Thanks to Kay from Unite the Isle of Wight for this latest news. Ed
Despite atrocious weather conditions, Unite the Isle of Wight – Politics of Hope organisers were delighted with their third anti-austerity rally on Saturday, in protest at the government’s latest Comprehensive Spending Review.
As supporters gathered in St Thomas’s Square, Newport, heavy rain fell from the skies right on start time and the rally re-located to the nearby Unitarian Meeting House.
Over 100 turn out for rally
There, more than 100 people listened to speeches and re-asserted their determination to contest austerity as it affects the Isle of Wight.
Amongst the speakers were Independent IW councillors Phil Jordan and Luisa Hillard, Labour IW councillor Geoff Lumley, both the Green and Labour candidates at the last general election Vix Lowthion and Stewart Blackmore, Cowes town councillor Vanessa Slade and Mark Chiverton of Unison, together with several others who also wanted their voices to be heard.
Spokesperson Kay Smith said,
“Considering the weather we are delighted with our latest event. All present understood that the spending review last week may have seemed to soften the blow to islanders with the major u-turn on tax credit cuts, thanks to people power here and nationwide. But we also understand those cuts will come through different avenues, for example with the introduction of Universal Credit, and over a longer period of time.
“We remain 100% committed to our campaign, vigilant that cuts will be made ‘through the backdoor’ and united that austerity and numerous other Conservative policies, will not move this Island and country forward.
“Speakers on the day also talked with great passion and knowledge on other topics such as the impact current policies are having on our young people’s futures (job prospects, home-ownership, student debt etc), TTIP, the situation in Syria, climate change and many other issues that we know people on the Isle of Wight feel so under- represented and concerned about.”
Looking forward
Unite the Isle of Wight will now look at how it will approach and respond to what is feared will be a brutal round of government-forced public service cutbacks by the Isle of Wight Council in February next year.
The next group meeting will be on Tuesday 2nd February 2016 at Downside Learning and Community Centre 7-9pm, with another rally planned soon after.
In the meantime, the group invite as many Islanders as possible to get involved in this campaign.
Please find us on Facebook or email: [email protected]
