The Isle of Wight needs socialism!

Part of the Isle of Wight from the air, photo Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)

John Hustler, Isle of Wight Socialist Party

A large group of anti-cuts protesters, including Socialist Party members, gathered outside county hall in Newport on the Isle of Wight last week. Inside, the council met to decide on where to make Ł12.75 million of cuts this year and further millions over the next four years.

The impressive turnout (which attracted much media attention) was bolstered by a fantastic reaction from passing pedestrians and honking traffic. One driver even pulled over his car to shake my hand and add his support.

A school bus filled with high school students, stopped at traffic next to the protest, drew cheers as they held up hand written anti-cuts signs in the bus window. If Tory austerity is going to affect anyone, it will be this generation.

Many of the people at the protest were not political before the cuts hit but after witnessing the damage being caused felt they had no choice but to make their voices heard.

A care worker told me that she feared not only for her job but for the service users as the threat of care home closure loomed ever closer.

Despite the opposition to austerity, the Independent-led council voted through the cuts.

Bizarrely, Tory opposition council leader Dave Stewart complained that the cuts didn't go far enough blaming the council's "socialist ideology"!

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

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