Euan Thomas, Bradford Socialist Party
Protesters gathered again to rally councillors to vote against the council tax hike. Protesters took up our Socialist Party placards, forming a crowd around the councillors’ side entrance.
Socialist Party member Iain Dalton spoke about challenging councillors at the all-out council elections in 2026. But added: “We need to discuss how we can keep the pressure up on them in the meantime”.
Outrageously, the Green Party proposed its own 9.4% council tax hike. Shouts of “shame” rang out from the demonstrators, as councillors made their way into the chamber.
A group of Acorn housing protesters in the public balcony above interrupted the meeting, unfurling a banner and dropping leaflets over the councillors below. Security and police dispersed protesters.
The Labour tax-rise proposal was passed 46 to 39. Five councillors abstained, including a Green and three Conservatives.
The only Labour councillor to vote against the proposal was GMB union organiser, Joe Wheatley. After, he said he wanted the national Labour government to “do better”.
Wheatley’s opposition has not been the only case from within Labour. Bingley councillor Marcus Dearden resigned from Labour.
The vote comes after weeks of campaigning, which the Socialist Party has supported. We have organised lots of campaign stalls, and spoken at demonstrations.
Our successful petition was signed over 500 times. As a result, Socialist Party member Tom Gibson was able to speak at the council executive.
Give people a voice
Tom used his platform to give a voice to the hundreds who had signed, and thousands of others who will be forced to endure the financial consequences. “The proposals expect the hard-working people of Bradford to take on the burden of austerity. People will be paying more to get less.”
The Socialist Party has been calling for a public meeting, hosted by the organisations that have called protests, to discuss next steps. It’s certain that this horrendous attack by Labour politicians is not something these campaigners will forget.
Bradford Socialist Party has a public meeting on the lessons of the 18-million-strong movement that beat the poll tax
Tuesday 18 March, 7pm, Jacob’s Well, BD1 5RL
