AN ANTI-austerity protest was held in a North-East city today (Monday, January 25).

The Northern Public Services Alliance (NPSA) organised a rally in Newcastle against cuts to emergency services.

The coalition says there has been a 20 per cent reduction in firefighters since 2010, the North East Ambulance Service Trust has a deficit of about £4 million and North-East police forces have seen funding cuts of more than 20 per cent.

Clare Williams, regional convenor of the Unison trade union and chair of the NPSA, proposed a Robin Hood tax on financial transactions, increasing income tax for the highest earners and cracking down on tax avoidance.