UK Uncut

UK Uncut is a network of United Kingdom-based protest groups established in October 2010 to protest against tax avoidance in the UK and to raise awareness about cuts to public services. Various sources have described the group as left-wing in its political orientation. However, UK Uncut do not identify themselves as being left or right leaning, but as a movement that offers an alternative to the austerity programme of the governing Coalition.

History

The idea of UK Uncut originated in October 2010 with a group of ten activists in a north London pub who were having a discussion about the lack of resistance to the public sector cuts. Private Eye had just published an article about Vodafone avoiding tax so they organised a protest against Vodafone on Oxford Street. Protesters met at Piccadilly and successfully closed the Oxford Street Vodafone store.

Tactics and targets

The group uses direct action to get its message across, often closing down high street stores that they believe are owned by tax avoiders.