Rugby Observer report on the Jarrow March in Rugby

Jarrow Marchers protest in Rugby

Buy photos» The Jarrow Marchers take to the streets of Rugby. 43.011.039.rug.jg4

Dan Santy

26 October. Updated: 26 October 12:47

THE JARROW Marchers rolled into Rugby this week protesting against the Government's handling of the continuing economic slump.
Around 50 marchers - recreating the famous 300 mile protest of 1936 from the north east to London against poverty and unemployment - arrived in the town centre yesterday (Tuesday).
They marched and protested against the Government's handling of rising unemployment, with local trade unionists and socialist political groups backing them.
The marchers first arrived at the Sheaf and Sickle pub in Long Lawford for lunch before a rally at the clock tower.
Tonight (Wednesday), the marchers will attend an anti-cuts meeting at which railway and maritime workers union leader Bob Crow will address them. It takes place at the United Railway Club on Railway Terrace.

Buy photos» Rugby Green party leader Roy Sandison speaking out against Government cuts. 43.011.039.rug.jg2Buy photos» A young protester with the Jarrow Marchers. 43.011.039.rug.jg3The Jarrow Marchers in Rugby. 43.011.039.rug.jg5www.therugbyobserver.co.uk/

GREEN PARTY SUPPORTS CALL FOR EU REFERENDUM AS TORY'S LABOUR AND LIB DEMS RENEGES ON PROMISES TO ELECTORATE!

As all three main political parties (Tories, Labour and Lib Dem) reneges on their election promises to support the right of people to cast an opinion on the EU. The Green Party keeps its promises!

Caroline Lucas Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion will be voting to allow the citizens of the UK to finally have their say on the European Union!.

Yes to an EU Referendum: Green MP calls for chance to build a better Europe

A referendum on the UK's membership of the EU is a vital opportunity to create a more democratic and accountable Europe - with a clearer purpose for the future, said the Green MP today.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, has tabled an amendment to the Conservative Backbench motion for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, calling for ‘radical reform of the EU' to increase transparency and give Member States more control over their economies (1).

Speaking ahead of the Commons vote on Monday, Lucas said:

"I support a referendum on our membership of the EU because I am pro-democracy, not because I'm anti-EU - and because I want to see a radical reform of the way Europe operates.

"The EU has the potential to spread peace and make our economies more sustainable, and to promote democracy and human rights, at home and throughout the world.

"But it must urgently change direction, away from an obsessive focus on competition and free trade and towards placing genuine co-operation and environmental sustainability at its heart.

"Thanks to the bureaucratic and remote way which the EU works, many people today are no longer sure what is it for. So the challenge now is to make those institutions more democratic and accountable - and to develop a more compelling vision of the EU's role and purpose.

"A referendum would allow the space for that debate about the future of the Union to occur, and to ensure that the goals of the European project really are in the best interests of EU citizens."

ENDS

Notes

1) Caroline Lucas's full amendment to Mr David Nuttall's proposed Motion (National Referendum on the European Union):

(d) seek to build support for radical reform of the EU, increasing its transparency and accountability, refocusing its objectives on co-operation and environmental sustainability rather than competition and free trade, and enabling member states to exercise greater control over their own economies.

Caroline Lucas MP is available for interviews and comment. Please contact:

Melissa Freeman

Senior Parliamentary Press Officer

Office of Caroline Lucas MP

Tel: 020 7219 0221

Mob: 07590 050565

Email: melissa.freeman@parliament.uk

Website: http://www.carolinelucas.com/

MARCH WITH THE JARROW MARCHERS IN RUGBY ON TUESDAY 25TH OCTOBER

http://jarrowmarch11.com/

The excellent initiative to draw attention to the plight of young people, The Jarrow - London March organised by the Youth Fight For Jobs will be visiting Rugby on the way to London on Tuesday 25th October.

The march has been enthusiastically received by all the communities it has visited and we must do the same in Rugby!

Rugby Green Party members will be meeting the marchers, with our excellent new banner at the Sheaf and Sickle Pub, in Long Lawford and taking part in the march into Rugby at 2pm for the rally at 3pm.

please come along and show support!

