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Councillors

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From: The Socialist issue 1125, 17 March 2021: Defend the right to protest - end violence against women

Search site for keywords: TUSC - Government - Council - Cuts - Budget - Councillors

We need a fighting strategy to win funding from the government - why I'm standing for TUSC

TUSC leaflets (Click to enlarge)

Lee Trow, Doncaster Socialist Party

Last March, Doncaster Council's Labour group passed a three-year council budget which included a 'budget gap' of £17.7 million. The plans to fill this financial hole include service and job cuts as well as council tax rises.

Labour councillors generally try to justify these austerity proposals by declaring that they have 'no alternative'. It's also been reported that Sir Keir Starmer has warned all Labour councillors to vote with Tory councillors on budget caps.

But the money is there. According to the council's latest statement of accounts, its general fund balance reserve stood at £63.5 million on 31 March 2020. This reserve is considered 'usable', meaning that the council may use it to provide services.

These funds can and should be immediately reallocated to avoid cuts and tax rises. A campaign can then be launched - in collaboration with other local authorities - demanding that the Tory government reverses cuts in central government funding and provides relief funding for local authorities that have had to deplete their reserves, or adopt other temporary budget-balancing measures, to maintain vital public services.

However, rather than adopt this fighting strategy, Labour councillors choose to carry out the Tories' dirty work - all the while falsely claiming that they have 'no choice' but to carry out the cuts.

The Trade Union and Socialist Coalition candidates, in contrast, will fight the cuts by whatever means necessary. Our candidates will not hide behind phoney excuses. That is why I'm standing as a candidate in Doncaster in May's elections.

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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.