On Saturday, 19th November Rachael Chrisp, Reading & District Labour Party’s Women’s Officer, led female activists from Reading on a march organised by the Fawcett Society in defence of women’s rights.
The march was attended by around 2500 people, angry at the current government’s programme of cuts which are disproportionately hitting women hardest. The theme was Don’t Turn Back Time on Women’s Equality and there was a 1950’s dress up theme to the day.
The march started at Waterloo Bridge in London, passed Downing Street and congregated near the Treasury, where attendees were addressed by journalist Tanya Gold and comedian Josie Long amongst others.
Rachael Chrisp said of the day “It was fantastic to see so many people turn out in defence of women’s rights. This Tory-led government is taking women’s rights back to the 1950s. Female unemployment is at a record high, primarily due to public sector cuts. Changes to the benefits system are seeing women lose double the amount that men do, and cuts in Working Tax Credit are increasing the cost of childcare. This is a men’s government which does not care for women.”
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