around 20 people from various groups protested outside a vodafone shop in wood green this lunchtime. shoppers and passers-by generally gave them a good reception and many agreed with the connection to fighting tory cuts that was made by the protestors.

at 1pm today, around 20 people began a protest outside the wood green high street vodafone branch. the protest was attended by representatives from several groups including the haringey alliance for public services (HAPS), and the haringey solidarity group (HSG)

the alliance brought a large home made banner against cuts, and others brought smaller placards announcing that vodafone were dodging 6 billion pounds in tax, which is equivalent to a third of the total benefit cuts announced by the con-dem coalition.

a nervous shop manager manned the door, only letting in a small trickle of occasional customers. there was no doubt that the business was severely affected by the protest as it would normally be quite busy on a saturday lunchtime, and today staff were standing around chatting for most of the time. there was discussion of an occupation, but it was felt unnecessary given the strength of effect of the outside demo.

police liaised briefly at the start and then near the end of the demo, but otherwise protestors were free to hand out leaflets, use a megaphone, and generally create a stir.

the leaflets made the connection between corporate tax-dodging and the fight against tory cuts, particularly promoting a cuts protest which will take place outside haringey civic centre (the council hq) on the evening of the 22nd november when the council is in full session.

the protest on the 22nd of november is calling on councillors to reject privatisation, reject and refuse to implement the cuts, or to resign on principle. haringey council has already had £17 million central funding frozen or axed, and has announced it is facing cuts of £100 million over three years, with £50 million next year alone. these cuts will have devastating effects on public services and jobs, hitting the vulnerable, the young, and the voluntary sector hardest. 

their last protest attracted more than 250 local people and they are hoping to expand dramatically on that on the 22nd.

other leaflets publicised the coaltion of resistance who are holding their planning conference at the camden centre on the 27th november.

www.hapsnews.net

www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk