The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is standing in the Nottingham city council by-elections on 7th November on a clear platform against the bedroom tax and all cuts to jobs, services and benefits.
Due to the resignation of two councillors for health reasons, there will be by-elections in the Dales and Radford & Park wards. TUSC will be contesting these as an alternative to the three main parties.
TUSC says:
Axe the bedroom tax!
The Con-Dem government is making savage cuts to benefits. The ‘bedroom tax’ brought in on 1st April this year has been met with huge resistance. People simply cannot afford it. In Nottingham, 6,000 people are being hit but there are just 35 smaller properties on offer.
Nottingham City Council should refuse to evict anyone who cannot afford to pay this unfair tax. Labour leader Ed Miliband has stated that a future Labour government will repeal the tax – but 2015 is too late, we need action now!
If elected, TUSC councillors will demand that the council and housing associations do not evict anyone who cannot pay and will mount a campaign to axe this tax completely!
Save our Services!
Nottingham City Council has made £25m worth of cuts this year alone. It plans to make £55m more cuts next year. They have mainly been attacking Adult and Children Services, with higher charges for Adult care. As well as increasing Council Tax they have passed on the cuts of 18% to Council Tax Benefit. As a result of funding cuts, 54% of voluntary organisations say they will be forced to close over the next year.
TUSC opposes all cuts to services. The council has upwards of £133m in reserves – more than enough to continue funding services!
Oppose attacks on jobs, pay and conditions
Over 500 jobs have gone from the council in the last two years alone. Further cuts will mean further job losses. Local government workers are facing attack after attack on pay, pensions and terms and conditions.
TUSC opposes the 1% public sector pay freeze and supports a trade union-led fight-back to defend jobs, pay and conditions. We support the call for a 24-hour general strike against austerity.
Labour: not an alternative to the Tories
It is the Con-Dem government nationally that is to blame for the dire situation locally by making unprecedented cuts to local government.
But what is Labour’s alternative? They intend to keep to the government’s 2015 spending plans if they get into power! At Nottingham City Council, despite having an overwhelming majority, Labour has passed on these cuts without a fight and have even said they intend to evict people for Bedroom Tax arrears!
We don’t need crocodile tears and hand wringing. We need a real alternative for the working class.
TUSC councillors will propose a budget based on what the city actually needs and demand Labour backs it. The council could use part of the £133m in reserves to avoid cuts now while building a huge campaign to get back the money the government has stolen from the council!
Cathy Meadows – TUSC candidate for Dales ward
“I’ve been a Sneinton resident for most of my life and I am proud of our heritage: Green’s Windmill, allotments, Colwick car boot, shops and community groups and centres, all of which reflect our diversity and, like Sneinton Festival, bring people together. Sneinton probably has more homeless support projects than any other part of the city and we don’t see this as a ‘problem’ instead we provide a safe and friendly community where people can get back on their feet. Currently I lead a campaign against the Bedroom Tax and cuts to Council Tax Benefit – benefits are the safety net for working class people and it is vital that we fight to stop them getting eroded.
“I am standing as a TUSC candidate because TUSC is a coalition of integrity, for example TUSC MPs would only take the average worker’s wage and TUSC does not accept funding from big business”.
Geraint Thomas – TUSC candidate for Radford & Park ward
“I’ve lived in Nottingham for five years and have been active in fighting attacks on ordinary people. I’ve become disappointed in Nottingham City’s Labour council passing on the cuts handed down from the government, slashing their budgets rather than fighting back, making the people of Nottingham bear the brunt of these attacks, cutting basic services, freezing pay for council workers, and doing the bare minimum to fight the bedroom tax.
“If elected I would fight to break the wage freeze for council workers, to resist cuts to public services and to set a no evictions policy on the bedroom tax, and challenge the government directly on their cuts”.