Bristolians rise against austerity with ‘Fund our city!’ call
As I write this, the people of Bristol are staging a rally against austerity-driven Tory cuts to funding and services for their city.
The event was called by city mayor Marvin Rees – and This Writer (a former Bristolian) agrees with his reasons.
Only today, I had to write about funding cuts to another local authority that have endangered Women’s Aid services there – putting lives at risk.
Tories don’t care. They think money is more important than human lives.
The event’s Facebook page states:
“Mayor Marvin Rees has called a march and rally on Saturday September 9th … to demand the Conservative government gives Bristol and other cities the funding we need for our public services and stops the cuts that are damaging the lives of so many.
“The general election and polls since have shown that austerity is now opposed by the great majority of the public. But despite its weak position this government is handing £70 billion to the wealthy in tax breaks over five years, even as it burdens Bristol City Council with cuts to bare-bones essential services totalling £104 million (10% cut each year).
“On September 9th, three days before the Mayor is set to lobby ministers at Westminster, let’s send a powerful message by marching in our thousands in Bristol and other cities: we won’t take any more cuts – not to our social care and NHS, our children’s services, our housing, our libraries, our arts, our community centres, our parks, our schools, our children’s crossing patrols…
“We’ve had enough of closures, privatisation and job losses, and we’re uniting – as workers, service users and citizens – to fight all the way for the investment we need in the public services and the living standards of our communities!”
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This should have been done in every town, city 6 years ago.
NONE OF THAT IS ANY GOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE ENDURING BEING SANCTIONED. most cant afford to get to hospital or drs surgeries from their homes unless living within easy walking distance of them (assuming theyve even got homes)so please add in to stop these austerity measures to the unemployed, sick and disabled including stopping these barbaric sanctions and assessments
The Mayor appears to be the person who’s complicit in cuts and imposing austerity on those he is marching with. He’s been using austerity as an excuse to impose right wing policies. But his hands are not tied.
What he needs to do is be honest and dignified about it, forget the perks and prestige that his position brings, combine forces with other city councils and use that power to resist a now weakened central government. This tactic could help to see them off once and for all.
Well done to Bristol. Let’s all follow suit.