Speakers' Corner: "I'm sick of out-of-touch politicians and their cuts"
Today's Speakers' Corner is from Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts' mayoral candidate Tom Baldwin.
I'M standing for Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts for Bristol mayor as an alternative to the parties of big business and of austerity. The ConDem Government is demanding attacks on the living standards of ordinary working-class and middle-class people and cuts and privatisation to our vital public services. Their agenda is one of Robin Hood in reverse, taking wealth from us and giving it to the rich.
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People gathered on College Green to protest at Government cuts
Unfortunately all the main parties have gone along with this agenda, agreeing that cuts are needed. In local councils they've all carried out the Government's demands and passed on the pain to local people. This includes Labour and the Greens.
Here in Bristol that has meant things like the planned closure of eight care homes and seven day care centres. This is nothing but an attempt to pay for a crisis caused by billionaire bankers and big business out of the pockets of the elderly and vulnerable. Reversing these closures would be my first priority if elected.
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The news that the mayor will be faced with a £25 million shortfall in their first year will inevitably mean even more attacks on the people of Bristol if one of the pro-cuts candidates is elected. Government cuts to this city's funding will present the new mayor with a choice. Will they do the Tories' dirty work and make cuts or will they stand up to defend the jobs and services we need?
If elected I would take the second option. I would move a budget based upon what Bristol needs and campaign to win back the money that's been stolen from us. The Government may claim there's no money but there was plenty when the banks needed bailouts and they've managed to fund tax cuts for big business and things like Trident nuclear weapons.
I would begin by protecting the services we already have, but the needs of the city are greater than that. I would also bring in a local replacement to the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). This was a small weekly payment to 16 to 19-year-old students to help pay for things like travel to college; it was cut by the Tories but has been re-introduced in some local authorities. Building and refurbishing council houses would both fill a need for quality affordable housing and create much- needed jobs.
As a socialist I believe in public ownership. Our services should belong to us and be run democratically in the interests of the people of Bristol, not by unelected private companies who put their profits first. I would halt and reverse privatisation and outsourcing of council services. I support a publicly owned transport network where cheap fares and better services are the priority, not profiteering by companies like First.
Electing me as an anti-cuts mayor would be a huge boost to the fight against austerity. But for me, active opposition to the cuts doesn't end with this election. I'm fed up with politicians that you only see when they want your vote. I have a long record of campaigning with groups including the Bristol and District Anti-Cuts Alliance and Youth Fight for Jobs and Education. From lobbying the council against care service cuts to supporting disabled workers on their picket lines as they struck against the closure of Remploy factories, I've been there.
When workers are forced into striking to defend their living standards they need support, not condemnation as we've had from Labour. No wonder working-class people feel abandoned.
Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts was established to give us back a voice. If I'm elected I'll only take the average wage of a worker in the city, not the inflated mayoral salary. I'm sick of hearing out-of-touch politicians talk about "tough choices" when they're protected from the effect of those choices by their huge pay.
I say it's time for a clean break with the policies of austerity.
It's not fair to make working-class people pay for a crisis they didn't cause, especially when the most vulnerable are paying the highest price. It's not necessary when the super-rich are still rolling in money.
For example £120 billion is dodged in tax each year while the Government carries on handing tax cuts to millionaires. £750 billion is lying idle in the bank accounts of big business in this country, not being invested to create jobs because they put their profit before our needs. And it's not working. As people have less money to spend the economy is getting worse and Government borrowing is actually going up.
If you want a mayor that's going to take a stand against austerity then vote Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts first preference. To contact me or get involved in our campaign then call 07986 951527 or email tomobaldwin@gmail.com. You can find out more from www.socialistparty.org.uk, www.tusc.org.uk and www.facebook.com/TUSCBristol.
Comments
by bristolreded
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 7:24PM
“I agree with cuts but not to defense,welfare benefits,council housing, infrastructure improvements. I will be voting for Tom Baldwin as he has the best economic policy's and he will improve the lives of poor people. I belief in living in our means but the torys don't.”
by Paulienash
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 4:46PM
“Lone_ranger
You must be the only one.
