PLYMOUTH CONFERENCE LAUNCHES LABOUR ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUTH WEST

Sedgemoor Labour Party delegates took part in the 2011 South West Labour Party conference at Marjon University in Plymouth as key speaker Deputy Leader Harriet Harman told them "the South West needs an army of Labour councillors to lead the fightback against the Tory cuts."

Speaker after speaker at the conference spoke about the window of opportunity brought about by the collapse of the LibDem vote due to that Party's treachery in order to get into Government. Bridgwater councillor Brian Smedley , Chairman of the Sedgemoor District Labour Party said "It is clear that voter confidence in the Lib Dems has vanished. They said they'd provide 3,000 extra Police then voted to cut them instead, they said they wouldn't in crease VAT then did exactly the opposite and they said get rid of tuition fees and then voted to treble them. The LibDems are no longer a viable alternative anymore in the South West and recent Labour council victories in Cornwall and Gloucestershire show that we're on our way back."

Andy Merrifield , Chair of Wells CLP agreed and said "Labour were aiming to stand candidates in all the North Sedgemoor wards and seeing as the LibDems were being blamed for allowing the Tory cuts and now in some places standing against themselves, such as in Highbridge where the official Libdem candidates were up against anti-coalition independent liberals, voters were responding positively to Labour as the real alternative."

Sedgemoor Labour Group leader Cllr Kathy Pearce (Bridgwater Hamp) said she was taking inspiration from the County Council victory in Cornwall where the Labour candidate had come from 5th place to win and in Stroud ,similarly coming from behind to leap frog over the Libdem candidate to take the seat. "There is now no doubt that voters are returning to Labour. We learnt today that our new membership in the Region since the General election has now reached 3,770. Many of these are young people who feel a masive sense of betrayal by the Lib Dems, who a lot of them voted for last time. The Tories got in on a minority vote and are bringing in vicious and harmful cuts which they wouldn't be able to do without LibDem connivance! Obviously people didn't vote for this to happen and are now angry about this betrayal".

Council elections will be held on May 5th and Labour ,as the main opposition in Sedgemoor, will be working hard to double it's representation and to break the Tory hold on the District.

SEDGEMOOR TORIES PUSH THROUGH CUTS BUDGET....and not a liberal in sight!

Sedgemoor Tory leader Duncan McGinty claimed his Council had 'discussed with residents and staff', 'consulted with the public' and 'increased transparency and engagement' whilst announcing a budget cut of 13.8% and a staff reduction of 25%. Echoing Camerons sham 'Big Society' (as a cover for cutbacks) he said "we have found alternative ways of delivery". As Tory councillors fell over themselves to say and do nothing (apart from vote in support at the end) it was down to Councillor for tumbleweed central Paul Herbert to say "when times are tough you got to agree that Sedgemoor delivers".

Labour members stood in turn to attack the Tory record. "Local authorities today are facing an unprecedented level of cuts and uncertainty." said Leader Kathy Pearce (Labour Hamp)"The Tories are making up policy as they go along and the community is paying the price for the ideology of a Government that fails to understand local Government while boosting the profits of private companies and we arfe left to pick up the pieces! The Tory Sedgemoor budget is a short term budget based on cuts when we should be preparing for the future. We should be taking a more strategic perspective, things like the Labour Governments 'Retail initiative' should be built on,we shouldn't be reducing our economic development function , and volunteer groups depend on core funding yet we're taking it away".

Cllr Brian Smedley (Labour Hamp) said "Nobody believes the Tories when they say they've consulted on anything. The Splash? Northgate? Tescos? And the Tory 'Big Society' is a total con. We already had a 'big society'- thats the Welfare state which the Tories are hellbent on dismantling. They're talking about something thats just an excuse for cuts, sham empowerment without funding and an end to local democracy and accountability."

Cllr Julian Taylor (Labour Eastover) said "This budget doesn't take into account inflationary trends. I can see an 'emergency budget' looming and further cuts to services. "

McGinty attempted to justify his budget with reference to Harold Wilson "Whichever Party is in office, the treasury is in power"

Cllr Taylor leapt back to his feet "It's not the treasury it's the bankers! Bob Diamonds bonus alone could pay for 1,000 health workers! Itls bankers kickbacks and the community paying the price!"

The Tories then voted unanimously to push the budget through.

And what of the LibDems who claimed this week that they could take control of Sedgemoor District Council at the Elections on May 5th? Well,actually, they weren't there. Not one of them. Currently with 3 members on SDC their wild estimates of quadrupling their representation in their latest literature "Lib Dems on course to win 14 seats and take Sedgemoor" looks a bit...inevitably..like the usual load of LibDem drivel designed to con the voters. However, next time the people won't be fooled.

TAUNTON CALLING!!

500 Somerser Students marched through their County town today in protest against the Tory led Coalition Governments cutbacks in Education including the rise in tuition fees and the abolition of the EMA.

Marching from Vivary park to the riverside gardens, the group heard speeches from local and National student activists and from protest singer Billy Bragg,who also performed 2 songs.

Rob Thompson , a student from Richard Huish College, warned Somerset Lib Dem MPs who had broken their promises on Tuition f ees to "Hold onto their seats because they'd be losing them next time round!" .

James Leeman, a Taunton student, read out Lib Dem leader Nick Cleggs broken promise in full before ripping the paper to pieces saying "Young people aren't to blame for this situation, many of us fell for Cleggs lies but we won't be fooled again!"

Billy Bragg attacked the ConDem notion of a so-called 'Big Society', the philosophy of which was driving these cuts. "My generation came through the 'real ' big society which our parents had created after the war . One where people cared for one another and where health care and education was free. When Tories say ' why should i pay for these students education' they really mean 'why should they pay for their operations, their health care, their housing and their right to a decent life' . "

As the students marched past County Hall workers rushed to their windows to applaud them and as the procession wended it's way through the centre of Taunton motorists and shoppers cheered them on whilst some joined on.

The march was peaceful and well stewarded making the rather heavy Police
presence somewhat superflous .