RUGBY ANTI-CUTS PROTESTERS JOIN CAMPAIGN AGAINST WELFARE REFORM BILL

Last Friday, members of Rugby Against the Cuts joined campaigners from across Warwickshire to protest against the Welfare Reform Bill which is going through Parliament this very week. “This Bill is trying to make the poor and disabled pay for an economic crisis they did not cause,” Rugby Against the Cuts spokesperson Pete McLaren claimed today. “A number of us from Rugby, including members of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and the Green Party, joined the protest outside the Constituency Office of Leamington MP Chris White. It is his Government which is pushing through these attacks on the Welfare State,” he continued, “and protest organisers ‘Disabled People Against Cuts’ targeted Leamington because it is a Tory marginal.”

“In the event, Chris White cancelled the planned surgery, so we gave in a long letter detailing the adverse effects of the Welfare Bill, including:

• Introduction of Universal Credit which will bring compulsory workfare and caps on housing benefit and other payments, leading to increased poverty and homelessness.
• Moving people from Incapacity Benefit to Employment Support Allowance through punitive and unfair compulsory work capability assessments which are carried out by Atos, a ‘private for-profit’ company who are declaring that those who need 24-hour support, and those with terminal cancer, are ‘fit for work’ in order to meet government targets and reduce disabled peoples’ income drastically
• The introduction of a much stricter sanctions regime with the loss of benefits for up to 3 years, a risk particularly to people with learning disabilities or mental health needs who find it difficult to cope with the demands of looking for work at the same time as having little prospect of finding any.
• Replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) with the explicit aim of cutting entitlement by 20%.”

“The Welfare Reform Bill that Chris White and other Tory and Lib Dem MPs support has suffered a number of defeats in the House of Lords recently as people begin to realize just how draconian these cuts will be. Whilst these cuts are being forced onto the poorest and most vulnerable, the richest people, whose banking friends helped cause the economic crisis, are actually seeing their wealth rise,” he concluded.

NOTES

§ Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) can be contacted at www.dpac.uk.net/

• Rugby Against the Cuts was set up by local trade unionists and political activists on September 22^nd. Officers were elected as above
• Rugby Against the Cuts meets on the second Thursday of every month, 7.30pm, at the Three Horse Shoes, Rugby
• Rugby Against the Cuts can be contacted on 07881 520626, atrugbyagainstthecuts@googlemail.com, or through our web site athttp://rugbyagainstthecuts.blogspot.com

PROTEST AT LEAMINGTON TORY MP OFFICES FRIDAY 20TH JAN AT 1PM - DEFEND THE SICK AND DISABLED FROM TORY AND LIB DEM ATTACKS!

The Tories and Lib Dem Government was defeated in the Lords last week on cuts to benefits for people with cancer and also general time limits to claim benefit – the CONDEM government intend to ignore this hindrance and go ahead with their plans anyway – its clear this government needs to be put on the spot for such callous action.

Being disabled or seriously ill is not a life style choice unlike owning a yacht or having your home done up at the tax payers expense

Please bring your banners and placards and tell your friends to support this West Midlands protest organised by Disabled People Against Cuts.

As the Tories discuss arbitrarily removing 20% of disabled people from Disability Living Allowance and plan to finalise the introduction of Universal Credit which will lead to massive increases in poverty and homelessness please join us to tell Tory MP Chris White in his very marginal constituency what we think of the Condems policies. Please invite anyone else you know who would like to join us in a protest in Leamington Spa.

JOIN US TO PROTEST AGAINST CUTS TO DISABLED PEOPLE’S BENEFITS AND SERVICES AND THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR NHS ON WHICH ALL OF US WHO ARE NOT MILLIONAIRE POLITICIANS RELY.

SAY “NO” TO THE WELFARE REFORM BILL,THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR WELFARE STATE AND “NO” TO WORKFARE

What Cuts do Disabled People Face?

▼Closure of the Independent Living Fund supporting those with high support needs, proving that the government’s rhetoric of supporting disabled people is as empty as their souls

▼Movement from Incapacity Benefit to Employment Support Allowance through punitive and unfair compulsory Work Capability Assessments carried out by Atos, a private for-profit company who are declaring those who need 24-hour support and those with terminal cancer ‘fit for work’ in order to meet government targets and reduce disabled peoples’ income drastically

▼VAT increases and benefit rates linked to CPI not RPI which is likely to cost disabled people an extra £800 per annum.

▼Cuts to social care budgets, cuts to housing support, cuts to Access to Work programme (helping disabled people with any equipment they might need to compete on an equal basis with non disabled employees), constant attacks on disabled peoples’ integrity by the Tories and others suggesting we’re not really disabled but ‘just pretending’ to get meagre benefits which they’re going to abolish anyway.

