Somerset Labour

Labour Councillors across the country have launched a major campaign to protect working people from more Conservative Council Tax rises at next week’s Budget. Leader of the Labour opposition on Sedgemoor District council Cllr Brian Smedley (Bridgwater, Westover) says “The background to this is the removal of rate support grants by the Tories which has led to a combined funding gap of £3bn for the financial year 2022/23.   Councils in England face extra cost pressures of almost £8 billion by 2024/25 just to keep vital local services running at today’s levels. But this apparently is what the Tories mean by ‘Levelling Up’. In reality, having a Tory Government and a Tory council means ‘Holding Back’ and it’s a policy that has already left families hundreds of pounds worse off thanks to an Autumn triple whammy – the hike in National Insurance, higher energy prices and a £1,000 cut to Universal credit.”

Continue reading “Stop the Tory Squeeze on Local Government Finances”

One Hundred Plus workers at Clarks boot and shoe warehouse, Street, Somerset, are on an all-out strike against the company’s “Fire and rehire” threat. Mendip Trades Council sent solidarity greetings to the strikers as outrage and support grows, “The strike is no ‘ordinary’ industrial dispute: indeed, it would be no exaggeration to claim, that the future of this country, and the way its citizens who have to work for a living are treated by those who employ them, is in the balance. Don’t turn a blind eye to what is going on, not just at Clarks, not just in pretty ‘affluent’ rural Somerset, but all over the UK; speak out, insist on fair and accurate media reporting of “Fire and Rehire”; support Barry Gardiner MP’s Private Members Bill against Fire and Rehire”. Strikers today, up to 80 strong at both gates of the Street works , made their presence felt with placards and flags while motorist after motorist honked their horns in support.

Continue reading “ALL OUT STRIKE AT CLARKS!!”

The City of Wells is holdings its 8th by-election since May 2019 on September 30th. Only 9 of the original 16 Councillors are still in place.  Jenny Williams is standing as Labour candidate in St Cuthbert Ward, as she did in May 2019 and May 2021 and has pledged to serve her full term so you can see that she is committed.  Jenny is standing on a platform of delivering against the climate emergency promises, safeguarding and improving green spaces, including allotments, children’s play parks and cycle paths, improving bus services and revitalising the High Street. She is also emphasising the importance of working now with the new Unitary Authority to ensure the best transfer of decision-taking, assets and resources from Mendip District Council to Wells City Council. Jenny says “Wells Labour would have preferred a co-option this time, in order to save the £2,500 each by-election costs. But that was not to be. Keir has set out our path: work, care, equality, security. Take the first step on that path by voting for me in St Cuthbert’s today. “

Somerset Liberal Democrats attending their party’s annual conference (17-21 September) must face up to some tough tests , says  the local Labour Party. Their part in the Conservative-led coalition government, the forthcoming Somerset unitary authority and their party’s lack of a clear role are all threats to their future, says Yeovil Labour spokesperson Terry Ledlie.

The tactical voting  “con trick”  has been exposed

“In the 1980s, many local people were encouraged to vote Lib-Dem to “get the Tories out”. Lord Ashdown made Yeovil a ‘safe’ Liberal Democrat seat for a while  by  capitalising on the unpopularity of  Tory leaders Thatcher and  Major. The line that the Lib-Dems were  an alternative to the Labour Party was badly damaged when they joined the  coalition government (2010-2015), which led to the Lib-Dems abandoning most of its election promises, including a key pledge on tuition fees. In Yeovil, their position was further undermined by the exposure of Lib-Dem MP David Laws as a serious  expenses cheat. The net result has been that Yeovil has now elected a Conservative MP three times in a row. Clearly tactical voting no longer works,  yet the local Lib-Dems continue to promote this line. This increasingly looks like a “con trick” says Labour’s Terry Ledlie. Continue reading “Lib-Dems  face hard challenges, says  Yeovil Labour Party”