Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/933/24319
From The Socialist newspaper, 25 January 2017
South London march against community centre closures
photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Jimmy Lapin, Lambeth Socialist Party
150 south London residents marched to oppose the closures of their community centres on 21 January. Hyde Housing Group plans to close centres in Stockwell and Kennington in Lambeth, and seven others across London.
Hyde says it can no longer afford to subsidise the centres despite an operating profit of £95 million last year.
Lively working class demonstrators bought us out of copies of the Socialist. Local Socialist Party member Steve Nally spoke after Labour councillor Alex Bigham.
Steve welcomed Bigham's attendance, but pointed out Lambeth's cutting Labour councillors are behaving like "red Tories," which marchers applauded.
Next
The march is only the beginning of the campaign as residents seek a judicial review to the closures in Stockwell and Kennington, and plan further lobbies of Hyde Housing head office at London Bridge. A petition launched after Christmas already has 2,500 signatures.
The affected estates in south London were stock-transferred to Hyde 20 years ago. Part of that deal was the building of the new centre at Stockwell, which is only 16 years old, and the upkeep of both centres in Lambeth.
This will form the basis of the legal challenge to Hyde brought by local residents. The wider context of the closures is that housing associations now see themselves as property developers and speculators rather than providers of social housing. Services such as community centres are being trimmed as profits soar.
Donate to the Socialist Party
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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 25 January 2017:
What we think
NHS under attack
NHS SOS: Save the Women's Hospital
Defiant mood at North Tyneside STP consultation
Lancashire: Hospital workers protest consultation
Paignton: organising against hospital closure
Socialist Party news and analysis
Reject Surrey's 15% council tax increase
Bristol police taser own race relations adviser
2016 hottest year on record, air poisonous
Wales council votes to buy back homes
Isle of Wight independents resign over cuts
Come to the TUSC national conference 2017!
International socialist news and analysis
Huge anger internationally on marches against Trump
India: struggle against land grab in Pune
Workplace news and analysis
RMT determinedly continues Southern strike
Incensed BA cabin crew strike and protest over pay
Steely opposition growing to Tata pension offer
2017 Unite general secretary and executive elections
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Don't we need competition to spur on progress?
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Huge anger against Trump across Britain
South London: march to save community centres
Obituary: Bernard Roome 1947-2017
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Ed Balls: 'Speaking Out' for capitalism
Home | The Socialist 25 January 2017 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2020