About 100 people gathered outside the Southwark Council Meeting this afternoon
to protest the planned Cuts. Speakers demanded from the Council to defend them
against the plans of the government to cut social services and education. They
also demanded to stop privatisation and stressed that outsourcing and improving
"efficiency" is not an answer to the problems.

Police tried to move people to a prepared area across several times and later
gave up doing so as people were obviously insisting of protesting directly in front
of the Council building.

Speakers also stressed the solidarity between local anti cuts groups and the continuing
struggles of students against cuts in education and mobilised for the demonstration
next Saturday (29th January) and the upcoming Lewisham Carnival against the Cuts (19th Feb)

A number of people was later allowed by police to go inside and attend the Council meeting.