Preparing a ‘People’s Budget’ in Leicester

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We may not have had local elections in Leicester this year, but the need to provide a political alternative for working class people could not be more relevant.

Leicester is run by a Labour-majority city council. People are paying the cost of the bedroom tax and losing vital children’s and community services, while millions have been spent on city-centre building projects for big business and a further £154 million of city council reserves sit unused in the bank.

The people of Leicester don’t see Labour as a party fighting for their interests, but one bending over backwards to ignore them at every consultation and council meeting.

Two disaffected councillors, Wayne Naylor and Barbara Potter, sickened by the cuts and the ‘culture of fear’ the mayor has created on the council, have broken away and left the Labour party. They are now working alongside TUSC to oppose the cuts.

Our strategy is to use this summer to build for a conference bringing together trade unions, community groups and services to call for a ‘people’s budget’. This would be a no-cuts alternative to the Labour group’s austerity budget, just as the TUSC councillors in Southampton have done.

We’ve got our banner and pink t-shirts ready to go at local festivals and events, as well as the joint strike rally planned for 10 July. With a petition to remove the anti-democratic mayoral position, leaflets and a sign-up sheet we’re asking people to come to the conference, get involved with TUSC and stand against cuts next year.

The People’s Budget conference will be held on Saturday 25th October from 11am to 4pm. Venue: Bishop Street Methodist Church, Town Hall Square, Leicester.

To download the flyer for the event CLICK HERE.

Posted in: Leicester, TUSC

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