Campaign news in brief


Truth of ‘English Riviera’

A Torbay Citizens Advice Bureau report has exposed the conditions under which local workers have to exist in the main conurbation of the ‘English Riviera’.

Torbay has the highest level of personal bankruptcies in the country with the third lowest wages as workers experience rising unemployment, inflation and wage cuts.

Five of the 15 wards in this unitary authority have child poverty rates above 20% according to the End Child Poverty website, with one ward, Watcombe, topping 37%.

The bosses want to keep these facts under cover so they can continue making profits out of low wages and renting out property. But there is increasing interest in socialist ideas in South Devon. Socialist Party members are taking steps to expose the reality of living in Torbay.

Sean Brogan, South Devon Socialist Party

Winchester protests

Winchester saw two noisy demonstrations on 23 February.

Socialist Students ‘welcomed’ Tory schools minister Nick Gibb to the university with placards, whistles, party poppers and some awkward questions.

Outrageously, Gibb has said he’d rather see an Oxbridge graduate with no teaching qualifications at a school than a qualified teacher from a ‘rubbish’ university.

Socialist Party members and trade unionists also lobbied the council, with whistles, banners, drums and chants, against savage and unnecessary cuts to public services outlined in its latest budget.

Prudence Caric, Hampshire Socialist Party

Northamptonshire cuts

On 23 February, Northamptonshire county council voted to cut £28 million from its budget. This will mean almost 300 job losses, increased charges for adult social care, £500,000 cut from children centres and, despite election pledges, funding cuts for Police Community Support Officers.

The council’s own consultation has shown mass opposition to the cuts, and support was given to the protest outside the council meeting by council workers and the general public.

Nick Doyle, Northampton Socialist Party

South East day school

26 people attended the South East Socialist Party’s day school in February. Discussions included Marxist economics, the role of the state and the Marxist view of history, as well developing the party’s work in the region.