Brixton Demonstration today

Demo returns to Windrush Square in Brixton
(all credits Keith Spencer)

About 200 people demonstrated in Brixton against the cuts today. We rallied in Windrush Square before marching around the High Street and then returning to hear the closing speakers. The mood was angry and determined as speaker after speaker spoke about the cuts on their workplaces or services. What was uplifting however was that the speakers also reported on the resistance, all over the borough and nationwide people were organising and fighting back.

Women from the 1 O Clock clubs speak at rally

There were plenty of speakers involved in fighting the cuts: women from the 1 O Clock clubs who fought off one of the first attacks on Lambeth services in the summer.

Housing and services savaged
Stewards from Lambeth housing outlined the scale of the attacks on the workforce (which will be fully revealed in November) and the housing stock with the Con-Dems savaging social housing. Also the cuts to housing benefit will mean that many people in the borough – one of London's poorest – will be made homelessness and be forced to move. London councils report that more than 80,000 households will be made homeless with the benefit cuts. There were speakers from adult and children's services who reported on the scale of the attacks and the fact that Lambeth is one of the most deprived boroughs in the country already.

Student from local university talks about the
fight against education cuts

A student from one of the local universities talked about the attacks on education and the need to unite students and workers. There were other speakers from Lambeth pensioners, Right  to Work and other campaigns.

Labour councillor who fought
When we returned to the Square after the march former Lambeth Council leader Ted Knight spoke. Ted is one of the councillors who refused to implement Tory cuts in the 1980s and  was fined and banned from office. He pointedly told Labour councillors that their duty was to the people who elected them not the government. And next to speak was Kingsley Abrahams, Labour councillor who has resigned the whip in Lambeth and who is against the cuts, he reported on what was going on in the council.

Lambeth SOS Public meeting
We finshed off with a steward from housing reminding people of the demonstration of Monday at 12.30 and a reminder to get involved with Lambeth Save our Services, which is holding a public meeting on Saturday 20 November 12.00 to 2pm at the St Mathew's Tenants Hall, St Matthew's Road, Brixton, London SW2 1NH.

Please come along. If you are interested in getting involved with Lambeth SOS e-mail lambethsaveourservices@gmail.com