The British political right is preparing to fight back against anti-cuts protests by staging its first pro-cuts demonstration, in central London next month, in a move that has provoked comparisons to the US Tea Party movement.
The Rally Against Debt, on 14 May, is being organised by activists including the Taxpayers' Alliance group, which is backed by Tory donors. Hundreds, if not thousands, of supporters of the cuts programme are expected to turn out at Westminster in a rare show of force by what organisers believe is "a quiet majority".
The rally comes in direct response to last month's TUC-organised March for the Alternative anti-cuts event, which attracted an estimated 500,000 people and led to more than 200 arrests when anarchist groups went on the rampage and supporters of UK Uncut occupied the luxury grocer Fortnum & Mason.
Matthew Sinclair, director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "This is a march for people who think the national debt is very serious and shouldn't be left to future generations. The tone is going to be very calm. It was conceived partly as a response to the March for the Alternative, but I don't think anybody is going in an angry state of mind."
Toby Young, the free-school founder and columnist, is among those signed up to attend the pro-cuts rally.
Annabelle Fuller, a former adviser to the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, is a leading organiser. A giant digital totaliser on a lorry showing the national debt will be the centrepiece.
