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Protestors prepare to march through
Canterbury

by Joe Walker

joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk

“NO IFS, no buts, no NHS cuts” was the chant as dozens of
protestors marched through the city centre on Saturday.

Almost 50 people braved the rain to join the parade against
proposed government cuts to NHS jobs and services.

Among them was retired nurse Jean Butcher, 58, who worked on a
stroke ward at the Kent and Canterbury hospital for 30 years.

Speaking in Dane John Gardens, she said: “The
government is changing the NHS in a way which could massively
damage patient care and waste vast amounts of public money.

“If you want an NHS which is fair, where your treatment depends
on your clinical need and not your ability to pay, speak up.

“We didn’t cause the problem, the banks caused the problem and
we’re having to pay for it.”

Elsewhere in the city, UKC Anti-Cuts staged a sit-in at Natwest
bank in protest against bankers’ bonuses and NHS cuts.

The 15-strong group – mainly students at the University of Kent
– had staged a similar protest at Barclays bank the week
before.

Group member Zoe Stephenson said: “It was a direct protest
against Natwest and its owners RBS, who despite making a loss of
£1.1 billion last year, paid out £950 million in bonuses.

“Since the bail-out the bank is 84 per cent owned by the tax
payer, so it’s not right they can make such a loss and still pay
massive bonuses.”

The group turned Natwest into a mini-hospital, dressing up in
scrubs and performing mock operations to symbolise the cuts.

Zoe said: “We had tennis elbow for leisure cuts, a book for
education cuts and the funny bone for cuts to community centres and
town halls.

“We thought we were going to get thrown out but the manager said
it was fine as long as we kept out of the way.

“She said it was quite interesting and we got a great reception
from customers."

The protestors say their next target has yet to be decided, but
it could be Lloyds bank.

What do you think? Leave your comments below or write to the
Kentish Gazette at Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Estuary View
Business Park, Whitstable, CT5 3SE or email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.