TUES OCT 25 1 pm MEET MARCHERS AT SHEAF & SICKLE, LONG LAWFORD

2pm MARCH INTO RUGBY

2pm STALL AT CLOCK TOWER (Yes we need to do both at same time)

3pm RALLY AT CLOCK TOWER

About the Campaign;

Youth Fight for Jobs, a campaigning organisation, is marching from Jarrow to London, starting on 1 October 2011. This is on the 75 anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade, when 200 unemployed workers took a similar route to raise awareness of mass unemployment. Today, as unemployment and youth unemployment soars, the ConDem coalition is axing jobs and services; this new campaign is absolutely vital.

On the Jarrow March we are demanding:

• A massive government scheme to create jobs which are socially useful and apprenticeships which offer guaranteed jobs at the end – both paying at least the minimum wage, with no youth exemptions.
• The immediate reinstatement of EMA payments, expanding them to be available to all 16-19 year olds. Scrap university fees, for free high quality education.
• The immediate re-opening of all youth services that have been closed, including reinstating sacked staff.
• The scrapping of ‘workfare’ schemes – benefits should be based on need not forced slave labour.
• A massive building programme of environmentally sound, cheap social housing.

TUC March and Rally - Manchester for the Alternative - Sunday 2nd Oct

Date: Sunday 2 October
Assemble 12 noon Liverpool Road (off Deansgate)

This year the Conservative Party are having their annual Conference in Manchester and the TUC is organising a march and rally to show opposition to the Coalition Government's disastrous policies of pay freezes, cuts and attacks on public services that are producing rising unemployment, cuts in living standards and stagnation. The march will also show the support for The Alternative. We need jobs, growth and justice for a sustainable future and this event will send that message loud and clear.

Coaches from .......

Stourbridge - Dudley - Wolverhampton ........01384 813875

Sandwell - Walsall ..........07952 647479 or 0121 567 5446

Birmingham ............07904 960442

Coventry Trades Council ........ 07799 340 559

European Conference Against Austerity & Privatisation

Three years ago the world economy stood on a precipice. Collapse was only averted by a vast bank rescue package. In Europe the sum ran to trillions of pounds. This proved to be no answer to the crisis but poured yet more wealth into the pockets of the rich and led to the sovereign debt crisis. Governments throughout Europe and beyond now propose a single solution – draconian austerity measures that threaten the livelihoods of millions of ordinary people. And indeed millions oppose this policy, which will not bring economic recovery but recession. To address this crisis on a basis that meets the real needs of the peoples of Europe, we will be meeting in London on 1 October at the Europe Against Austerity conference to discuss an alternative economic and political strategy.
Jeremy Corbyn MP Lab, Islington North,
Len McCluskey Unite,
Pierre Laurent Party of the European Left,
Sevim Dagdelen Die Linke,
Annick Coupe Solidaires,
Prof Walter Baier Austria,
Elisabeth Gauthier Transform Europe,
Felipe Van Keirsbilck European Joint Social Conference,
Hugo Braun Attac,
Piero Bernocchi Cobas,
Prof Costas Lapavitsas Soas,
Andrew Burgin Coalition of Resistance

DEMOCRACY NOT IN EVIDENCE AT LIB DEMS CONFERENCE AS GREEN ACTIVIST IS JAILED FOR HANGING A BANNER!

There is a protest on Monday from 3pm outside Birmingham Magistrates Court in support of Edd Bauer who used to be involved in Birmingham University Young Greens and is now a sabbatical officer of the Student Union.

Edd is in prison for the crime of hanging a banner that could be seen by motorists on Broad St just before the start of the Lib Dem Conference. The crime is said to be a "road traffic offence" but the prosecution said his act was not dangerous. He was denied bail as he has a previous offence of sitting down on the floor in Fortnum and Mason. Being denied bail is thought to be unprecedented. The 2 others with Edd at the time were granted bail but banned from Birmingham city centre for over a month.

At 3pm on Monday he will see his next bail hearing at Bham Magistrates Court. Anyway wishing to protest in solidarity, meet in front of the magistrates Court on Corporation St at 3pm.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159569750798811

http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2011/09/solidarity-demo-for-imprisoned-activist-edd-bauer/