HUNDREDS of people braved the cold and wet Manchester weather, to campaign against ongoing government cuts and welfare reform.

Armed with placards and signs, protestors congregated for the ‘Bonfire of Austerity’ at the ATOS headquarters on Bridge Street – the company who won the government contract to carry out work capability assessments for the Department for Work and Pensions.

They then marched through the city centre streets, stopping on route to highlight businesses who they allege ‘do not pay their fair share of taxes’.  

The protest was organised by Manchester People’s Assembly, an action group who campaign regularly against austerity.

The protest was organised by Manchester People’s Assembly, an action group who campaign regularly against austerity. 

The People’s Assembly spokesman, Tom Evans, took to the megaphone to denounce the government-appointed company.

He said: “ATOS are not a health care firm, they are an IT firm, and apparently the…