by Newham and East London Socialist Party members
Protesters gathered to oppose cuts, a council tax hike, and plans to sell off local assets. The Labour council aims to put up council tax by 10%, council rents by 2.7%, and cut council tax support by 10%.
A library worker addressed the lobby about big cuts planned. Palestine Solidarity Campaign demanded the council come clean about whether it invests in companies with links to the Israeli state.
Photo: Newham SP
Newham Labour council fears public scrutiny of their cuts-making meetings. This year, access to the public gallery was severely restricted. Last year, three protesters in the gallery were falsely maligned with charges of “antisemitism”. The year before, the police were called into the council buildings in a heavy-handed and failed effort to intimidate future protests.
Newham Council leaders cry that a homelessness crisis and a spiralling bill for adult social care have driven them to seek permission from the Labour government to increase council tax by 10%.
The council cabinet warned that if their cuts budget does not pass, the council may be forced to declare a Section 114 notice. This would see government auditors taking charge to “balance the books”.
However, Socialist Party member Niall Mulholland said: “Newham Trades Union Council calls for an emergency needs budget, using the council’s huge reserves and borrowing powers, so cuts are not necessary, while also demanding that the Labour government starts properly funding Newham, and all other local councils, after 14 years of Tory cuts.
“There’s government money for spending billions on weapons. So why is there no money for local services and social provisions?”
Last year, the Independent group on the council opposed Labour’s council tax hike, but mistakenly moved its own council tax rise below Labour’s figure, while local residents are struggling with the cost of living. This year, it is welcomed that the Independent group leader, Mehmood Mirza, called for a council tax freeze and more funding from Westminster to plug the deficit.
Speaking for the Socialist Party, Lois Austin called for trade unionists and campaigners to unite against the cuts, and to replace cuts-making Labour councillors with fighters: “We need a new party of the working class in Newham and across the country to represent our interests”.