Panama Papers Lead To Protests For David Cameron Resignation

April 11th, 2016

Awake Goy

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Above Photo: Before marching to the Tory Spring Conference in Holborn, protesters gather outside London’s Downing Street calling for Prime Minister, David Cameron to resign over his involvement in the ‘Panama Papers’ affair. Protest groups such as the People’s Assembly and Class War are demanding the government close tax loopholes that allow British companies to avoid UK taxes using offshore tax havens. WENN.com

They think the “tide has turned” on the Prime Minister.

Jack, a second-year junior doctor wearing his bright blue scrubs to the demo, told HuffPost UK: “I’ve not found the [Panama] revelations at all that surprising.

RYAN BARRELL/HUFFPOST UK
Protestors marched down Whitehall to the Conservative Party Spring Conference

WENN.COM
‘He’s Got To Go’ placard held by a protestor wearing a pig’s nose

“We’ve known for six years we have a Cabinet full of millionaires, and that’s what millionaires do: avoid tax.

“This is very damaging for Cameron and we should put the pressure on and show him it’s completely wrong to vilify people on benefits when he’s deny taxes that are due.”

Helicopter hovers above scene of protest outside Conservative Party Spring Conference #resigncameron pic.twitter.com/SsFjjSVnje

— George Bowden (@georgebowden) April 9, 2016

Car now trapped in crowd, as police struggle to clear path #resigncameron pic.twitter.com/xPQxhH1G6Q — George Bowden (@georgebowden) April 9, 2016

Beata, a Polish citizen whose lived in the UK for 11 years, said: “We know it’s all fucked up but the hypocrisy that was highlighted by the Panama Papers which shows Cameron benefiting until he became Prime Minister… he’s daring to say we should pay the taxes?

“I think at the moment, he is at his weakest.”

Despite having been organised on Friday morning, around 1,000 demonstrators attended Saturday’s march.

Abi Wilkinson, one of the event’s organisers, said on Friday: “We’re hoping to have a fun, tropical party vibe and to get ordinary people out rather than committed activist types.”

Traffic stopped as #resigncameron protest enters the Strand pic.twitter.com/HpC4s2lZSr

— George Bowden (@georgebowden) April 9, 2016

Protestors hold silence for ‘death of democracy’ at #resigncameron #CameronResign demo pic.twitter.com/ODEuoBPTsS — George Bowden (@georgebowden) April 9, 2016

The atmosphere was jovial, with tropical music blaring from portable speakers at both Downing Street and the Connaught conference venue.

The spectre of a pig piñata, waving high above the march, guided protestors towards the Tory Spring forum, being held a mile away from Number 10.

The piñata was ceremoniously whacked by demonstrators in front of the conference venue.

Its creator told HuffPost UK he decided to get involved in Saturday’s action, and thought the image of a pig was the natural choice.

Jack, a second-year junior doctor wearing his bright blue scrubs to the demo, told HuffPost UK: “I’ve not found the [Panama] revelations at all that surprising.

Artist Gavin Turk said: “The idea of hanging him up and everyone hitting him with the stick appealed to me.

“I wasn’t really sure what to expect, so far it all seems very jolly and everyone is really together in saying we think it’s rubbish what the government are up to.

“It seems strange that if [David Cameron] knows and has knowledge of tax avoidance situations then he should get right on to it to benefit everybody and to benefit society.

“He’s turning the country into a ‘moneytocracy’ – if you have the money you can do what you like.

“Greed is guiding this, it’s limiting people’s choice and it’s making society unwell.”

David Cameron’s face adorns a pig piñata at #resigncameron demo at Downing Street pic.twitter.com/Jwy6p3r9o3

— George Bowden (@georgebowden) April 9, 2016

Vibrant atmosphere so far at #resigncameron Downing Street demo, tropical music plays, pig piñata still intact pic.twitter.com/DAjLL2Ql0h

— George Bowden (@georgebowden) April 9, 2016

Kathleen, who has been involved in protests against cuts in the past, told HuffPost UK: “I’d been quite clued into tax avoidance since the Private Eye investigation into Vodafone.

“But I’m so happy the Panama Papers have come out as it gives us a lot of evidence, very specific evidence.

“We can literally point at specific people – it couldn’t be better. It’s easier for people to unite around this when they have specific detail.

“I think this is going mainstream. There’s so much we don’t know about yet.”