Bank Protest at Canary Wharf

UKuncut’s Liam Taylor, a teacher from Tower Hamlets, led a small posse of protesters around some of the banks and businesses on Canary Wharf in what is an ongoing  series of protests by the group against cuts and tax avoidance.

Mr.Taylor gave a small speech outside each venue, not just about the targeted businesses misdemeanors, but also a brief history of the actual building. I couldn’t help but laugh as the group walked towards the citi group building through the suits chanting, “when I say bankers, we say wankers, bankers, wankers, bankers, wankers”.

The faces on the suits swanning around Canary Wharf were predominantly expressions of bemusement, the odd one or two being openly hostile, but some folk on their way home actually applauded and seemed to agree with the protests. The group’s website states: “International finance treats Tower Hamlets like a tourist destination, with no regard for the people who live here.”

Allen & Overy (A&O) responded to the accusations by stating that it only represents funds with legitimate activities. It also highlighted local community projects that it is  involved in, including co-operating with Bethnal Green Technology College, sponsoring Spitalfields City Farm and providing local pro bono legal advice workshops.

The firm said in a statement: “A&O has been an active member of the local community for many years providing financial and pro bono support to local schools and  charities. Many of our people live in the local community and we provide governors for local schools, fund artists to work with students as part of the Artbeat programme,  and people give their own time to help children develop their literacy and numeracy skills.”

“This is part of a global programme aimed at helping the communities where we work that last year saw A&O’s people spend 57,300 hours doing pro bono and community work around the world – this is equivalent to £18.39m of billable time.” A&O still uses the top floor of the 64,500 sq ft space at 40 Bank Street for meetings but is looking to rent out the additional space.

The Tower Hamlets Uncut protest group was formed by public sector workers in the borough and has previously held protests about Barclays’ pay and bonuses and local council cuts to the public sector budget.

The news comes after A&O became the first law firm to sign up for the coalition Government’s new social mobility initiative, which will see businesses provide internships for young people from deprived backgrounds.

The group finished the peaceful protest by holding hands in a circle outside Canary Wharf tube station singing a reworded version of Auld Lang Syne, followed by We Wish  You  A Merry Tax Year