Tory consensus faces a fatal blow today as grass-roots activists from across Britain unite for the first national conference of the People's Assembly Against Austerity.

Hundreds of trade unionists, community activists, students and pensioners are to arrive in London to unleash a wave of anti-cuts action that organisers hope will spark an unprecedented moment of political change.

That action includes national demonstrations on June 21 and October 18, plans for which will be revealed at the meeting.