The budget next week heralds the first major offensive from the ConDem coalition. The chancellor George Osborne will almost certainly outline massive cuts to public spending alongside increases in taxes such as VAT. This is in response to a budget deficit which was ran up in bailing out the banks when the financial system looked to be on the brink of collapse, and various measures aimed at preventing the recession turning into a depression. The bankers, who faced great condemnation for their recklessness and greed, have by and large got away with it.
During the 'boom' times (when real wages stagnated for most people) their wealth increased dramatically. When the crisis came, Governments across the world bailed them out, and now they are starting to rake in the bonuses again. The same people that made the financial crisis and recession worse than it otherwise might have been (with regular crisis and recession an inevitable consequence of the capitalist system) are now the ones that have the cheek to demand that public spending is cut!
Naturally, the blue Tories under Cameron and the yellow Tories under Clegg, have encouraged this view. The rhetoric coming from all three main parties is one of cuts and austerity. But this is not the view of the Socialist Party. We say that the ordinary people of this country, and across the world, should not have to pay, with jobs, tax rises and cuts to services, for the crisis caused by the capitalists. We will fight to prevent every cut, be it a closure (of a ward, library or post office), a privatisation (e.g. of the Royal Mail or schools) or a spending decrease. When, according to research by the PCS union, the rich fail to pay £120 billion a year in taxes they should pay, it is grotesque that spending on essential services is cut. When billions are spent on Trident nuclear weapons, it is obscene that pot holes are not filled and bus services cut. We believe that a fight back will require united and broad local campaigns against the cuts, linked nationally, and internationally.
In Devon we are launching anti-cuts alliances in Exeter, North Devon and Plymouth, and organising action next week partly as protest against what is sure to be a savage budget, but also as part of the Europe-wide week of protest called by the European Left, as initiated by the Irish Socialist MEP Joe Higgins. The Socialist Party locally, regionally, nationally and internationally will be throwing its weight behind these campaigns, but we want to work with anyone who opposes these cuts. Full details of actions and meetings will be posted on here, as well as resources such as leaflets (starting with some leaflets and a 'more information sheet in the downloads section). If you are interested about getting involved, please email us, or show up to any meetings advertised.
