CROSS-party support for Brighton and Hove’s City Council’s social care referendum is growing.
In a letter published today in The Guardian a number of high-profile figures added their support to the Green Council’s referendum call.
The letter, whose signatories include Labour’s Baroness Ruth Lister, Chair of Compass Neil Lawson and John Hilary, the executive director of War on Want, notes:
“The decision of Brighton council to hold a referendum on whether to increase council tax to pay for essential services is a bold commitment to democracy and equality. Everyone is feeling squeezed as a result of the Tories' draconian cuts to local government and public services, but a political contest over which party will manage austerity more effectively won't change the terms of debate. Money raised collectively, spent collectively and targeted where there is the most need is as essential in Brighton as it is across the UK.”
The letter was coordinated by Compass, the centre left thinktank.
Joe Cox, campaigns organiser at Compass said:
“Rather than accepting their fate and blindly administering Coalition cuts Brighton council are inviting the people to have their say. This is the type of political leadership that our new times require, not just doing things for the people but doing things with the people.”
Jason Kitcat, Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said:
“The growing support for our social care referendum proposals show that it is a principled and forward-thinking approach. The huge pressure on our social care services means now is the time for the people decide whether they support a 4.75% council tax rise to support our city's most vulnerable through the next few years of severe government cuts."
1) The full letter can be seen here: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/22/brightons-tax-vote
2) Other notable signatories:
Professor Richard Sennett, LSE
David Arnold, Brighton Labour party member and trade unionist
Heather Wakefield, Unison
Anthony Barnett, Open Democracy
Linda Jack, Liberal Left
Indra Adnan, Soft Power Network/The Downing Street Network
Dr David McCoy, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Barts and the London
School of Medicine and Dentistry and chair of Medact
Lynsey Hanley, Journalist
David Walker, Author
Stuart White, Jesus College, Oxford
Guy Standing, Soas
Andrew Simms, NEF
Brendan Martin, Public World