Anti-cuts protesters to march through Coventry city centre

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Protesters will take to the streets of Coventry on Saturday ahead of £15million cuts which are set to be agreed by Coventry City Council next week.



Hundreds of people are expected to take part in the demonstration from midday in Millennium Square, in the city centre.

The groups will march to Broadgate where campaigners and trade unionists will speak about saving services and discuss alternatives to cuts.

Jane Nellist, secretary of Coventry TUC, said: “We have been talking to people around the city over the last few weeks and it’s clear is that people are absolutely opposed to these cuts.

"They value all our local services.

“We warned in December 2010, at our first demonstration against the Coalition’s plan for austerity, that the rich would continue to get richer whilst ordinary people would be expected to pay the cost.

“How true that has turned out to be. Billions of pounds have been slashed by this government, yet bankers continue to get billions in bonuses.

"We need to fight these cuts and challenge the government – whoever is in power after May - to give us the proper national funding for our local services.”

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Coventry protestors march against proposed city council cuts



Hundreds of protesters have marched through the centre of Coventry against city council plans to cut services.

The authority announced earlier this week that in addition to previous money-saving measures, a further saving of £15m would be needed.

Up to 1,000 jobs are at risk, along with cuts to elderly care, libraries and youth centres.

The council said by 2017 funding from central government will be half that of 2010.

A spokesman claimed "the cuts are necessary to reflect the harsh reality of this reduction".

Campaigners marched on Saturday from Millennium Place to a rally in Broadgate.

Coventry Trades Union Congress (TUC) president Darrall Cozens, who helped organise the protest, said: "If you don't stand up and fight for what you've got, you will lose it".

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Anti-cuts campaigners take to the streets of Coventry



Anti-cuts protesters made their voices heard during a protest in Coventry city centre on Saturday.

Around 250 people joined a march through the city, with organisers saying that the response shows that more people are vocally opposing national funding cuts and local cuts to services.

On Tuesday, Coventry City Council look set to vote through a budget that contains £15million of savings - with council finance chiefs saying there is no easy alternative to the cuts.

But campaigners disagree and they kicked off three days of protest and discussion this week by staging a rally in the city.

Jane Nellist, secretary of Coventry Trades Union Council, said: “We were very pleased with the turnout.

“It shows there's a growing fear from people in the city about the cuts. What was raised by speakers is that there is an alternative and that we should push this council to consider a braver alternative.

“Another thing that unions have raised is a campaign for a fairer settlement for Coventry.

“On Tuesday when the council meet, we want to see them standing for the people of Coventry and standing against the cuts to services that are going to affect so many people.”

The council budget cuts, which included 1,000 job losses, and a reduction in services that many rely on, comes after Coventry faced a £24million cut in its government grant.

The city's 17 libraries were granted a one-year reprieve after suggestions that most would be axed but some other key services are unlikely to survive the cuts.

Mrs Nellist said: “If you look at how much money has been cut from local authority budgets over the last few years it's almost equivalent to the money that bankers have got in their bonus packages.

“There is money around - it's just in the hands of the wrong people.

“There were a lot of new people who took part in the march, for example from the libraries campaign. It wasn't just the usual suspects, it was new people who are aware of the consequences of the cuts.”

At 4.45pm on Monday, there will be a protest reading on the council house steps, and at 1pm on Tuesday, campaigners will lobby the council ahead of the budget setting.

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“There is money around - it's just in the hands of the wrong people.

I quite agree with Mrs Nellist, but we ain't going to ever get our hands on it.

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Labour accused of misleading Coventry taxpayers over £15m budget cuts


Councillors Damian Gannon, John Blundell and David Kershaw

Coventry City Council’s ruling Labour group have been accused of misleading the public over the extent of cuts required in this year’s budget.

Coun Damian Gannon, Labour cabinet member for finance, warned of “painful cuts” in this year’s budget as it targeted £15million of savings.

But plans to scrap some transport for disabled children, axe school crossings and close libraries have all been shelved since.

Now the Conservative opposition has accused Labour of setting out a ‘worst case scenario’ which enabled them to later soften their stance in a bid to curry favour ahead of this year’s elections.

Coun John Blundell, Tory leader in Coventry, said: “Labour led everyone to believe they were going to have to close libraries, lose lollipop ladies and cut disabled transport for children. But now, three months before an election, they say they no longer have to do any of these things.

“It’s a case of softening people up after hitting them hard. I think most people would be pleased to get away with a tap on the head after they were threatened with a hefty punch.”

Coun Blundell also claimed there was disorganisation in the Labour group.

He said: “If these savings never had to be made, why make the statements in the first place?

“Coun Gannon says one thing then Coun David Kershaw (Labour cabinet member for education) fights for all these concessions. I think it is fair to say there is a divide in the Labour Party.”

Coun Blundell also criticised the overall budget suggesting Labour should have accepted a £1.25million grant from central government in exchange for freezing council tax, rather than raising tax by 1.9 per cent and raising £1.9million locally.

He said: “The rise will only generate £650,000 in additional revenue and it means £1.9million comes out of the pockets of Coventry taxpayers.

“Yes, we would have to find an additional £650,000. We will say more about how we would make that saving next week.

“It’s fair to say those savings would be where the Labour Party would never dare to tread.”

Coun Kershaw said: “There is no split, no divide. Damian and I are on exactly the same page as far as this is concerned.”

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I'd like to know how Gannon's qualified for the post he holds.