”We got drunk, trashed the Ritz & then walked down Piccadilly
to loot a few items from Fortnums.”
Boris Johnson, Bullingdon Club, 1986
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
This is what 500,000 people look like!
You can see the Rugby Against the Cuts purple banner in front of the excellent Thatchers and her sons white banner at 1.23.
Monday, 28 March 2011
Lib Dems to face wipe out in Rugby elections in May?
YouGov/Plymouth University Poll says;
Lib Dems set to lose 11 out of their 25 councils
& 700 of their 1,850 councillors on May 5th
With today's (28th March 2011) Poll showing the price of shoring up the Tories in Government, local Lib Dems Councillors in Rugby may be wondering what will be their fate come the 5thMay local elections.
With the Lib Dems likely to lose 3 seats in Rugby in Dunchurch & Knightlow, Paddox andCaldecott and even their current large majority seat in Eastlands not safe.
Many Lib Dems may be questioning their continue membership of what has been seen by some as a progressive party especially as Nick Clegg is trying to rebrand the party including changing its namehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nick-clegg/8408720/Nick-Clegg-orders-rebrand-amid-rumours-of-leadership-challenge.html
*Picture above - Jerry Roodhouse - Leader of Rugby Lib Demspreparing to be wiped out at the ballot box in May?
*Article taken from Rugby Green Party site - http://rugbygreenparty.blogspot.com/
WILL THE POLICE HAVE TO PAY DAMAGES FOR UNLAWFUL ARREST OVER FORTNUM & MASON PROTEST AFTER DAMNING VIDEO EVIDENCE EMERGES?
Cuts protesters claim police tricked them into mass arrest
UK Uncut activists say Met promised to show Fortnum & Mason protesters to safety – and then arrested themGreen & Black Cross legal observers took the footage inside Fortnum & Mason and handed it to UK Uncut, which passed it on to the Guardian.
Campaigners for the tax-avoidance protest group UK Uncut have claimed senior police officers "tricked" them into a mass arrest after a peaceful protest inside Fortnum & Mason's in London on Saturday.
Activists say they were given repeated assurances by a chief inspector from the Metropolitan police that they would be shown to safety after the protest, which she described as non-violent and sensible. However, when protesters left the luxury Piccadilly store on police instruction, they were kettled, handcuffed and taken into custody.
Their claims are backed up by footage, obtained by the Guardian, showing that, rather than being asked to leave, the protesters inside the luxury food retailer were told they were being kept inside for their own safety.
In the video, shot by observers for the legal volunteer group Green & Black Cross, a police officer can be seen telling protesters they would be directed towards "the safest parts" once they had left the building.
In all, 201 arrests were made during protests in London on Saturday, at which shops, banks and hotels were attacked by demonstrators who had broken away from the main, union-organised march down Whitehall to Hyde Park.
A total of 149 people have been charged with offences, including 138 charged with aggravated trespass in connection with the Fortnum & Mason protest.
The video also shows the officer agreeing with protesters that a breach of the peace had occurred outside the store, but not inside, and that Uncut protesters were being held inside so they did not become "wrapped up" in that disorder.
"As people leave, they're going to be asked to go left," she can be heard telling protesters. "They're just going into a safe environment because there's some disorder [outside] ... so we're trying to keep it sterile, safe, so people can get away to the tube station.
"People here are non-violent. It's sensible – we don't want them getting involved in stuff that makes it difficult for them," adds the police officer in the footage. Another officer also assured the protesters no one would be kettled if they left the building. A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said it would be inappropriate to discuss the matter while proceedings are active.
One Uncut activist, Jack Winstanley, who was held in a cell in Plaistow for 17 hours, said: "I feel totally betrayed by the police. They communicated the message fairly clear that we'd be released. And our protest had been totally peaceful. We then walked out into a kettle with police with riot helmets on. Not only could we not get home, we got arrested one by one."
