Almost 150 Councillors from across the
country have signed a letter slamming the Government for massive funding
cuts and and will be joining the tens of thousand of people who will be
marching in London for the People’s Assembly ‘Health, Homes, Jobs and Education’
demo on Saturday April 16th.
Although councillors from neighbouring Harrow and Camden have signed thare are none from Brent.
Although councillors from neighbouring Harrow and Camden have signed thare are none from Brent.
The letter followed George Osborne’s ill-fated budget
which piled on more misery for millions as the Government laid out plans to cut
support for disabled people while offering tax breaks for big business and the
wealthy.
With an extra £3.5 billion axed from public spending,
Local Authorities are among those that will be bearing the brunt of the failed
Tory austerity agenda.
People’s Assembly National Secretary Sam Fairbairn said:
The Tories are increasingly out of touch with the reality of life for most people. Every time they say ‘we all in it together’ it’s another slap round the face of millions of people. The revelations that have unfolded with the ‘Panama Papers’ show the super-rich hiding their wealth in tax havens on an industrial scale. This means they avoid taxes that would pay for all the social benefits that are currently under attack and people are understandably angry. We’re now seeing the potential for big unrest across the country and it wont be long until this government face a movement for change they can’t control.
This is why we believe that the demonstration for ‘Health, Homes, Jobs and Education’ in London on April 16th will be significant as the anti-austerity movement and opposition to Tory cuts grows and thousands take to the streets. We call for Cameron to resign and for the Tories to be booted out of office
As Councillors we believe this Tory Government’s ideological opposition to public services lies behind the deliberate underfunding of Local Authorities.
Councils have faced unprecedented cuts; Local Authority grants in England have been slashed, with £12.5 billion of cuts and half a million Council workers losing their jobs since 2010. Osborne has forced through 40% cuts to Council budgets meaning that local authorities face the reality of cutting frontline services including Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, leaving those that rely on them at risk.
We believe that austerity is a political choice. We oppose all cuts from Westminster and believe Osborne’s plans for Local Government will only make a bad situation worse.
We call on the government to reverse cuts to council funding so we are able to provide essential services our communities rely on. Furthermore we call for an end to austerity that is seeing living standards for the majority fall. This is why we also support the national march for Health, Homes, Jobs & Education on Saturday 16 April 2016 in London organised by the People’s Assembly.
If you are a councillor and wish to add your name, please go to www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk
