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From The Socialist newspaper, 20 February 2019
Leicester Socialists stand against Blairite mayor
Socialist Party member Steve Score speaking at the demo to save Grantham A&E and the NHS, 14.10.17, photo East Midlands Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Leicester Socialist Party has announced it has selected Steve Score, local campaigner, to stand in May's mayoral elections.
Steve chaired the successful Save Glenfield Children's Heart Centre campaign and continues to be involved in local campaigning around defending the NHS. He has a long record in Leicester of fighting government and local cuts in services. He was also the secretary of the local anti-Poll Tax Federation which locally led the struggle to end the local tax introduced by Thatcher in 1990 and resulted in it being scrapped.
Steve Score said: "Over years devastating government cuts have affected councils. But instead of standing up to the government, Leicester's city mayor has been meekly passing on these cuts. At the same time he has instead focused on vanity projects in the city centre.
"The cuts he has made have in particular hit the most vulnerable. When homelessness is rocketing, hostels and homelessness services have been cut and council house building has been almost non-existent. When there has been a dramatic rise in people being forced to go to foodbanks, often because of cuts in benefits, welfare rights services are being cut. Cuts have been made to youth services, family centres, voluntary services, libraries, community centres and many others.
"As a socialist I believe there is an alternative. I would take a stand and refuse to implement any Tory cuts in Leicester by proposing a legal no cuts budget. This is possible if the council used some of its millions of pounds in reserves and borrowing powers to maintain services. This would allow time to build a city wide campaign against cuts and link up with other authorities across the country to force the much needed money from the government. All public services must be taken back in-house by the council.
"People power saved the Glenfield heart centre. Similarly, a massive campaign led by the mayor and councillors could save our services.
"I opposed the city mayoral system when it was brought in without asking the people of Leicester. It centralises too much power into the hands of one person and relegates councillors to mere scrutineers. If I was to be elected I would push for a referendum on the mayoral system by the end of my term of office to try to abolish it.
"We did not stand candidates in the last general election because we support the anti-austerity policies Jeremy Corbyn proposed. However where local Labour councillors and mayors carry through Tory policies we believe we have to make a stand."
Leicester Socialist Party
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In The Socialist 20 February 2019:
News
Nationalise Airbus and other manufacturing plants to save jobs now!
NHS crisis deepens: Workers' and community action can save our health service
Youth climate strikes
"There's no planet B": Thousands of youth strike against climate change - we need socialist change!
Youth strike for the climate reports: "There's no planet B"
Opinion
TV: Les Misérables - Hugo's novel and this adaptation both offer a message of hope
What we think
Eight Blairites split - Now kick out the rest
Workplace news
PCS Left Unity must unite on pay and elections
Universal Credit staff ballot for action
Annoyed?! I'm annoyed to be on poverty wages
Nationalise to save jobs at Honda!
Birmingham bin strike against 'blacklisting'
Deliveroo riders strike against exploitative pay and conditions
Leicester college pay strike goes on
Cardiff Uni: urgent action needed to stop job cuts
Hackney: Unite fights racism and victimisation
Harrowing accounts of austerity at Unison women's conference
International socialist news and analysis
Spanish state: social polarisation and budget defeat force snap election
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Unite union London council workers back Enfield Labour no-cuts call
Leeds TUC presents a no-cuts alternative budget
Socialist Students conference shows potential for fighting leadership
London housing campaigners disrupt auction
Birmingham Uni: Standing up to racism is not harassment!
Leicester Socialists stand against Blairite mayor
Lincoln students back UCU ballot
Claimants and union slam Universal Credit
Energy retail firm collapse hits Tyneside
World economy
New recession fear stalks the world economy
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