Birmingham protest against city council cuts

Hundreds of people gathered for a demonstration against council cuts in Birmingham.

The protesters marched around the city centre before gathering for a rally near the cathedral.

Geoffrey Webster, secretary of Birmingham Against the Cuts, said there was an increasing mood of anger about cuts to jobs, services and pensions.

The council has said it needs to save £212m from its budget in 2011-12 and that 7,000 jobs may go by 2015.

Mike Whitby, leader of the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition authority, has said that, although there will be a reduced spend across the public sector, £3.5bn will still be spent on public services.

The city council has 18,993 full-time staff posts.

A consultation in November detailed plans to reduce staff numbers to 11,877 by 2014-15.

Speakers at the rally include leaders from unions such as the Communication Workers Union and the Public and Commercial Sectors Union.