Socialist Party member opposes £100m more cuts on Made In Bristol TV

Bristol Socialist Party member and former Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) mayoral candidate Tom Baldwin appeared on Made In Bristol TV news to oppose the additional £100m cuts to the city that new Labour mayor Marvin Rees claims must be made. He called on the new mayor to refuse to stand up to the Tory government and refuse to implement their austerity agenda. This is the only alternative to further massive cuts to jobs and services in Bristol.

You can watch the video on the Made In Bristol website, the item starts at 6:10. See the previous post on this website for more comment from Bristol TUSC.

Bristol To Be Hit By Even More Council Cuts

Marvin Rees announces another £100m to be cut from Bristol

Tory austerity must be challenged – mass anti-cuts campaigning needed

 

Marvin Rees, Bristol's new Labour mayor has revealed that the city council faces a funding shortfall of £100m by the end of his term of office in 2020. This is because of the cuts being imposed on spending by the Tory government.

 

Bristol is already reeling from over £100m cuts made by the previous mayor, George Ferguson. Coming on top of that, these additional cuts will hit jobs and services in the city even harder. Even Rees himself concedes that “there is little fat left to trim leaving us facing unpalatable options.” Those worst affected will be the less well-off and those with the greatest social needs. Making these cuts is not compatible with Rees’s stated aim of making Bristol a more equal city.

 

During the recent mayoral and council elections Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidates repeatedly warned that the new administration would end up making cuts on a huge scale if it was not prepared to stand up to the government and refuse to implement the austerity agenda. We called for a no-cuts budget based on the needs of the city, and a mass campaign to force the government to return the stolen funds. We will continue to campaign alongside ordinary people to resist this new threat to jobs and services.

 

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) former mayoral candidate and Socialist Party member Tom Baldwin said:

“Just over a month ago Bristol voted in an election that saw an overwhelming desire for change in the city. But already we’re getting threats of massive cuts, wrapped in the talk of “tough choices” and “unpalatable options” – exactly as we’ve seen over the last few years. I’m sick of politicians talking about the tough decisions they face when those decisions are tough on us and not on them. More cuts of this scale will be disastrous for Bristol. If our new mayor is serious about making this city a more equal and better place to live then he must stop them. If he’s not prepared to stand up to this weak and divided government then he risks becoming just the latest Tory stooge – pushing their austerity agenda from City Hall.”

Pathetic Fascist 'Demo' Outnumbered by Anti-Fascists in Bristol

The racist, fascist group the South West Infidels called a demonstration in Bristol for last Saturday. In the end they mustered only around 20 people, stumbling out of the pub and up the road under heavy police protection. They were outnumbered by ten to one by anti-fascist counter-demonstrators. Socialist Party members were among them as we tried to prevent the fascists from marching, spreading their message of hate and posing a threat, especially to anyone who isn't white. We also took part in a demonstration of 250 earlier in the day, opposing racism and supporting the rights of refugees. The far-right were comprehensively beaten in terms of support in Bristol.

The pathetic spectacle of the fascist demo would not have even been possible if not for the extraordinary lengths the police went to protect them and allow them to march. The police spent £100,000 policing the day to make it happen, drawing in support from surrounding forces. Hundreds of police tried to prevent counter-demonstrators even reaching the fascists. Police officers and vans surrounded the fascists to protect them while police dogs and horses were used to clear anti-fascists from blocking their path. At the end of their march they were shepherded behind a huge, solid metal wall that surrounded the whole of College Green. They were joined inside by Stoney Garnett, who stood in the recent mayoral election as an independent. It seems that once inside they were then put behind another fence, just to make sure! (see below)

Questions must be asked of why the police did so much to help them march. They've never shown the same degree of willing towards other demonstrations, in fact they've put obstacles in the way of their being organised. They've claimed in the past that they didn't have the resources even to simply help manage traffic to help keep anti-cuts demonstrators safe. Police have tried to charge organisers of St Pauls Carnival for their operations on carnival day. This has meant that this hugely popular African Caribbean festival which brings together thousands of people of all backgrounds isn't happening properly again this year. How can the police justify these double standards?

As they left with chants of "Nazi scum - off our streets!" still ringing in their ears the 'Infidels' must have known they're not welcome in Bristol. However we will remain vigilant for any attempts to return and will try to make sure the anti-fascist and workers' movements in Bristol are as well organised as possible to drive them away.

