On the 29th of March, Socialist Party members from Birmingham attended the Crips Against Cuts protest to oppose the Labour party's proposed cuts to welfare. We joined trade union activists and disabled campaigners in taking a stand against Rachel Reeves' attack on the most vulnerable in our society.
Earlier this month, Labour announced their plans to slash disability benefits, launching an attack on vulnerable workers with £5 billion worth of cuts being proposed. There is no doubt that this is just the start of further austerity and cuts to come.
Speakers echoed the concerns of many disabled people across the United Kingdom as the introduced cuts would see over a million Personal Independent Payment (PIP) claimants impacted by tightened eligibility, a decision that would inevitably force many into poverty. The mood remained elevated as many highlighted the need for an anti-capitalist approach in the fightback against the cuts.
During our discussions with members of the public, many expressed outrage in response to Labour's latest attack. While we were leafletting for the people's budget meeting being organised by the West Midlands Shop Stewards Network at the end of April, many members of the public questioned the affiliation of trade unions to the Labour Party. It is abundantly clear that we must call on trade unions to fight against cuts, with the involvement of disabled workers.
At the Birmingham People's Budget meeting on April 26th, we intend to create an open dialogue with trade unionists and community campaigns, in order to create an organised approach to funding and opposing the abhorrent cuts facing the city. A local campaign to defend services and opposing austerity at the ballot box can be used as a model on how to fight government cuts, such as to welfare, on a national level.
How Can Council Cuts Be Ended? Conference to debate a people's budget for Birmingham
12pm, Saturday 26th April
Comfort Inn
Station Street
Birmingham
B5 4DY
Organised by West Midlands Shop Stewards Network