Anti-war marchers descend on capital
By politics.co.uk staff
Anti-war protestors are gathering in London today for a day of demonstrations against Britain’s ongoing military involvement in Afghanistan.
A march organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Stop the War Coalition and the British Muslim Initiative will take place from Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square.
Among those attending will be Peter Brierley, the father of a dead soldier who refused to shake Tony Blair’s hand because it “has my son’s blood on it”.
Also present will be Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who faces court martial for refusing to return to Afghanistan, and Paul McGurk who quit the armed forces last month.
CND vice chairman Jeremy Corbyn claimed the struggle against the Taliban in Afghanistan was “spinning out of control”.
“Nato forces have been in Afghanistan for eight years and the result appears to be increased drug production, high levels of corruption and terrible losses of life on all sides, civilian and military,” he said on the eve of the march.
“Now is the time to change policy and bring the troops home to prevent Nato involving itself in a Vietnam-style quagmire.”
Protestors will claim wide support among the general public, two-thirds of which want British forces to withdraw.
