In Southampton, the Labour council is proposing £15 million cuts to services. They threaten 134 jobs and propose the closure of Glen Lee and Holcroft House, council-run care homes.

There is a crisis in our schools too. Southampton Council faces opposition from the local branches of general union Unite, public service union Unison, and the National Education Union (NEU).

At local schools in Coxford - Sinclair primary school has lost £58,800 - £301 per pupil - between 2012 and 2020.

Oasis Academy Lordshill has lost £343,900 - £566 per pupil - over the same period. That means larger class sizes, cutting subjects like art and music, and losing teaching assistants and admin staff.

Before Christmas, 100 parents, staff and supporters attended an NEU meeting at Valentine Primary School.

Like similar meetings around the city, there was a clear call for an immediate end to further cuts.

Instead of backing further cuts, Southampton Labour should set a legal, balanced, no-cuts budget using the council's reserves and borrowing powers.

We want our £136 million stolen by the government back, and the council must link up with the unions to mobilise a fight for it.

Reverse the cuts and give us back our council homes, our care homes, our day and respite services, our youth service, our council bus service, our home care service, the 1,000 jobs that have gone.

Such a stand would gain huge public support locally and beyond, and put enormous pressure on this weak and divided Tory government.

But right now, Southampton Council is increasingly isolated. There's not a lot of support out there for a council destroying our services.

And there will be consequences. If Labour councillors continue to claim that nothing can be done, they must expect to be challenged at the local elections on 2 May by those prepared to fight.

Furthermore, by doing the dirty work of the Tories, Labour councillors undermine Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity project, and risk failure in a general election.

That is why I am standing in Southampton's Coxford ward by-election on 14 March for the Socialist Party, appearing on the ballot paper as 'Socialist Alternative Putting People First'.

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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.

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.