Biggest demonstration since the Poll Tax planned for Saturday 20 November

Demonstration against the cuts – there is an alternative

This Saturday, hundreds of people from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will march in protest against the most brutal cuts to public services, jobs, welfare and education in decades.

The demonstration, organised by the Notts Save Our Services (Notts SOS) Campaign, will be assembling at the Forest Recreation Ground from 11.30am and marching at 12.30pm to the Market Square in Nottingham City Centre for a rally. It will include local trade unionists, the Gedling Save our School campaign, disabled people, claimants, students, local tenants and residents of nursing homes and women's shelters.

“We are facing cuts of £150 million plus in the County Council. That means cuts to day and social care, welfare rights advice, youth support, the play service and it means the closure of mental health centres and old people’s homes,” said Branch Secretary of Notts Unison Martin Sleath. “And the Council is proposing turning old people’s homes, cleaning, catering and its trading services over to the private sector, without allowing any in-house tenders.”

Liz Silver from Nottinghamshire Disabled People’s Movement said “These cuts will have a devastating impact on disabled people locally and nationally – people with mental health issues, people with learning difficulties and people who rely on Disability Living Allowance.”

The demonstrators will also be highlighting the alternatives.

“There is an alternative. These cuts are not inevitable,” said Secretary of Notts Trades Council Richard Buckwell. “Public service workers did not cause this crisis, the banks did. Yet bankers’ bonuses are back up to 2007 levels.”

"The government is picking on the most vulnerable people in society to make their £80 billion worth of cuts over the next 4 years: pensioners, the unemployed, the disabled, people on benefits and the public sector workers who serve them,” said Secretary of Notts NUT and President of Notts Trades Council Liam Conway. “Meanwhile the richest 1,000 people in Britain increased their wealth last year by a staggering £80 billion - an exact match to the cuts. We say pick on the rich and powerful, sequestrate the Rich List's £80 billion and expand public services."

“We will make the government and the City and County authorities in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire aware of the strength of feeling that is growing against cuts to services, jobs, welfare and education. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a locally or centrally-controlled budget, we won’t allow these cuts to go ahead without a fight,” said Notts SOS member Mike Craven.  “We are taking a stand against austerity and reminding the politicians who the Big Society really is.”

ENDS

Notts Save Our Services Campaign brings together people and organisations in the City and County who will be negatively affected by all aspects of the cuts and who want to take action to stop them.