Success for anti-workfare campaigners

Anti-workfare campaigners who demonstrated in Leith against companies and charities taking part in the UK government’s Work Programme have hailed the action as a
success.

The demo, organised by the Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty (ECAP) and supported by Greater Leith Against the Cuts, was staged in opposition to the stores’ participation in the government’s workfare schemes.

They want all employers to pull out of the programme and similar schemes, some of which critics claim force sick and disabled claimants to carry out indefinite, unpaid work placements.

Protesters occupied both the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Superdrug at the Kirkgate Centre on Saturday.

ECAP spokesman Michael Stevenson said: “The demonstration was very successful and we hope that British Heart Foundation will now realise that they must withdraw completely from workfare or suffer continued disruption.”

BHF has announced it is withdrawing from the programme, while Superdrug said it only participates in voluntary schemes.