About this Event
16 years of austerity have brutalised the services provided by local councils. Central government funding more than halved in real terms. Even leaning harder on local taxes, councils’ spending power per person is down 22% since 2010 - and worse in the poorest areas. The cost of bare essentials such as social care and temporary accommodation have rocketed. Libraries, youth services and more have been decimated. Jobs have been slashed and real-terms pay is down 30%. After evicting the Tories, Starmer’s Labour has kept local government on life support, but not rolled back most cuts. Yet in 16 years, no council - neither Labour nor Green - has mounted any real resistance to reverse austerity.
This year, Lambeth Green manifesto pledged to use the council as a platform to launch such a campaign alongside unions and communities. Zack Polanski promises a summit against local government austerity. What would it take to make this a reality? Can the Greens be held to this promise? Can Labour councillors be pulled into the fight? And what can we learn from the historic victories and failures of rebel councils, from Poplar, Clay Cross, Liverpool, to Lambeth?
Join us to discuss the prospects for a fightback.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Electric Elephant Cafe, 186A Crampton Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00 to GBP 6.13
