Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
What is different about TUSC?
I have lived in Harringay for 13 years. I have three children, all of whom go to South Harringay schools. I am a parent governor of South Harringay Infants School and Ladder Childrens' Centre.The Con-Dem government's systematic dismantling of the welfare state has put the very existence of local council services at risk. The Labour leader of Birmingham council has spoken of the 'end of local government'. Even the Tory chair of the Local Government Association has hypocritically warned that the funding squeeze on councils is 'unsustainable'.But it is not true that councils can do nothing but accept the government's attacks. They still control billions of pounds of public services and have powers they could use to resist cuts. Councillors have a choice. They can make a difference and take steps to improve the lives of millions of people - but only if they are prepared to fight.The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has agreed a policy platform to contest local council elections in 2014 which, if adopted by just a handful of councils, could make a difference. Even one councillor in each local authority arguing for the policies we outline, if they used their position in the council chamber to appeal to those outside, could give confidence to community groups and trade unionists to fight for change.TUSC councillors would:
- oppose all cuts to council jobs, services, pay and conditions. We reject the claim that 'some cuts' are necessary to our services or that the national debt is a reason for austerity;
- refuse to implement the bedroom tax. Haringey Council should write off all bedroom tax-related arrears, withdraw all court proceedings and eviction orders where the bedroom tax has been a factor, and call on Housing Associations to do the same;
- maintain the council tax, rent and service charges at current rates;
- say no to the racism of UKIP which divides our communities. UKIP aims to foster division between ordinary working people and sow the seeds of hatred while voting for cuts in the Civic Centre. Migrants are not to blame for the economic crisis;
- provide full funding for youth centres and clubs in every Haringey ward;
- bring Homes for Haringey back into council ownership and control, providing secure tenancies and genuinely affordable rents for all council house tenants;
- re-introduce rent councils, involving tenants, housing workers and trade unionists, to decide on affordable rents for private and council housing;
- vote and campaign against any move to sell off council housing stock to private contractors. You cannot control what you do not own. Spend Haringey's reserves on improving and building its housing stock;
- campaign for the introduction of a living wage, above the national minimum wage, including for council employees and those working for council contractors;
- vote against council cuts. Labour says there needs to be £50million of cuts next year. Use the £95million in council reserves in order to prevent further cuts in jobs and services. Set a budget that meets the needs of people in Haringey.
When other parties have been in control of councils, whether they are Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour or Green, all have implemented cuts. TUSC councillors will vote against council cuts. We are not part of the establishment parties. Vote for TUSC candidates in Seven Sisters (Derek Bishop, Jack Jeffery, Oktay Sahbaz) , Harringay (Patrick Burland, David Kaplan, Kiran Patel) and St Ann's (Simon Hester, Andrew Reid).Posted by David Kaplan, standing for TUSC in Harringay ward.Posted on behalf of TUSC candidates standing in Haringey.
Tags for Forum Posts: 2014 elections, council elections, election, elections, hustings, tusk
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David on
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Labour won a landslide victory after the war, because of its promise to build social housing, create a national health service and provide jobs to bring the mass of people out of poverty. Yes, inflation rose from about 3% in the 1945 to 10% in the early 1950s. Yes, the national debt rose from 125% of GDP in the mid-1940s to 250% in the late 1940s. The people who said it could not be done were the Conservatives and big business. But the will was there.
The Labour Party today is so far removed from that time as to be unrecognisable. But that does not mean that we shouldn’t be campaigning for better housing, more money for the health service and more funding for education.
Governments are eager enough to re-finance banks - backing bonus-eager executives in the process. The Times Rich List confirms there are more billionaires per capita in the UK than any other G8 country. There are now 104 billionaires, sharing more than £301billion, compared with 30 billionaires in 2004, sharing £65billion. “We’re all in this together” is ringing hollow.
During the flooding of the Somerset Levels earlier this year, David Cameron said, in spite of cuts in funding to the Department for the Environment, he would find “whatever money was necessary” to alleviate the misery of those living in that part of the country. Rightly, he prioritised that area of the country at that time. But the Con-Dem government does not prioritise budgets for councils because ultimately, they want councils to play a less significant roll in providing local services. The Con-Dem coalition wants to slash the welfare state.
Councils around the country are sitting on £14billion in reserves. Haringey’s share of this pot is £95million, while Haringey Labour say they will pass on the £50million cut in the borough’s grant from central government. How can any of the establishment parties possibly say they represent the best interests of ordinary people on the basis of these figures? £Millions are wasted when services are contracted out to private companies and consultants. Bringing these back into local authority control will save councils money.
And what about the Con-Dem's lesser partners, the Liberal Democrats? I received a personalised letter from one of the Lib Dem candidates this morning. They claim that “this is an election that determines who runs the council over the next four years - it has nothing to do with the national government.” How can the Lib Dems be trusted on the basis of their record of promises prior to an election, and their record once in power?
Millions of people are furious with what has happened with our public services. We need to challenge the “We cannot do anything” excuse by Labour. Post war Labour did, despite all the media and those with money and their representatives claiming it was impossible. We need to have some of that courage.
Posted by David Kaplan, TUSC candidate for Harringay, along with Kiran Patel and Patrick Burland
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Permalink Reply by markb on
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David,
in a discussion like this, be specific, don't reduce the argument to emotive statements like "people are furious" and "the will was there".
That's all true but HOW are you going to deliver done? How means: high level capex/opex plans and how they get funded. Both short term tactical and long term strategic.
Simple numbers from the Haringey Budget 2013/2014 book:
Haringey budget: £964M, of which £706M comes from the government. When that gets dialled down, where are you planning to get that money from?
Stick to the questions, no need to lay into any of the other parties. I already have a dim view of them but that's not going to convince me to vote for someone that shouts loud but can't detail his plans when held to even the mildest of scrutiny.
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