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Our loyalty is not to any party

Wednesday, 12 February 2014 18:11
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After an energetic and vociferous protest against Michael Gove's recent visit to Marling school, Hilary Fowles, a member of the local Labour Party, wrote a letter published in both Stroud News and Journal and Stroud Life which argued that Stroud Against the Cuts is "mostly run by the Socialist Party". As this is untrue, we wrote the following response:

We, too, were inspired by the amazing energy and political engagement of
Marling and Stroud High Students, and proud to have been part of their
demonstration against Michael Gove and his disastrous attack on education.

People of all ages are tired of the government's assault on everything that
helps ordinary people in this society - from education to health and
benefits - in the interests of a privileged few.

Stroud Against the Cuts continue to work to expose what's being done to our
welfare state, including our local MP's role in it, and the impact on local
residents and workers.

If we're going to defend our jobs, living and working conditions and
services, we have to do more than just put an X in a box occasionally. We
feel it is necessary for ordinary people, organising together, to hold
those in power to their promises to us - and not just their promises to
corporate funders.

We would like to spend our time on this but we feel compelled to respond to
misleading statements in Ms Fowles letter.

Several parties including Labour were at the Gove demonstration promoting
themselves.  Stroud Against the Cuts' members, of various parties and of
none, spoke to and listened to the opinions of students about the
corporatisation of their education.

Ms Fowles claims that Stroud Against the Cuts is 'mostly run by the
Socialist Party'. If she attended our meetings, she would see that is
completely untrue.

Our members - and our key activists - include Labour, Green and Socialist
supporters, and people who aren't involved in any parties. We work with
anyone who shares our concerns or is affected themselves, including local
charities and trade unionists.

Groups like Stroud Against the Cuts have shown that local citizens can do
more than just waiting for the 2015 election. Most notably, we led the
campaign to stop 9 local hospitals being privatised. At a key point in this
campaign, Councillors Lydon and Drew left Stroud Against the Cuts, though
other members of the Labour party continued to be involved. We were left to
do the hard work of ensuring the campaign was ultimately successful.

When in power, we expect councillors to do what they can to help those who
are suffering worst from the cuts. That is why we were disappointed when
the Labour Party voted with the Tories against the Green's sensible and
fair bedroom tax motion.

As Stroud Against the Cuts, our loyalty is to ordinary citizens and to our
town, before it is to any party. We are proud to continue Stroud's
tradition of successful community action.

Yours faithfully,

Hannah Basson (Labour Party),

James Beecher (Chair, No Party),

Caroline Molloy (Green Party) and

Chris Moore (Socialist Party)

on behalf of Stroud Against the Cuts.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 February 2014 18:16