Enough is Enough: Hundreds of Portsmouth protestors gather in bid to 'fight back' against cost of living crisis

The Enough is Enough rally took place today, with demonstrators gathering in their hundreds at Guildhall Square to listen to speakers and march past Portsmouth and Southsea railway station and through Commercial Road.

The march aimed to show solidarity with those taking strike action, as well as demanding real government action on the cost of living emergency.

Jon Woods, chair of the Portsmouth Trades Council, said: ‘We have to fight back against the cost of living crisis, we will not accept this class war.

‘Whatever little they put in to try and help with fuel bills, is wiped out by mortgage and rent increases. Many people are going to starve and freeze this winter, the only solution is fighting back.’

Khalid Sidahmed, who lives in Gosport, was one of the speakers – bringing a solidarity message from Sudan.

‘We need change, life is getting difficult,’ said Khalid.

‘One of the problems here is the government is from a different class, they’re not working like us, doing night shifts and long hours, they can’t understand,’ he added.

Melanie Allen, a retired civil servant, came from Essex to support the protest.

‘I'm on a pension now, and I'm having to get another job in care work. What with electricity, gas, and then you’ve got to pay for your council services, I’m fed up,’ said Melanie.

‘I think I might have to sell up and move somewhere smaller, I've got one son left at home. I'm pretty scared about the future,’ she added.

Lee Gallacher, from Winchester, is a founder of Hamwic Street Kitchen, a charity in Southampton, and cooks free, weekly hot meals for people experiencing hardship.

He said: ‘Over the last decade, we used to feed between 20-50 people, we’re now seeing over a hundred, we’re even seeing nurses in uniforms turning up. To see the change, to see the average Joe looking for a hot meal or using the support connections of food banks, it’s getting ridiculous.

‘I'm getting to the point now where I'm struggling to feed 100 people from my own kitchen, donations have gone down because people can’t afford it.’