Speakers at the demonstration included Jean Thorpe Of Nottingham City Unison, local MP Alan Simpson, movie star Samantha Morton (who spent much of her childhood in childrens' homes in the city) and a number of workers from affected areas.

Entirely coincidentally the council had organised a birthday celebration for the tram on the same day, with an attempt to break the world record for "high fives" attended by local luminaries and Geoff Hoon MP.

This did little to distract from the demonstration and the council's decision that evening to endorse the budget without amendment.