Austerity cuts top of agenda at Bexhill meeting

Labour party members across the Bexhill and Battle constituency met for their recent annual meeting.
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Tim Macpherson, chairman of the constituency party, welcomed hundreds of new members to the event, which was held on Saturday, October 17.

He said: “It was really pleasing to see such a great turnout, with members getting enthusiastically involved in discussing how we will campaign over the next year.

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“Despite our devastating general election defeat, the energy created by the trebling of our membership means we can campaign more effectively across the constituency.

“We probably have more members here than all the other parties combined.”

One issue the afternoon explored was the government’s austerity cuts.

The party said many of the least well-off will be hit by the cutting of tax credits to working people, and the forthcoming mandatory increase in council tax to be imposed on those already recognised as unable to pay.

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Mr Macpherson said: “The people of Rother need the Labour party to function as an effective opposition to these cruel cuts and continue to campaign for a fairer and more equal society.”

Judith Meredith, women’s officer, said: “Women are bearing the brunt of all the cutbacks, and already struggle with the discrimination of unequal pay. Bexhill has been recognised as a problem area, with many women trapped in insecure and low-paid jobs. We have many strong women, determined to lobby on these injustices.”

Councillor Maurice Watson said: “It was good to see so many members getting together, discussing future plans. There is a steep hill to climb, and the enthusiasm to climb it is strong.”

On Monday (October 26) the government suffered a major blow after the House of Lords voted to delay the controversial tax credit cuts. Peers voted by 289 votes to 272.

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