Protestors gather in Glasgow's George Square for Cost of Living Crisis demonstration

Organised by The People's Assembly Scotland and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), the rally started at 1pm with a number of speakers taking to the stage to speak to the crowd. 

It is the third demonstration to be held in recent weeks in line with the National People's Assembly. 

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A number of people gathered in the city centre, holding signs with statements such as "tax the rich", "Tories levelling up death rates" and "freeze prices, not the poor".

John McAuley, 61, from Motherwell says he's angry that the government is doing "absolutely nothing" to help people.  

He said: "It’s a terrible thing, you’ve got people that can barely afford to eat.

"Even before they allowed the gas and electricity rises, people were already hungry, people have already not been able to heat their homes.

"People on benefits have been struggling so hard for the last 40 years, but in the last 10 years, it’s got worse."

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John McAuley

Diana McMillan, 61, from Drumchapel, believes people will die as a result of the cost of living crisis. 

She said: "I think it’s ridiculous, a lot of people are not going to be able to make it and it’s going to be hard for a lot of people in Drumchapel, especially the poorer people and I think there’s going to be a lot of deaths because they’re not going to be able to feed themselves, they’re not going to be able to heat themselves.

"I didn’t think the world would be like this in the 21st century, it’s ridiculous."

Andy Lynch and Diana McMillan

Andy Lynch, 48, from Drumchapel, agreed: "This is the last thing we need when we’ve come out of Covid.

“Most people are on prepaid meters in my area, I can see kids not being able to get a heat at night or in the morning there’s no electricity or gas for them to get something to eat before they go to school."

He added: "It makes me feel angry, it makes me feel helpless."

Douglas Barlow, 20, who lives in Glasgow says he attended today's rally because he's "sick of the government".

He said: "It’s completely horrendous that the rights that should be basic to everyone are being stripped away because, why, someone wants an extra Lamborghini?

"It doesn’t make sense, it’s not right and I have to oppose that.

"It’s completely disgusting, absolutely vile."

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Emily Holland and Douglas Barlow

Speaking ahead of the rally, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: "Workers across Scotland are at the cutting edge of the most sustained threat to their incomes not seen for generations.

"In a cost-of-living crisis – which targets our most deprived and our most in need – we must respond with action.

"This crisis wasn’t made by those at the bottom.

"They shouldn’t be paying for the inactions of those at the top.

"Alongside the People’s Assembly, and other civic organisations throughout Scotland, we’ll be in George Square on Saturday leading the charge against this blatant attack on working people."

Rose Jackson, chairperson of the Scottish Pensioners Forum, added: "As the cost of living continues to surge to record highs, how can ordinary people be expected to put food on their tables and heat their homes with prices spiralling out of control.

"Pensioners have no way of increasing their income which is well below the UK Government’s own poverty level - this abhorrent oversight by the UK Government to help those most in need is nothing short of shameful. 

"Pensioner poverty is real and this cost-of-living crisis means it's only set to get worse. 

"The workers of today are the pensioners of tomorrow and we must work together to fight against this continued attack on our class."