Winstanley, a 26-year-old graphic designer from Brighton, said the Fortnum protest had been just like other UK Uncut protests. "It was creative and fun and exciting. There was a bit of cheering [and] whooping when people put up banners, and then things settled down and people were reading books and chatting and some people were talking to the staff about why we were there."
Several of those arrested said they had clothes and phones removed to be used as evidence.
Another Uncut activist, who was arrested for 20 hours and preferred to be known only as Jim, said: "There was this policewoman, and she spoke to the legal observers and said that all we had to do is turn left and we'd be free to go.
"But when we got out, they began arresting us. People in the crowd told a second female officer: 'You've lied to us. You said we could leave and now you're arresting everyone.' She replied: 'Yes, you're free to leave – to the police station. You're going to be arrested.'"
"Because we were at a peaceful protest, which had been the same as all UK Uncut actions to date, it really shocked me that they would arrest all 150 protesters. I feel tricked. Perhaps I shouldn't expect the police to tell me the truth," he said.
Also in the video is a 24-year-old female legal observer Jules Martin, who says customers in Fortnum & Mason are able to go about their business. Afterwards, she said: "The protesters never interfered with customers who wanted to browse. According to my notes, the cafe at the back was still open with waiters still moving about until after 5pm."
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Half a million people say no to the cuts in london protest
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| (Picture Paul Hanes - Coalition of Resistance) The TUC lift their finger (at long last) and half a million people make their way to London to protest against the cuts! |
Its the start not the finish of the campaign
Why should we pay for the bankers gambling debts?
Saturday, 26 March 2011
THE START OF THE FIGHT BACK!
Scenes from our visit to London for the massive anti cuts march today!
From start to finish
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| Pictures by R Sandison |
Friday, 25 March 2011
ANTI CUTS CAMPAIGNERS SUPPORT STRIKE AT RUGBY COLLEGE OVER JOBS, PENSIONS AND EDUCATION CUTS
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| College staff picketing one of the entrances on Thursday this week |
Members of Rugby Against The Cuts were invited to join the picket lines at the Rugby campus of Warwickshire College by striking college staff (members of the University and College Union UCU) angry over the CONDEM Government’s attempt to cut £852 million form their pension scheme - which will mean that staff in FE colleges will face an hike in the level of contribution they will need to make of at least an extra 88 per month.
Workers on the picket line were supported by students and people in their cars and on foot – with a number of local people coming up to the picket line to explain how they were supporting the strike because their own pensions were at risk.
College staff also explained that the pension issues is also part of the onslaught of cuts on education, including job cuts and the chance for young people to have a decent education and future as against the dole.
Rugby Against the Cuts took along our banner and gave out our own local leaflet and also leaflets from the Youth Fight For Jobs (a campaign part sponsored by the UCU) to students and also offered to support these workers in any way we can in the future.
By Roy Sandison - Rugby Against The Cuts - Trade Union Liaison
Friday, 18 March 2011
'Big Society' on the agenda? As Tories try to close Dunchurch Library
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| Dunchurch Library under threat from Tory Councillors cuts |
A meeting of over 100 angry residents packed into Dunchurch infants school, just outside Rugby, to hear the chair and local Liberal Democrat parish councillor declare that the only way to save the local library from closure was to staff it using volunteers.
It seems the 'big society' agenda is even being pushed by coalition partners at local parish council level as well as nationally.
By Clive Dunkley, TUSC election candidate for Brownsover South,
With a defeatist attitude the Liberal Democrat chair of the parish council, Robin Aird, declared to the meeting that there was no way the county council would reverse these cuts and the only possible way to maintain a library in the village would be to run it as a 'big society' venture using local volunteers to replace the two women workers currently employed to run the service.
During the discussion some local residents, following Aird's negative lead, said they would get involved in running the service. However, two of the local election candidates from Rugby Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) - myself and Pete McLaren - made short interventions explaining that there are alternatives to cuts and firmly stating that it wasn't acceptable to sack workers and replace them with community volunteers.
We also pointed out that this is a weak government coalition that can be forced into U turns, giving the example of the protests in the Forest of Dean which helped to force the government to reverse its decision to sell off the country's woodlands.
