In just over a month thousands of people are expected to take part in a mass demonstration against jobs cuts.

Organised by Brighton and Hove branches of various trade unions, March for Jobs, is a protest at the hundreds of jobs lost in the city over the past few months.

But just what do protesters hope to achieve? After all, more than 1.5 million people marched in protest against the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

And the largest single demonstration ever to be held in this country failed in its one aim – to prevent the war.

After such a defeat why do people continue to take to the streets at all? Bill North, general secretary of Brighton and Hove District Trade Union Council, thinks March for Jobs will be a “show of strength”.

He said: “We do not expect the protest on its own will change things.

It is a show of strength and a reminder.

It is letting people know that there is a trade union movement.

“Demonstrations on their own and letting people – in this case the politicians – know what you think does not change their views.

It’s what people are willing to do.”

Members of the Smash EDO campaign obviously believe in the power of demonstration – repeatedly taking their cause to the streets of Brighton and Hove.

Later this year eight people are due to stand trial for allegedly breaking into the factory in Home Farm Road in January and causing an estimated £250,000 of damage.

Campaigner Sam Hayward said: “The march against the war in Iraq demonstrated the fact that the Government is not going to listen to ordinary people unless they are forced to.

“I think the campaign has achieved and has been successful.

We use a full tool box diversity of tactics.

“You can take the example of the refuse workers in Brighton and Hove.

They tried to reason with the council for years about their wages but the only thing that made any difference was withdrawing their labour and they were able to win in a very short time.”

Glen Williams, who has also been on hundreds of SmashEDO protests, said the breadth and persistence of a campaign makes it successful – not only much publicised demonstrations.

He said: “Smash EDO is very broad ranging.

It’s very persistent and tenacious.

I think that is what has inspired people around the country.

“The recent poll in The Argus showed the majority of people still think the right to protest is really important.

I think protesting is about making people aware of the issue you are protesting against.”

Victories after strikes, demonstrations and protests are becoming increasingly few and far between.

To be successful, protests must be part of something bigger.

Simply walking from A to B is not enough.

Mr North said: “Protests are the beginning – not the end in itself.

Protests are only part of a campaign but they are important because they can bring a large number of people together.

“Council tax is unfair but it is no way near as unfair as the poll tax was.

“There is a small group of people who believe the reason the poll tax was defeated was because there was a riot in Trafalgar Square.

“The reason the poll tax was beaten was because 18 million people did not pay it.

What made the difference was an organised campaign of non-payment.

The campaign showed we can make a difference with what we do and with our actions.

“Protests have to be part of something bigger – but they are an important part.”

Part of the success of a longterm campaign is managing to keep the issues in the public eye.

Mr Williams admits the conflict between Sussex Police and Smash EDO members are good for publicity but denies that it is a deliberate policy.

He said: “If you do have that conflict more people are going to read about it and the more publicity there will be.

“I suppose there is that element but I don’t think we deliberately do that.

I think that’s one of the side effects.

“If it is a peaceful demonstration then I don't think it gets reported.

But if something happens then it gets five or six pages of coverage.

“Really we don’t know what impact any of our actions are having.

“We are never going to see the impact on the company but it’s a matter of faith that what we do achieves something and I really believe it does.