News / Austerity
Bristol rallied against austerity – what happens now?
It was announced with much fanfare and saw thousands turn out onto the streets of Bristol in support of the call to end austerity.
Yet the mayor’s highly anticipated visit to Westminster for the launch of the Core Cities green paper, lobbying the Government for an end to crippling council budget cuts, came and went last Tuesday (September 12) with relatively little comment.
Amid reports Marvin Rees and other city leaders were snubbed by ministers, who failed to turn out to meet the cohort, many people have been left asking, what next?
is needed now More than ever
It was a question raised by Clive Stevens, Green councillor for Clifton Down, as a cabinet meeting in City Hall on Tuesday.
“Apparently the Conservative Government snubbed the leaders of the core cities,” said Stevens. “If so, that is extremely worrying and demonstrates that they are behaving irrationally.”
He asked the mayor what he will do now.
A statement read out by deputy mayor Craig Cheney on behalf of an absent Rees said: “It was disappointing that no Government ministers attended the launch. I think this shows the power imbalance starkly.
“The secretary of state has received the green paper and I hope it will provoke serious consideration from the Government.”
Corbyn pledged his support for the Core Cities green paper when he visited Bristol in August
Rees confirmed that he met with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow secretary of state for business Rebecca Long Bailey and said he is glad to have the official support of the opposition, as well as all four of Bristol’s MPs.
He added: “This is the start of the process to get the funding our cities need and we will continue to keep the momentum going as we move into autumn budget.”
In response, Stevens said: “The key thing, I think, is to try and get a sensible dialogue with the Government. They don’t seem to be interested. I don’t know if they are distracted, or just think ‘the cities have no power over us, so we will continue to suck money out’.”
In his blog, Rees said Bristol is at the forefront of the efforts to raise the city voice and thanked the thousands of people who turned out for the rally on Saturday, September 9.
Following a meeting between core city leaders and the EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, the mayor said it is city to city relationships that will matter most in economic terms.
He wrote: “As our national government’s standing on the international stage becomes more uncertain, it is cities that offer the international relations that will drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”
Read more: A weekend of marches, rallies and protests
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