Jane Nellist, Coventry trades union council, president
During the 14 years of austerity for ordinary working people, the number of billionaires in the UK has more than tripled. The rich are getting richer, whilst the poor are getting poorer.
This year it should have been different, with the election of a Labour government to replace the Tories. But instead of promised change, as far as austerity is concerned, we have continuity.
Labour dashes hope
Instead of our public services being given the necessary support to rebuild communities, all we are seeing is cuts and more cuts. People’s hope that Labour would bring change has been dashed very quickly. Yet again, cuts to our local libraries are on the table.
I attended the Labour council’s budget consultation meeting. The presentation was met with anger from the large attendance of people. But not one councillor attended to explain and defend their position. How despicable is that?
£1.5 billion stolen
The Tories have significantly reduced local government funding since 2010. For Coventry, this was an average real-term reduction of £100 million per year – £1.5 billion in total. We want that money back!
Last year saw huge cuts to Coventry Rape and Sexual Advice Centre (Crasac), a specialist support service for adults and children who have been impacted by sexual violence or abuse at any time in their lives.
This year, 12 voluntary organisations that provide adult social care are losing £560,000, and a further £1.5 million over the next two years. This includes Grapevine, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities who do not qualify for council support.
Last year, over 10,000 of the city’s poorest families had cuts to their council tax support. This year, over 15,000 families face further such cuts.
Noisy and angry
The 200-strong anti-cuts lobby outside the Labour council was noisy and angry, with lots of young people. One young man in the consultation meeting made it absolutely clear what he wanted: “Stop these cuts!”
We need a new mass party that’s prepared to be ruthless with the super-rich and their rigged economic system, rather than attacking the charities in Coventry that try to shield vulnerable people from cuts to their essential services. These crucial services need to be funded properly.
After all these cuts, the council predicts it will have shortfalls of £18 and £21 million for the next two years. All that pain will be on us again, unless we mobilise and fight back!
