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Photos from Birmingham Council House blockade

Save Birmingham | 26.02.2013 15:16 | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Birmingham

Activists from across Birmingham have been blockading all entrances to the Council House since 11am, trying to physically prevent Councillors from entering for the budget meeting, where the cuts will be undemocratically voted through. Not surprisingly, most Councillors were not willing to engage with them in debate. The police have helped push the cuts through by forcibly attempting to break up the blockade and escorting the Councillors to the art museum entrance, which is linked to the Council House. Activists attempted to blockade these alternative entrances, but the police kept finding new ways to get Councillors inside. One activist managed to find a way inside the Council House during the meeting, and heckled Albert Bore before being carried out by security.


















From a statement on the Save Birmingham website:

"We are taking this action because austerity is economically backward and is not helping the economy. Furthermore, these cuts to Birmingham are highly undemocratic and against the will of most people living in the city – who didn’t vote for this.

The £101m of cuts to be voted on today in Birmingham include a cut of £32.7 million to the Adults and Communities budget, £23.8 million to Children Young People and Families, and £28.3 million to Leisure Services. High on the hit list are: Voluntary Sector Funding (£4.4m), Children Centres (£3m), Children Residential Care Homes (£1.6m), Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (£1.4m), Home to School Transport (£1m), Youth Service (£0.47m) and reduced subsidy for the Meals Service (£0.4m).

We must now fight these cuts on the ground service by service. Victories can be won! Campaigners across Birmingham have overturned cuts with well-organised campaigns."


Save Birmingham
- Homepage: http://savebirmingham.wordpress.com/