CAMPAIGNERS will take to the streets of Britain today in opposition to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

British demonstrations will form part of a Europe-wide day of action as tens of thousands of people, from hundreds of organisations, take part in rallies against the controversial deal.

The day of action has been organised by a unique alliance of civil society groups and individuals, social movements, unions, rights defenders, farmers and grassroots activists.

The government says TTIP will create jobs and economic growth by reducing tariffs, harmonising regulations and making it easier for British businesses to trade with the US.

But critics warn that it could cost at least one million jobs between the EU and US as well as preventing any future British government from repealing the Health and Social Care Act and bringing the NHS back into public hands.

Campaign group 38 Degrees executive director David Babbs said: “Ordinary people have had enough of corporations bulldozing through our public services.

“This deal is a threat to the NHS. It would give multi-national corporations the rights to carve up our health service, and sue the government for loss of profits if they didn’t make enough money.

“This Saturday should be a wake up call to MEPs. It’s time they stood up for the people who voted them into power, not big business.”

The rallies will also step up resistance to a similar treaty between the EU and Canada, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Leaked documents on CETA show that Britain is the only member state giving unconditional support to the European Commission in what campaigners argue is its desire to introduce new powers for business at the expense of democracy and the rule of law.

Campaigners point to secret negotiations, increasingly swayed by corporate lobbies, and condemn the notorious system of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) that TTIP and CETA would introduce.

Under ISDS, companies investing abroad would be able to sue foreign governments when ministers take actions that affect their expected profits, such as regulatory measures to shield public health or the environment.

War on Want executive director John Hilary said: “Civil society across Europe rejects these deals, and we are fighting back on all fronts. We have positive alternatives to this corporate-driven trade model, which is set to undermine peoples’ rights, democracy and the environment.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady added: “The Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership could have a major impact on the future of our health service, education and public services more generally. 

“With the current government opening up our NHS to private companies in the US, future governments will be prevented from bringing our health service and public goods like the railways back towards public ownership, despite clear public support for this policy.”