Myself and Pete (who is TUSC candidate for Dunchurch ward) were the only people to receive a round of applause at the meeting. This shows that where a lead is given and a fighting strategy to resist cuts is put forward, people are determined and willing to fight back.
*Rugby Against The Cuts are asking people to only support candidates in the forthcoming local elections who have signed our pledge to oppose the cuts.
Myself and Pete (who is TUSC candidate for Dunchurch ward) were the only people to receive a round of applause at the meeting. This shows that where a lead is given and a fighting strategy to resist cuts is put forward, people are determined and willing to fight back.
*Rugby Against The Cuts are asking people to only support candidates in the forthcoming local elections who have signed our pledge to oppose the cuts.
Front-Line Police Cuts To Warwickshire
As civilian staff take up voluntary redundancy, up to 150 police officers may have to take up their jobs as they are redeployed. Warwickshire police force will have their budgets cuts by almost £23m, unless they fightback against the cuts.
Warwickshire Police Federation chairman Simon Payne said: "This is the stark reality of what cuts mean, which is we haven't got enough money to pay for the number of police we currently have in Warwickshire." Speaking to the BBC, he said, "The [government] is conning the public if they say when police numbers fall, crime won't increase."
We stand opposed to ALL cuts and stand shoulder to shoulder with our police, nurses, firemen (and women) and the millions of public sector workers who did not cause the banking crisis and should not be forced to pay for it with their jobs. We will be marching in London on Saturday 26th March 2011 because we believe their is an alternative to the Con Dem cuts. Join us!
Thanks to Coventry Against Cuts for article
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST THE CUTS TO THE BALLOT BOX IN RUGBY!
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| Rugby Observer 03/03/2011 |
Rugby Against The Cuts wrote to all the sitting Councillors and their political parties and candidates to ask them to sign our pledge (below) to oppose the cuts that are afflicting such damage on our community.
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Only two Councillors made the effort to even reply to our pledge letter - Our community in Rugby deserves better!
COMMUNITY CANDIDATES
Rugby Against The Cuts will ensure that every seat in Rugby will have a community candidate committed to fighting the cuts - most seats are now filled, but if you are involved in fighting to defend your youth club, local school, care service, fire service, St Cross or fed up with us being forced to pay for the bankers gambling debts - please get in contact - by emailing rugbyagainstthecuts@googlemail.com
RUGBY AGAINST THE CUTS
PO Box 4123 Rugby CV21 9BJ
15th February 2011
Dear
Rugby Against the Cuts is a campaigning group of local trade unionists and political activists determined to do all in its power to prevent the threatened cuts in public spending. As part of its work, it intends to ensure that every voter in the Council elections in Rugby this May has the opportunity to vote for a candidate who opposes all public spending cuts. We are circulating the Pledge below to give all candidates the chance to demonstrate their opposition to the cuts. This will enable us to decide whether to stand a candidate in your ward. Rugby Against the Cuts has decided to promote anti cuts candidates in every ward where there is no other candidate or party who has given a written commitment to oppose all cuts in public spending and support for our alternative proposals.
Please therefore sign and return the Pledge below by Tuesday February 22nd if you oppose the cuts, otherwise we will assume this is not your position.
We await your response
Pete McLaren
Convenor, Rugby Against the Cuts
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
PLEDGE
I recognise there is an economic deficit, but I do not believe public spending cuts are the answer. I oppose all cuts in public spending, locally and nationally, and I will vote against all cuts, if elected, at every level.
Furthermore, I support alternative ways of resolving the deficit including:
- A 5% wealth tax on the richest 10%, which, alone, would resolve the debt
- Nationalisation of the banks, building societies and financial institutions, run by the people for the people, thus enabling their vast profits to be used to maintain and improve our public services
- Stricter enforcement of the collection of taxes which the wealthy avoid or evade – these amount to £120 billion per year
- Scrapping Trident and withdrawing from Afghanistan
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