Oxford Citizens Protest Cuts on Carfax Tower

As the government announced serious cuts to services across the country, a group of Oxfordshire residents used prominent Carfax Tower as the site of their protest against the policy. The group calls themselves 'Oxfordshire Residents for Public Services', and said that they had no choice to but to take action against cuts to services.

Janine Marlow, one of the two protesters arrested today said

'The cuts announced today are aimed at the poorest and weakest members of society, who are paying the debts that rich bankers created. Cuts are already bringing the economy towards recession. Oxfordshire residents will see their whole way of life changed over the next four years, with young, poor and disabled people suffering the most.'

The second protester, Steve Barker, added

“Tories have always opposed proper funding for public services. Now they have got into power, they are using the recession as a smokescreen to rush through huge cuts to the public services used by the majority, while cutting the corporation tax paid by the bankers who caused this crisis. This has nothing to do with sensible economics, and everything to do with right-wing ideology”.
Today the coalition government announced the results of its Comprehensive Spending Review, and announced between 25% and 40% cuts to all government departments over the next four years. Oxfordshire public services will be seriously affected, through the unprecedented cut to the central government grant to Oxfordshire council. Keith Mitchell, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council has admitted that front-line services will be affected, and only 'essential' services preserved.

In other parts of Oxford street theatre and a samba band accompanied a rally against the cuts in Bonn Square.