Organisers of the May Day rally said about 10,000 protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against coalition policies
Thousands of people marched across London to protest against government spending cuts and support calls for a general strike.
Organisers of the May Day rally said about 10,000 protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against the coalition's claims that cuts were inevitable. The police did not give figures.
The peaceful follow-up to the mass turnout in London on 26 March was organised by trade unions and international human rights organisations. The marchers were supporting trade union rights, human rights and international solidarity.
Tony Benn called for action from the "majority who create the world's wealth" to re-establish their rights over "the handful who control the world's wealth".
The former Labour cabinet minister added: "All the gains that have been made have been made by people like ourselves, campaigning year in and year out. This week, local authorities have got their elections. We must use our vote to build on what the TUC did on 26 March, and work for a better society for ourselves and our children and grandchildren."
To cheers, Lee Jasper of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts, called on the TUC "to get off its knees and call a general strike, as early as June". He warned spending cuts could boost the popularity of far-right groups.
"It will be the BNP who seek to exploit the effect of the cuts in their communities. It will be the English Defence League who blame ethnic minorities for the problems the cuts cause."
Sarah Veale of the TUC said cuts in public spending would have a devastating effect on public services. "It's going to have a particularly devastating effect on women, both as the providers and main users of services. It's given new meaning to the phrase 'women and children first', because that's where the cuts are going to bite," she added.