Steve Nally, Lambeth and Southwark Socialist Party
It was a case of ‘Welcome to the real world’ for Lambeth’s Green Party councillors at their public budget consultation event on 15 October. Over 150 trade unionists, community activists and local people made it crystal clear that more cuts and austerity are not an option, and made that clear to the Greens who form part of the new leadership of Lambeth council.
Socialist Party members and others highlighted the reality of life in our battered working-class community, and the urgency of developing a borough-wide campaign to fight for a needs-based budget. This also included full support for the Trades Council’s forthcoming People’s Budget Conference in January 2027.
Accept cuts or not?
It became clear that Lambeth’s Green councillors were hoping to use this event to get some kind of acceptance for more cuts. This was confirmed when they proposed that those present should go away and set up a campaign against cuts, that presumably they would then lead! They even invoked the 1970s to explain that the labour movement was much stronger then – ignoring the big battles against Thatcherism that had occurred in Lambeth during the 1980’s.
Fortunately, those present were not taken in by their approach and reminded them that if they did not stick to their pledge to fight austerity they would quickly build a legacy of attacking the very people who gave them power. Hopefully, this lively meeting was a wake up call!
Eye on the Greens
What’s your experience of Green councillors, or young Green campaigners on campus? editors@socialistparty.org.uk
