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Posted on 6 February 2014 at 15:18 GMT
Carlisle protest: "Bairns before bankers"
Socialist Party members were prominent in the recent lobby of Carlisle city council over budget cuts. The Labour-run authority intends to effectively close 21 children's playgrounds as part of its austerity cuts. Anti-cuts campaigners held up placards with the slogan: "Bairns before bankers".
The cost saving of this measure is comparatively small prompting the suspicion that it represents a prelude to future sell-offs.
The failure of the Labour councillors to offer any resistance to government cuts has, ironically, allowed a Tory councillor in one ward to portray his party as 'anti-cuts'.
The BBC and ITV media covered the protest but attempted to ignore the presence of Socialist Party members.
However, the Socialist Party won't be sidelined at next week's budget setting meeting of Cumbria County Council when we will be addressing councillors along with presenting our petition demanding a 'needs' budget instead of cuts.
Socialist Party reporters
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Coronavirus crisis - 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.
- Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
- 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.
2019