Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/613/8906
From The Socialist newspaper, 24 February 2010
Demo opposes £29m Notts county cuts
Mansfield Socialist Party anti-cuts protest, with Jon Dale on megaphone, photo Sulleyman Civi (Click to enlarge)
Around 150 people gathered in Mansfield Market Place to show their opposition to Nottinghamshire County Council axing £28.7 million from its budget this year and cutting several hundred jobs.
Karen Seymour, Mansfield and North Derbyshire Socialist Party
The protest was organised by Socialist Party members after they met with members of a relatives' and residents' action group who are campaigning to stop the privatisation of Bishop's Court elderly persons' home. The rally call was the page one story in a local free newspaper.
At the rally I spoke first, saying how it was unfair that the banks were bailed out with billions of pounds of public money, while public services that people rely on suffer as a result.
Sylvia, a service user from Dallas Street day centre, had made her own placard which urged Kay Cutts, the Tory leader of the council, not to close this valuable resource for disabled people. Sylvia spoke on why the centre should not be closed.
Nottinghamshire County Unison branch had emailed their members urging them to attend the protest and Grace Perry, a convenor, spoke. Others speakers included Unison's regional officer, the leader of the Labour group on Notts County Council and other Labour councillors, Unison and GMB council workers and members of the Bishop's Court action group.
Labour hypocrisy?
Mansfield Socialist Party anti-cuts protest, with Jon Dale on megaphone, photo Sulleyman Civi (Click to enlarge)
Labour Party speakers attacked Kay Cutts and the Tories, however Jean Thorpe, chairing the rally, pointed out that Labour-controlled Nottingham City Council was carrying out massive cuts too.
Adrian Rygal spoke about the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign, urging people to attend the Barking protest for jobs on 13 March.
Jon Dale from the Socialist Party closed the rally by saying that the Labour government was already cutting local government money from April by £600 million. The campaign needs to bring together trade unions, service users and others planning action across the county. The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) will give workers - in areas where it stands - an electoral alternative to the cuts agenda of all the main parties.
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In The Socialist 24 February 2010:
Private 'vultures' to run NHS hospital
How to stop cuts and defend public services
Demo opposes £29m Notts county cuts
Youth fight for jobs
Young people deserve a future: Join the Manchester march for jobs on 13 March
Youth Fight for Jobs Demonstrations
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC)
RMT branch supports challenge to Denham
Support the TUSC election challenge
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition General Election launch rally
Socialist Party news and analysis
British Airways cabin crew v management: Round two
Anger on Teesside over Corus closure
ID cards - an expensive threat to civil liberties
Tories attack community café...
Comment
Unison witch-hunt
Nominate Roger Bannister: Unison's leadership battle
Workplace news and analysis
South Wales: Demo against council cuts
Staythorpe: the fight for workplace safety
Port workers battle bosses... and high court
Leeds university: Support lecturers striking to save jobs
Fighting leadership needed for UCU
CWU women vote for political review
International socialist news and analysis
CWI Latin America school: A continent on the brink
Iraq: All eyes on the oil prize
Socialist Party news and analysis
Campaigning rights victory: But questions remain on new Waltham Forest policy
Anti-racism
How can the racist BNP be defeated?
Scottish Defence League defeated: Working class political alternative urgently needed
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