McDonnell says Grenfell is legacy of austerity at anti-Conservative protest

The shadow chancellor pointed to the Grenfell Tower disaster in which at least 80 lost their lives as the legacy of austerity policies at a major rally in London.

Thousands of people marched against the Conservative government and deep cuts made to public services.

Many carried banners reading "Tories out" and opposing the deal with the DUP while there were also a large number of placards remembering the Grenfell fire.

Speaking at a rally at the end of the march, John McDonnell said the disaster "symbolised for many" the human cost of austerity politics.

There were chants of 'Oh Jeremy Corbyn' among the crowd. Credit: PA

Jeremy Corbyn rounded on the Tories for this week raising hopes the public sector pay cap would be lifted, before later dampening expectations and voting against a Labour amendment to the Queen's Speech to scrap the 1% ceiling.

Today he slammed the "hypocrisy" of Tory MPs who praised the work of the emergency services dealing with recent terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

"The utter hypocrisy of Government ministers and others who queued up in the chamber over there in the House of Commons to heap praise on the emergency services,the following day to cut their wages by refusing to lift the pay cap," he said.

"The hypocrisy is absolutely unbelievable."

Mr Corbyn claimed the Conservatives were ;'in retreat' over austerity. Credit: PA
John McDonnell pledged to fight for the Grenfell families. Credit: PA

He suggested that the Conservatives were "in retreat" over austerity amid growing public criticism over cuts and stagnating living standards.

The protest assembled at BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place before moving on toParliament Square.

There was a strong police presence at the demonstration, with some of the roads around the square closed to traffic.