Leicester holds historic People's Budget talks

Anti-cuts councillor Wayne Naylor speaking at the Leicester People's Budget conference, October 2014, with fellow councillor Barbara Potter (right), photo by Ambrose Musiyiwa (Click to enlarge)

Caroline Vincent, Leicester TUSC

"Leaving the Labour Party was a big thing. All my family have always voted Labour. They're no longer the party who stick up for ordinary people. We all need to stick together - the People's Budget marks an opportunity to create something new."

On 25 October around 60 people gathered to participate in Leicester's first ever People's Budget conference.

The event was organised by Leicester Independent Councillors Against Cuts - Barbara Potter (quoted above) and Wayne Naylor, alongside TUSC. The two councillors left Labour this year to join TUSC's alliance of trade union and anti-cuts groups.

A series of public workshops formed the basis of an alternative budget based on residents' needs. In contrast, Leicester's cynical Labour council is 'consulting' on escalating austerity.

Wayne voiced frustration over Labour's pressure to accept vicious cuts. In his ward 800 rely on food banks. He is now adamant that "the city needs councillors who will fight and make a difference. People's needs must go before anything else."

We encourage everyone who contributed with such enthusiasm to the People's Budget to stand for election with TUSC next year.

Southampton's re-elected TUSC councillor Keith Morrell said "it's difficult to stand against the establishment, and can be isolating." Along with his local community, it was TUSC's support that gave Keith much needed confidence.

Support

Also attending was Dave Nellist, former Labour MP and supporter of Militant, forerunner of the Socialist. He subsequently served 14 years as a Socialist Party councillor in Coventry. Dave said "it doesn't matter if the cuts are carried out enthusiastically by the Tories, or with a heavy heart by Labour. When services go, people suffer. TUSC refuses to accept that there is no choice."

For Leicester this is just the beginning. Now work begins on writing the People's Budget - and building the forces that can fight for it!

The Leicester People's Budget work in progress will be publicly discussed on 1 December at the Brite Centre, Braunstone Avenue. For more information, email Caroline Vincent on [email protected]

Hackney and Islington TUSC met with Diane Abbott MP on 20 October. A letter signed by over 40 local trade unionists had called on her to explain her position on a number of anti-cuts and pro-union issues. Abbott would not put her name to the document - but did at least agree to the meeting, unlike fellow local Labour MP Meg Hillier. TUSC groups up and down the country are challenging Labour candidates to attend similar meetings to explain themselves to the local trade union movement.

Dave Nellist speaking at the Leicester People's Budget conference, alongside Tessa Warrington (left), cllr Barbara Potter (centre) and cllr Wayne Naylor (right) (Click to enlarge)

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance that stands candidates against all cuts and privatisation. It involves the RMT transport workers' union, leading members of other trade unions including the PCS, NUT and POA, the Socialist Party and other socialist and anti-cuts groups.

www.tusc.org.uk

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.