Just to confirm the 'equivalant' statement is based on a like for like comparison, don't take my word for it, its confirmed by the ONS.
Interesting that Toms Trade Union Guru, Brendan Barber who's favourite target's are the "Overpaid Posh boys" in government or the "rich bankers" actually earns more than all the MP's and our overpaid Prime Minister at £105,000 pa. I noticed how defensive he got when quizzed why he was taking his taking his £105,000 golden goodbye (tax free) when his members are facing pay cuts & freezes. I could go on and discuss his pension fund and which is reported to be in the region of £1.5m.
"Families and children are bearing the brunt of the austerity agenda whilst the rich are getting richer" *- I guess it depends on who you class the rich as?
* - TUC statment 12th September 2012.”
by Lone_Ranger
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 2:41PM
“Paulienash - Having worked in both public and private sector, I can confirm that:
Most public sector employees do not earn more than Private sector equivalants
Most public sector employees do not work less hours
Most public sector employees do not have more holidays
Most public sector employees do not have more sick days
Most public sector employees do not bigger pensions
Most public sector employees do not have better working conditions.”
by Big_Gregory
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 2:23PM
“excellent post Paulienash”
by simontbc
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:59PM
“PaulieNash - Abso fooking lutely. However be prepared for lots od negative ratings and abuse.
On a side note there is no way that picture in the article was taken today. I see shorts and sunglasses!!!!”
by Paulienash
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:45PM
“"Mr Baldwin isn't pretending there isn't a problem, he's just suggesting it's not the fault of the people who're being made to pay for it"
Your being sucked into the "its all the bankers fault" narrative, its the easiest game in town and after 4+ years of recession these slogans are banded about until they become fact. The UK was being run at a huge deficit, the labour Govt had convinced themselves that the good times were going to go on and on hence they borrowed based on future earnings. Its a bit like you getting a payrise and straight away increase your borrowings accordingly. I doubt any Government would have put the brakes on the growth we had throughout the 00's so its not a Labour/Tory thing.
As a side note I'll probaby be branded a "Bailout denier" you are aware that if RBS take a £50b bailout they don't actually get a £50bn cheque?
Our economy needs to be rebalanced, in 2008 over 50% of our total economy was based around the Public sector, even the most ardant Trade Unionist should agree thats unsustainable. Whether we like it or not public sector employees don't generate income, the age old Trade Union argument is that they also pay taxes which is true. However unless they are paying 135% of their wages in taxes where does the additional money come from?
I notice Tom is also ignoring the fact that Public sector employees
Earn more than Private sector equivalants
Work less hours
Have more holidays
Have more sick days
Bigger pensions
Better working conditions
But heh why let the facts get in the way”
by BS3Yellow
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 11:33AM
“@Big_Gregory
I understand you frustration with the Labour government's mishandling of the economy. As far as I'm concerned, they're damaged goods politically.
Public sector changes are necessary but not to the scale, severity and cluelessness of what's happening at the moment. There have been many failures in the public sectors but hacking and slashing without really looking at the root causes of the issues, wastage and trimming the significant amount of fat is far more sensible. The current government has no interest in the human cost and is only interested in the spreadsheets. Both need to be balanced.”
by Patrick_Hulme
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 11:26AM
“Tom Baldwin offers us the chance for us to reject the failed policies of all three establishment parties. In effect they have no idea how to solve the current economic crisis and if you take a lesson from the 1930's, austerity policies will cause further deflation. It is now clear that we are in new economic phase which demands urgent action from the majority to counter the failed policies of the 1%.”
by BS3Yellow
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 11:12AM
“@ BristolDj
That's a sensible counter and there's a lot of truth in what you're saying. The concern I have is that if the consumer demands for growth were both unsustainable and unrealistic, why were the banks continuing to promote products that are clearly unsuitable and unstable? There's a distinct lack of corporate responsibility that caused this mess because the banks knew that they're too big to fail.”
by Jimenez47
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 11:02AM
“At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child — miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.
- quote from PJ O'Rourke”