Where – LEAMINGTON SPA, WARWICKSHIRE

At CHRIS WHITE, MP’s office, 43a CLEMENS STREET, OLD TOWN, CV31 2DP, not far from railway station.

When – Friday, JANUARY 20^th, meet outside constituency office at 1pm.

www.dpac.uk.net, mail@dpac.uk.net, http://twitter.com/Dis_PPL_Protest

ALL OUT IN SUPPORT OF PENSIONS, JOBS AND OUR SERVICES - 30TH NOVEMBER!

From Rugby Against the Cuts - http://rugbyagainstthecuts.blogspot.com/

An estimated 3 million workers will be on strike against the CONDEM Government attacks on pensions, jobs and our services. Other workers such as nurses, firefighters, police officers and the Trade Union movement as a whole will also be supporting the protest against the 'race to the bottom' in respect of pensions and services.

Rugby Against the Cuts fully supports workers in our town taking action by visiting picket lines and attending the marches and rallys taking place.

* 10.15am Cathedral Steps, Priory Street Coventry March/Rally

* 12 noon TUC March through Birmingham - Assemble Lionel

St/Livery St car park

* 1.30pm Rally with TUC Gen Sec Brendan Barber and others

National Indoor Arena, Birmingham

Midlands TUC are organising a march and rally in Birmingham to coincide with the TUC’s national day of action for Pensions Justice onWednesday 30th November, involving up to 20 unions and 3 million workers.

March: 11.30am assembly Lionel Street (B3 1DG)

Rally: 1.30pm National Indoor Arena (doors open 12.30pm)

Speakers:

CHAIR: Lee Barron, CWU Midlands Regional Secretary & Midlands TUC Chair
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary
Kevin Courtney, NUT Deputy General Secretary
Janice Godrich, PCS President
Karen Jennings, Unison Assistant General Secretary
Martin Johnson, ATL Deputy General Secretary
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary
Barry Lovejoy, UCU Head of Further Education
Joe Morgan, GMB West Midlands Regional Secretary
Tony Woodley, UNITE Executive Officer

The real voice of the 1st world war Harry Patch, 109, at Passchendaele

JOIN THE JARROW MARCHERS NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON 5TH NOVEMBER

After marching 330 miles the Jarrow March for Jobs arrives in London. Following in the footsteps of the 1936 Jarrow marchers who walked to London against unemployment.

Assemble Temple Place on Embankment 12noon!

Come and join the end demostration and rally in Trafalgar Square.

Speakers Include:

Matt Wrack FBU General Secretary
Bob Crow RMT General Secretary
Paul Murphy MEP Socialist Party Ireland
Lizi Gray Great-grandaughter of 1936 marcher
Stephen Hepburn MP for Jarrow
US Occupy Wall Street Activist
Jarrow marchers
Day-Mer Youth
Socialist Party
Young Deacon performing his rap about the riots called ‘Failed by the System’
Ed Marsh NUS
London Slutwalk Activist
Maddy Carty performing her track ‘CONDEMn AGE’
Dennis Skinner MP for Bolsover
+ More!

Join the facebook event!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=223703481020168

Book you place on the coach from Coventry!

This Saturday the march ends in London, and coaches are booked from across the country. There is a bus from the Coventry and Warwickshire area. We would encourage as many trade unionists as possible to attend this.

Meet at the Sports Centre in Cov, 9am. It is £4 waged, and £2 unwaged.

Ring Lenny on 07530 429441 to book.

Marcher’s Diary – Day 25

Coventry to Rugby

On our journey to Coventry we passed; two closed down Peugeot factories, a closed Marconi site and a closed GEC building. This is a huge amount of jobs lost to a small area, jobs which are badly needed. We also passed a local Tory council; chanting and singing “if you hate the torys” we definitely made our presence known. we had lunch at the Sheath and Sickle pub where we had a brilliant reception and there were journalists there to meet us. When we got Rugby we had a rally in the town centre hosted by the local anti cuts group,Rugby Against the Cuts. The speakers were fantastic; Martin Powell Davies – NUT, Peter – TUSC, Roy – Green Party, Lenny Shail – Socialist Party and Matt Whale and Alex Moore from the march. We then walked down to the Griffin pub where tea had been put on for us by the RMT. After discussion and drinks we went back to supporters houses to sleep. Thanks to Lorna for putting me up, had some great conversation. Also thanks to her son, Paul and her neices and nephews who drew the marchers some pictures of the march. Everyone loved them

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/