Kay Wesley
@kaywesley.bsky.social
Councillor of Congleton. CEO of Kanga Health. @KangaHealth.bsky.social. Leader of the Equality Party @EqualityParty.bsky.social
Zoe Garbutt summarising what we’ve achieved today. But on organising going forward, I don’t agree with setting up lots of local groups, as suggested. We don’t have the capacity at local level. We need a national programme. #antiausterity
Final comment from Mandu - overturning austerity is better for everyone. Which it is. We must mobilise together to make this happen.
Southwark Council Leader James McAsh talks about spending his whole adult life with austerity. #antiausterity
Mandu Reid, former leader of the Women’s Equality Party, talking about the importance of storytelling in creating change. #antiausterity
Jordan Rivera of UNISON says that health services need to increase dramatically to meet the needs of our people. We don’t have to accept austerity.
Cllr Michael Chessum says we are at a unique moment with a progressive prime minister and councillors across political divides working together to oppose austerity.
The myth that ‘there is no money’ has existed since Thatcher, said ‘there is no such thing as public money, there is only Taxpayers money’. But it is still a myth, says Simon Ripton.
Ask No.5: Public Sector reforms - from increasing powers to local councils, ending outsourcing and privatisation practices, introducing new models of work such as a 4 day working week, improvements to public sector pay and conditions.
Ask No.4 - New, fairer ways to raise money Reform Council Tax and introduce new ways to raise funds that ensures wealthier property owners pay a fairer share. A few builds on this from the audience, especially focus on wealthy landowners hoarding property and maybe just ‘local tax’ #antiausterity
Ask No.3 - more funding for more homes. Audience members asking for this to be changed to ‘council homes’ - round of applause. Need to also add ‘sustainable’ homes too. And commit to maintenance, stop the right to buy and end developer-led building. #antiausterity
Ask No. 2 is cancelling local authority debt - ‘it is made up on a computer and can be written off’ #antiausterity
Ask No.1 - more government funding with LG settlements back to pre-2010 levels and guaranteed funding for statutory and non-statutory services. This should be based on need with structural changes as needed to meet needs.
This is what we want at the #antiausterity summit, according to the delegate survey. Pretty simple, really!
‘The fight against the far right is the fight of our lifetime’ says Kebede. Round of applause. #antiausterity
My old colleague Stacy Hart asks a good question about cross party collaboration and David says the LibDems have long worked with the Greens. I’ve always worked across party lines in our council to deliver for our residents.
A cleaner from Southwark Council asks the panel about outsourcing her job to private companies. Zita replies that as soon as something is outsourced it drives down wages and workers rights. It becomes about profit not people. #antiausterity
Kebede says we should not be investing more in defence. Why more weapons of destruction when we need SEND services. #antiausterity
We need a tax on wealth and a levy on the banks, says Daniel Kebede. The banks are back to making record profits while communities are struggling. #antiausterity
Why can’t we have rent controls, caps on utilities, adult social care support? Relatively small investment across a number of areas would have an immediate impact on poverty. #antiausterity
Zita Holbourne listing the services that austerity took away. Libraries, community centres, early years, family support, SEND services and more. Not forgetting the cuts to arts and culture and the vital role they play in wellbeing. #antiausterity
Cllr David Watson welcomes the prime minister’s promise to work cross-party and say we must move away from the idea that austerity is inevitable. If we want strong communities we need strong, funded local government. #antiausterity
Caroline Russell summarises the need for an intersectional approach, that involves the whole community, to tackle the effects of austerity. #antiausterity
Zita says yes we must work together and form an anti-austerity coalition, but must always oppose racism and prejudice. There is no hierarchy of rights when it comes to equality, but there are different impacts, and intersectionality is real too.
Important to work together, says Paul Williams. Recognise that some people who have been affected by austerity may be voting Reform. We mustn’t write people off, but must work together.
Paul Williams of ACORN describes how the poverty created by austerity has impacted the morale of society as a whole, creating the lack of trust in the system that leads to polarisation and the rise of the far right. #antiausterity
Education spending in England has gone from 5.5% of GDP to 3.4%, way below the OECD target of 5%, says Daniel Kebede of the NEU. This is having an serious impact on children’s education #antiausterity.
David Watson, LibDem at Southwark Council describes the collaborative cross party partnership that runs their council to a round of applause, and goes on to stress the ongoing impact of austerity on council funds.
Zita Holbourne of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts described the devastating impact of austerity on black and brown people but also other disadvantaged groups like women and the disabled. #antiausterity
Panel discussion at #antiausterity summit with Caroline Russell (G), London Assembly, Zita Holbourne - BARAC, Daniel Kebede - NEU, Cllr David Watson - Southwark, and Paul Williams of ACORN.