Stop the Cuts!

Saturday 30 January 2016

March & demonstrate

12pm Brighton & 11am Eastbourne

Details of Brighton’s Stop the Cuts protest on 30 January 2016

On Saturday 30 January there will be two important protests against cuts to local public services across East Sussex.  Go along and make your voice heard in Brighton and Eastbourne.  These are your councils, so have your say!

East Sussex residents are urged to meet 11am at Bankers Corner, Terminus Road, Eastbourne  to demonstrate until 1pm against cuts by Tory-controlled East Sussex County Council.  Please download and display the demonstration poster on your workplace or community noticeboard.

Lewes Stop the Cuts protesters in action – the next demonstrations on Saturday 30 January are in Eastbourne and Brighton & Hove.

Brighton & Hove residents are asked to assemble at The Level, opposite the Open Market in central Brighton, to march-off at 12pm to hear speakers at a demonstration outside Brighton Town Hall in Bartholomew Square.  Brighton’s protest has been organised by Brighton, Hove and District Trades Council, and has the support of local unions, anti-cuts campaigners and service users.  Contact us if you can help carry the Sussex LRC banner on this march.

The Tory Government’s harsh cuts to the funding of local councils is forcing Labour councils to implement cuts to services.  This is a Tory political choice, not an economic necessity.  Unlike the 1980s, councils no longer have the option of setting an illegal budget, but Labour councillors do not have to merely accept what they are told by council officers.

In December Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote to Labour Council leaders asking them to mobilise campaigns against Tory cuts.  The LRC encourages Labour councillors to implement that strategy and bring Corbyn’s new politics into local democracy.  We urge Labour councillors to work with council unions, service users and communities to develop innovative solutions, including the use of Councils’ reserves before any closures or cuts of jobs and services.

Labour councillors must make clear that these are Tory cuts – by joining local campaigns against Tory cuts, not shying away from them.  Labour councillors should remember that they are elected to represent their communities – to represent people to power – not to manage cuts efficiently on behalf of the powerful.  There is no such thing as a “better” or “kinder” cut.  Please support the local demonstrations on Saturday 30 January.  Together we are strong!