Marchers attack Lib Dems over cuts

Around 1,500 trade union members and other protesters staged a march and rally in Birmingham to voice their anger at the Liberal Democrats' involvement in public sector cuts.

Headed by demonstrators carrying a banner reading "Cuts are not the cure", the TUC-backed march passed off entirely peacefully along a route through Birmingham city centre.

Unite's regional secretary for the West Midlands, Gerard Coyne, was among a string of speakers who addressed the rally in the city's Ludgate Hill.

Describing Nick Clegg as being "punch drunk on power", Mr Coyne said the Deputy Prime Minister had betrayed his party's history, the people who voted for him, and the British public.

Claiming that Mr Clegg was helping to peddle the Coalition "lie" that public servants were to blame for the country's deficit, Mr Coyne added: "These people that he is vilifying, that he is attacking, are care workers, the teachers that we entrust our children to.

"They are the health workers that look after our sick - the very people that make the fabric of society work.

"They are the ones that are being attacked."

Rolling road closures were put in place by police to ensure the safety and security of those taking part in the march, which followed a pre-agreed route beginning in Granville Street.

Confirming that no arrests were made, Superintendent Matt Ward, of West Midlands Police, said: "We thank everyone involved for their co-operation in making sure that this event passed off peacefully."

Source: PA