khan - Solicitor, co-chair, People’s Charter
 * Rachael Newton - People's Charter
 * Romayne Phoenix - Chair, Coalition of Resistance
 * Zita Holbourne - Co-chair, Black activists rising against the cuts
 * Clare Solomon - Vice-chair, Coalition of Resistance
 * Andrew Burgin - Vice-chair, Coalition of Resistance
 * Colin Hampton - Co-ordinator, National Unemployed Workers Centres Combine
 * Anita Wright - Secretary, National Association of Women
 * Joginder Bains - Association of Indian Women
 * Shang Gahonia - Indian Workers Association
 * Carolyn Jones - Director, Institute of Employment Rights
 * Lindsey German - Convenor, Stop the War Coalition
 * Kate Hudson - General secretary, CND
 * Bruce Kent - Peace campaigner
 * Mark Steel - Comedian
 * Lee Hall - Playwright
 * Roger Lloyd - Pack Actor
 * Josie Long - Comedian
 * Iain Banks - Author
 * Arthur Smith - Comedian
 * Roy Bailey - Folk singer
 * Francesca Martinez - Comedian
 * Richard Wilson - Actor
 * John Rees (UK) - Counterfire editorial board
 * Natalie Bennett - Leader of the Green Party England and Wales
 * Fred Leplat - Socialist Resistance
 * Robert Griffiths - General secretary, Communist Party of Britain
 * Bill Greenshields - Chair, Communist Party of Britain
 * Richard Bagley - Editor, Morning Star

"Left Unity encourages all its supporters to sign up for the People’s Assembly Against Austerity". In 2013 Ken Loach called for a new left organization around Left Unity.