Supporters of coalition's cuts programme – including Taxpayers' Alliance – to turn out on 14 May for Rally Against Debt
The British political right is preparing to fight back against anti-cuts protests by staging its first pro-cuts demonstration, in central London next month, in a move that has provoked comparisons to the US Tea Party movement.
The Rally Against Debt, on 14 May, is being organised by activists including the Taxpayers' Alliance group, which is backed by Tory donors. Hundreds, if not thousands, of supporters of the cuts programme are expected to turn out at Westminster in a rare show of force by what organisers believe is "a quiet majority".
The rally comes in direct response to last month's TUC-organised March for the Alternative anti-cuts event, which attracted an estimated 500,000 people and led to more than 200 arrests when anarchist groups went on the rampage and supporters of UK Uncut occupied the luxury grocer Fortnum & Mason.
Matthew Sinclair, director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "This is a march for people who think the national debt is very serious and shouldn't be left to future generations. The tone is going to be very calm. It was conceived partly as a response to the March for the Alternative, but I don't think anybody is going in an angry state of mind."
Toby Young, the free-school founder and columnist, is among those signed up to attend the pro-cuts rally.
Annabelle Fuller, a former adviser to the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, is a leading organiser. A giant digital totaliser on a lorry showing the national debt will be the centrepiece.
Fuller said: "It will be a major demonstration highlighting the importance of tackling the huge public sector deficit, and the need for substantial spending cuts.
"So far, more than 1,300 people have signed up to a rally that aims to be a well- mannered alternative to the unrealistic trade union march and the vandalism of the UK Uncut protest back in March ... No particular party, organisation or person is leading this protest, and there is no common position beyond our basic concern about the huge public sector deficit."
Sinclair admitted to "a slight worry" that the event could become a target for anti-cuts activists. The rally website includes some wry guidelines for what looks likely to be a well-heeled protest.
"Any visits to Fortnum & Mason's by protesters will only be to marvel at their selection of quality goods and perhaps make the occasional purchase," it says. "Bonfires will be strictly forbidden: it's out of season anyway. Trips to see Vodafone and other high street chains will result in congratulations to the company for providing jobs and growth in the UK." The plans come amid growing interest in UK rightwing circles in the potential for using public demonstrations as the Tea Party movement in the US has done. Last year, it emerged the alliance was being advised by Freedom Works, a Washington organisation credited with helping to destabilise the Obama administration by mobilising 800,000 grassroots activists. Tea Party organisations also attended an alliance conference in London last September.
The organisers of the Rally Against Debt say it is "a very different phenomenon in a very different country" to the Tea Party. "We're just British people concerned at the huge debts resulting from irresponsible public spending," they add.