 

Public Meeting - The Socialist Case for Leaving the EU

The Socialist Case for Leaving the EU

Bristol leg of the 20 City Tour organised by

TUSC - the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Speakers:

Judy Beishon - Socialist Party EC

Eddie Dempsey - RMT executive member for South West and South Wales (TBC)

Hugh Williams - Socialist Workers Party

Chaired by Tom Baldwin - TUSC Bristol mayoral candidate

Tuesday 31st May, 7.30pm

YHA Bristol (The Grain House)

14 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1571233666509476/

See tusc.org.uk/events for up to date information and details of other meetings in the tour.

The EU referendum debate is being dominated by right wing arguments on both sides. There's a clash between two wings of the establishment, each headed by an old Etonian. We're hearing what's good for business and how to best keep migrant workers down. The only voices claiming to be speaking for workers seem to think we can rely on the ruling classes on Europe to protect our rights, at a time when these are under attack across the continent.

To help widen the debate and inject the voice of workers TUSC have organised a tour of 20 cities with public meetings putting the socialist case for leaving the EU.

The EU is a bosses' club that is based on a series of free trade deals aimed at increasing the profits of big business. It has pushed austerity, most noticeably in Greece and has privatisation of things like railways and postal services enshrined in its laws. While the internal freedom of movement is breaking down it is still fiercely defending the idea of 'Fortress Europe' as shown by their recent deal with Turkey. It is thoroughly undemocratic, elected MEPs can only rubber stamp decisions taken by the council of ministers and officials. The EU is not a friend of the working class and we do not have any democratic mechanism to reform it in our favour.

Whether you agree with these arguments or are just interested in hearing a different point of view on the debate then please come along and invite others.

Socialist Party Branches in the South West

Bristol's New Labour Mayor Puts Tory In Charge of City's Education

Marvin Rees, Bristol's new Labour mayor has announced his cabinet today. Despite a resounding win in the mayoral election and Labour taking a majority of Bristol's council seats they've allowed the hated Tory party a seat on their cross-party cabinet.

Conservative councillor Claire Hiscott has been given the education brief. This is despite her party in government cutting education funding and pursuing the destructive policy of academisation.

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) former mayoral candidate  and Bristol Socialist Party member Tom Baldwin said:

“Bristol needs a fundamental change from the cuts policies of the last few years. This cabinet does not reflect the change people that voted for just 2 weeks ago. Education is absolutely vital to Bristol’s future and to put it in the hands of a Tory will be a slap in the face for many Labour voters. Unfortunately this is already beginning to look like the approach taken by the previous mayor. The main parties will be ‘all in it together’ on the cabinet, implementing anti-working class austerity.

“Tory policies of taking from ordinary people and giving to the rich are playing havoc in Bristol and across the country. We need a mayor who will oppose that party, not bring them onto the top table and into the running of the city. TUSC will continue to stand alongside ordinary people and campaign for the jobs and services we need, regardless of who is threatening them.”

Support for TUSC rises in Bristol's elections

Bristol's mayoral election saw the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) vote rise by over 450 from 2012. TUSC candidate and Bristol Socialist Party member Tom Baldwin got 1,876 first preference votes. At the same time, TUSC's local council election candidates in Bristol picked up a total of 2827 votes, an increase of over 900 on last year. The best of these was 411 for Bristol Socialist Party member Chris Farrell in Ashley.

This election showed a thirst for change. Labour's Marvin Rees thrashed 'independent' incumbent George Ferguson as people turned their back on three and a half years of arrogance and austerity.
Given the swing to Labour, increasing our vote was impressive.

It remains to be seen whether a new mayor will mean the change of direction that is badly needed. The challenge is on for Labour to reverse the cuts made by the previous mayor. Unfortunately that was not offered by Marvin Rees during the election - he said we have to "pick our battles" when asked if he would pass on further Tory cuts of over £70 million.

TUSC got a great response to our policies of opposing austerity with a no-cuts, needs-based budget and a mass anti-cuts campaign to challenge the Tory government. The potential for such a campaign is there. Campaigning has won victories in Bristol recently, reversing closure plans for six libraries and virtually all public toilets.

During the election TUSC campaigners spoke to people on doorsteps and stalls, put out thousands of leaflets, spoke at several hustings and appeared in all the local media. We had to work harder than the establishment candidates, lacking their money. Campaigning does not stop and start with elections for TUSC and the Socialist Party. We'll continue to stand alongside working class people across the city to defend our living standards, jobs and services.