Anti-cuts protesters to target Conservative’s carol service

Published: 3 December, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER

ANTI-CUTS protes­ters will make their voices heard outside a carol service organised by the Islington Con­ser­­vative Federation and attended by Conser­vative minister Eric Pickles.

Mr Pickles, secretary of state for commun­ities and local govern­ment, will be guest of honour at the service in St James’s Church, in Clerkenwell Close, on December 14.

The demonstration is being organised by Islington Hands Off Our Public Services (IHOOPS) – an umbrella body of trade union and political activists opposed to public spending reductions.

IHOOPS joint chairman Gary Heather stressed that protesters will not be “intruding on the service” – which will have a “Scrooge” theme – and added: “We see it as a bit hypocritical that while Eric Pickles is in church singing Christmas carols, the poor and dispossessed of Islington are suffering because of the government’s spending cuts.

He said protesters would be singing carols too.

Islington Conser­va­tive Federation secre­tary Oriel Hutchison said: “It’s not especially appro­priate to protest outside a carol service but of course they have a right to do so. We would urge protesters to respect the nature of the event and to demon­strate in a peaceful and civilised fashion. 

“We are planning to bring them out some mulled wine – to keep them warm.”

Entry to the service is by ticket only.