Labour’s fight back against the Tory cuts
Labour’s fight back against the Tory cuts began at Ayr Town Hall last Monday at a meeting to set out Labour’s Better Way.
Local MP Sandra Osborne chaired a high powered panel of speakers including Cllr John McDowall, Labour
Leader on South Ayrshire Council; Stephen Boyd of the STUC and Johann Lamont MSP, Labour’s Deputy Leader in the Scottish Parliament.
The meeting began with a minute’s silence in memory of former STUC General Secretary Campbell Christie.
Johann Lamont paid tribute to her former mentor in the EIS teachers union, the late John Pollock who was Head
Teacher at Mainholm Academy. She went on to call for hard choices to be made in setting policy priorities:
“We have to get away from headline grabbing policies that don’t deliver for working people to properly
thought out policies that command people’s trust because they can see the difference they would make to their lives.” She called for priority in providing an expansion of affordable housing; a living wage not just for those in the public sector but those in the private and voluntary sector delivering for the public sector; and real hope for young people through educational opportunities and meaningful employment with proper employment rights. She warned that there is no point in trumpeting ‘Free Education’ if you are cutting back on Further Education and the chances it can offer to young people who have missed out at school.
Stephen Boyd delivered a presentation packed full of facts and figures designed to demonstrate that the
Government has got it wrong on the economy. Job Seekers numbers are up over the past year by 65% in South Ayrshire and 86% in East Ayrshire. Youth unemployment over the same period is up by 82% in South Ayrshire and 90% in East Ayrshire. Stephen went on to show how the UK Government’s debt and the cost of servicing that debt is not high by the standard of other major economies. He also set out why the Government’s current cuts agenda is not the way to secure economic growth
Cllr John McDowall put the cuts in a local council context by spelling out the impact on council services over the next few years. Reduced funding together with an ongoing freeze on Council Tax is going to result in hugely reduced public services. He called for a significant redistribution of wealth and resources to the least well off.
Sandra Osborne explained that Labour is now taking its campaign for a Better Way out into the local communities and onto the doorstep. Copies of Stephen Boyd’s presentation can be emailed to anyone who contacts Sandra’s office on 01292 262906 or osbornes@parliament.uk. (or you can view slides here)
Editor’s Note
Labour’s 5 Point Plan for Jobs
· A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs for young people - which they would be required to take up - and the Scottish Government to use some of the money to build 2,500 more affordable homes.
· The Scottish government to bring forward long-term investment projects for schools, roads and transport - to get people back to work and strengthen our economy for the future.
· Reversing January's damaging VAT rise now for a temporary period - a £450 boost for a couple with children - immediate help for our high streets and for struggling families and pensioners.
· A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements, repairs and maintenance - to help homeowners and small businesses
· A one year national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers - helping small businesses to grow and create jobs
Labour’s fight back against the Tory cuts began at Ayr Town Hall last Monday at a meeting to set out Labour’s Better Way.
Local MP Sandra Osborne chaired a high powered panel of speakers including Cllr John McDowall, Labour
Leader on South Ayrshire Council; Stephen Boyd of the STUC and Johann Lamont MSP, Labour’s Deputy Leader in the Scottish Parliament.
The meeting began with a minute’s silence in memory of former STUC General Secretary Campbell Christie.
Johann Lamont paid tribute to her former mentor in the EIS teachers union, the late John Pollock who was Head
Teacher at Mainholm Academy. She went on to call for hard choices to be made in setting policy priorities:
“We have to get away from headline grabbing policies that don’t deliver for working people to properly
thought out policies that command people’s trust because they can see the difference they would make to their lives.” She called for priority in providing an expansion of affordable housing; a living wage not just for those in the public sector but those in the private and voluntary sector delivering for the public sector; and real hope for young people through educational opportunities and meaningful employment with proper employment rights. She warned that there is no point in trumpeting ‘Free Education’ if you are cutting back on Further Education and the chances it can offer to young people who have missed out at school.
Stephen Boyd delivered a presentation packed full of facts and figures designed to demonstrate that the
Government has got it wrong on the economy. Job Seekers numbers are up over the past year by 65% in South Ayrshire and 86% in East Ayrshire. Youth unemployment over the same period is up by 82% in South Ayrshire and 90% in East Ayrshire. Stephen went on to show how the UK Government’s debt and the cost of servicing that debt is not high by the standard of other major economies. He also set out why the Government’s current cuts agenda is not the way to secure economic growth
Cllr John McDowall put the cuts in a local council context by spelling out the impact on council services over the next few years. Reduced funding together with an ongoing freeze on Council Tax is going to result in hugely reduced public services. He called for a significant redistribution of wealth and resources to the least well off.
Sandra Osborne explained that Labour is now taking its campaign for a Better Way out into the local communities and onto the doorstep. Copies of Stephen Boyd’s presentation can be emailed to anyone who contacts Sandra’s office on 01292 262906 or osbornes@parliament.uk. (or you can view slides here)
Editor’s Note
Labour’s 5 Point Plan for Jobs
· A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs for young people - which they would be required to take up - and the Scottish Government to use some of the money to build 2,500 more affordable homes.
· The Scottish government to bring forward long-term investment projects for schools, roads and transport - to get people back to work and strengthen our economy for the future.
· Reversing January's damaging VAT rise now for a temporary period - a £450 boost for a couple with children - immediate help for our high streets and for struggling families and pensioners.
· A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements, repairs and maintenance - to help homeowners and small businesses
· A one year national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers - helping small businesses to grow and create jobs
